War extends to Pacific

By William Cole
Advertiser Military Writer

With the Taliban in collapse and efforts under way to establish a new government in Afghanistan, the U.S. fight against terrorism has broadened, and more attention is being focused on a Pacific Command area of responsibility: the Philippines.

Adm. Dennis C. Blair greets Angelo Reyes, the Philippines' secretary of national defense. The two met at Camp Smith last week to discuss cooperative efforts in the war on terrorism. Photographer's Mate 1st class John Thornton • U.S. Navy

On Wednesday in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Blair said the United States will work with countries in the Asia-Pacific region to fight terrorism as part of a campaign that could extend to piracy, gunrunning, and drug and human trafficking.

"The focus of U.S. action would be cooperating with the countries of the region ... in sharing the policy that terrorism must be eliminated," Blair said.

The new emphasis comes at a pivotal time for Blair, 54, who is looking toward a new career. The four-star admiral has served two years in the prominent position overseeing U.S. might over half the world's surface and in 43 countries, and is nine months through a yearlong extension that is expected to be his last.

Blair, who commands 308,000 soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines, was considered to be in the running for the job of Joint Chiefs chairman, the top job in the U.S. military, which subsequently went to Air Force Gen. Richard Myers.

Lately, Blair has played a high-profile role in meetings with Philippine officials. The push has come as President Bush greeted President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo at the White House last week and said the United States would hunt down terrorists "in Afghanistan or the Philippines or anywhere al-Qaida exists."

"There is no question but that there has been a good deal of interaction between the terrorists in the Philippines and al-Qaida and people in Iraq and people in other terrorist sponsoring states over the years," Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said.

But the issue of whether U.S. combat troops will get involved is not a clear-cut one.

Bush said he "will give President Arroyo any help she needs, anything she asks for, in this fight against terrorism." Asked if the U.S. would send ground troops to the Philippines, Bush said he would if Arroyo needs them.

In Kuala Lumpur, though, Blair was quoted as saying, "I should emphasize that the Philippines made it quite clear that the combat activity is their operation and they don't require or want to have U.S. combat troops."

Washington said it would provide nearly $100 million in "security assistance" to help in the fight against Abu Sayyaf.

Last week, Blair met with Philippine Secretary of National Defense Angelo T. Reyes at Camp Smith to discuss cooperation in the war on terrorism.

The week before, Blair met with senior Philippine military leaders in Zamboanga City at the headquarters of the Southern Command. He said the Pacific Command has "given some assistance in the past and we will do more in the future."

The United States is providing equipment, intelligence and military advisers to the country.

"In the Asia Pacific region, there are governments who condemn terrorism, are working actively against it themselves, and the role of the United States is much more in coordinating and support and cooperation than it is in leading some sort of a military coalition the way it is in Afghanistan," Blair said, at a Nov. 14 media briefing in the Philippines.

Pentagon officials say Blair's anti-terrorism campaign was the only one that received strong approval from Rumsfeld after all the military's top commanders were asked to submit plans.

Advertiser news services contributed to this story.

Reach William Cole at wcole@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-5459.