Abstract

A "Second Front" in the Philippines

U.S. President George W. Bush administration's opening of a so-called second front against terrorism in the Philippines has stunned people here with its swiftness. Less than three weeks after the decision was jointly announced by Washington and Manila in early January, the first wave of the U.S. troops landed in Zamboanga City, about 460 nautical miles south of the Philippine capital. The reality of this new front in another distant land was brought home to many Americans by the crash of a U.S. helicopter in treacherous waters on February 22. Officially tagged an accident, the tragedy took the lives often U.S. soldiers, eight of whom belonged to an elite Special Forces unit. Not surprisingly, the national debate in the Philippines, which a decade ago closed down two massive U.S. bases it had hosted, has turned ugly very quickly.