Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live At Daybreak

Abu Sayyaf Group in Philippines May Be Next U.S. Target

Aired January 11, 2002 - 06:38   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: A new front for the war on terrorism is now in the Philippines. That government is considering a plan to deploy a full U.S. military battalion to help in the fight against an extremist Muslim group. As CNN military affairs correspondent Jamie McIntyre reports, U.S. troops are already on the ground in the Philippines.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN MILITARY AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: Twenty-five U.S. Special Forces, key players in Afghanistan are now in the southern Philippines, the Pentagon says, to help the government battle Abu Sayyaf, a group of Muslim rebels linked to Osama bin Laden. The Pentagon says the U.S. Special Forces, the vanguard of a larger force to come, are trainers, but will not say whether they will eventually go after terrorists themselves.

DONALD RUMSFELD, DEFENSE SECRETARY: I'm not going to talk about the future. I can tell you that we have been involved in training and to my knowledge that's what we're currently doing.

MCINTYRE: But military sources tell CNN the mission guidance for the U.S. forces allows for armed U.S. observers to accompany Philippine forces to forward areas in requested, something that could put U.S. military troops in a combat role. The deployment is a small but first step, expanding the war against terrorism outside Afghanistan, a goal President Bush repeated as he signed the Pentagon's budget into law.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: If the war against terror means that we must find terror wherever exists, and pull it out by its roots, and bring people to justice, our military must have the means to achieve the objective.

MCINTYRE: Pentagon sources say the advanced team will be followed by more than 100 Special Forces next month, along with at least 10 helicopters and some C-130 cargo planes. Logistical support troops could bring the total U.S. presence to 500 troops.

Abu Sayyaf has been holding an American missionary couple hostage since May. Experts say the kidnappings have been a major source of income for the group, which is linked to Osama bin Laden.

DANA DILLION: They're a potential source of funding for al Qaeda because their kidnapping operations have been so successful. They made $20 million that's been estimated last year.

MCINTYRE: Pentagon officials say the U.S. has offered for its troops to get directly involved in the hunt for terrorists, but that is something that would require authorization by the Philippine Congress.

Jamie McIntyre, CNN, the Pentagon.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com