Posted on: Sunday, July 25, 2004

EDITORIAL
Philippine withdrawal sends wrong message

Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo faced agonizing, no-win choices when terrorists in Iraq threatened to kill a Filipino truck driver unless the Philippines withdrew about 50 of its troops from the country.

If she refused the demands, the driver would likely have been beheaded, much to the heartbreak of millions in his home country.

But agreeing to the demand sets Arroyo and the Philippines at odds with the international consensus that there is nothing to be gained by acceding to the demands of hostage-takers and terrorists.

Beyond compassion, Arroyo had another sound reason for pulling her troops out of Iraq. The Philippines has millions of its citizens working overseas, including some 1.4 million in the Middle East alone.

Remittances of these workers constitute an important segment of the Philippine economy. Arroyo apparently felt resisting the terrorist demands in Iraq over the troops was not worth the lives and fortunes of those millions of guest workers.

But the unfortunate thing is there is no guarantee her decision will, indeed, protect them. It's just as likely that terrorists, encouraged by their success in this case, will impose further demands for the withdrawal of other Filipino workers.

At home, Arroyo is dealing with violent Islamist resistance groups who have a long record of hostage-taking. Her decision on the Iraq troops could well embolden the Philippines domestic terrorists.

In short, while President Arroyo's heart may have been in the right place, her decision may be one she will come to regret, both at home and on the world stage.