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CNN Live At Daybreak

U.S. Special Forces Target Al Qaeda Ties in Philippines

Aired January 11, 2002 - 05:15   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: The U.S. war on terrorism is expanding beyond Afghanistan now. U.S. military forces are being deployed to the Philippines to help hunt down Muslim guerrillas tied to al Qaeda.

CNN's Kitty Pilgrim tells us about it.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KITTY PILGRIM, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): U.S. officials say the total effort could number 500 U.S. troops, including special forces troops, will be involved in an effort to root out Muslim terrorists tied to al Qaeda.

DONALD RUMSFELD, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: Some time back I signed understandings that we would provide some training and assistance to the Philippine government.

PILGRIM: The current effort is part of a $4 billion military aid package approved after September 11 to provide advice, training and equipment to the Philippine forces.

MIKE VICKERS, CENTER FOR STRATEGY & INTERNATIONAL STUDIES: And helicopters, transport aircraft, patrol craft and trucks, and then a lot of stepped up training, too, by special forces and intelligence folks and also helicopter training for the Filipinos to give them an edge over the guerrillas. But I think the Filipino army will largely do the work themselves.

PILGRIM: The Philippines has a been a hotbed of terrorist activity. A particularly savage group, Abu Sayyaf, operates from the Philippine island of Mindanao. U.S. troops are being sent to the southern city of Zamboanga.

Abu Sayyaf terrorists are notorious for beheading their captives. Two Americans, Martin Burnham and his wife, Gracia, were taken hostage along with another American and 17 Filipino guests of a resort last May. One of the Americans and four of the other captives were beheaded in June.

ADRIAN KARATNYCKY, PRESIDENT, FREEDOM HOUSE: But it is a fact that the founders of this group participated in the struggle in Afghanistan. Some of them have been closely linked to Libya. So they do have links to this broader network of states and movements that have enabled and supported international terrorism.

PILGRIM: Abu Sayyaf has undeniable ties to al Qaeda. And convicted terrorists have studied in the Philippines, including Mohammed Sadeek Odeh, who was convicted for helping in the 1998 bombings of the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. Also, Ramzi Yousef, the mastermind of the first World Trade Center bombing in 1993. U.S. forces will set up a command center in the city of Zamboanga. Also expected, up to 10 helicopters and C-130 aircraft. Night flying equipment will give the troops an added advantage, thousands of rifles and up to 100 motor vehicles. The troops have landed.

Kitty Pilgrim, CNN Financial News, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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