Philippines (2012 onwards, inc OEF)

[AdamG]

Piracy is a perennial problem in the waters around the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia known as the Sulu-Celebes Sea; with irregular Western media reports on kidnappings. This BBC report is an update, with a focus on multilateral action or inaction.


Link:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-39252503

Islamic State in the Philippines
http://www.agathocledesyracuse.com/w...amic-State.jpg

[davidbfpo]

Hat tip to WoTR for this US SF veteran's commentary on the situation, alongside some history.
Link:https://warontherocks.com/2017/10/fo...ot-the-answer/

[AdamG]

Liberated Philippines city lies in ruins, and its people seethe
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world...cid=spartandhp

Beyond earshot of officials and soldiers, people wonder why the army was so quick to pummel their predominantly Muslim city. They are also suspicious of the role played by U.S. Special Forces.
With Islamic State fighters losing ground in Iraq and Syria, men and money may shift to Southeast Asia, experts have said. They will find in the southern Philippines an angry and vulnerable population, institutions racked by war, and a government, led by President Rodrigo Duterte, that sees shooting as a way to solve social problems.
In other words: prime recruiting grounds.
In that sense, what happened in Marawi is not the success that Duterte claims but a lesson in the limits of fighting extremism with force alone.

[AdamG]

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte told the army and police to shoot him if he becomes a dictator or stays beyond his term.
The firebrand leader made the solemn warning on Monday to eliminate speculation that he ordered loyalists in Congress to change the constitution.
His critics have raised concerns about the possible introduction of a federal system which would let him stay in power beyond 2022 when his single term ends.
'If I overstay and wanted to become a dictator, shoot me, I am not joking,' Duterte told soldiers during an army base visit.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...#ixzz551MNH7Nn