Official dispels fears over U.S. troops

A senior Philippine army officer dispelled fears that the Philippines will be the next staging ground of America's global war on terrorism, despite the recent statements of U.S. President George Bush that Philippines, Yemen and Georgia will be part of the "second stage" of the U.S. anti-terror campaign.

"What we have here is not an operation, but training exercises. The Americans are here to help us in our campaign against terrorism. This is different from the operations the U.S. has conducted, in our view, of enduring freedom," said wargames co-director, Brig. Gen. Emmanuel Teodosio.

"There is no use fearing the change of the name of the war games from Balikatan 02-1 to Enduring Freedom Philippines," said Brig. Gen. Teodosio.

He added that it is not uncommon for participating forces from different countries to call exercises by different names.

With the operation in Afghanistan about to wind down, critics fear that southern Philippines, where the extremist groups are located, would be the next focus of the U.S. campaign.

The Philippines, with its home-grown hostage-taking Abu Sayyaf Group, together with Iraq and Somalia, are being targeted as areas of the anti-terror campaign against groups reportedly with connections to the Al Qaida network of Osama bin Laden.

Critics and even pro-war games groups could not help but worry when Bush confirmed the second stage of his country's anti-terror campaign.

"Every terrorist must be made to live as an international fugitive with no place to settle or organise, no place to hide, no governments to hide behind, and not even a safe place to sleep," said Bush.

"If governments need training or resources to meet this commitment, America will help."

"America encourages and expects governments everywhere to help remove the terrorist parasites that threaten their own countries and peace of the world," Bush added.

He also praised other nations behind his country's anti-terrorism campaign.