"Philippines slams remarks comparing Mindanao to Afghanistan"
According to this report by The Philippine Times The Filipino government is not happy with Joseph Mussomeli's remarks. I noted these remarks a couple of days ago (HT Michelle Malkin).
I also noted how in a previous blog how an arrest of terrorists trying to enter the country was crack police work and not stupid luck but on the whole that is the exception rather than the norm.
There are numerous reasons to be worried about what Mr. Mussomeli is saying is true. A former colleague of mine (a supra-advanced traveler and Aussie) described the Filipines as being lawless even years ago, most reports have the state of the Filipines backsliding not progressing in this regards. Their economy is not doing well, there are numerous reports of increased international cooperation between Abu Sayyaf and Jemmah Islamiya and the rest of that nefarious gaggle, and the rank corruption that plagues the military and other governmental institutions.
The last item is becoming more and more obvious every day. The out and out incompetence of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's administration. Her administration can talk but when it comes time to dance two left feet would be an improvement!
UPDATE:
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's spokesman Ignacio Bunye said on Monday that "such negative hyperbole to describe the Mindanao situation is out of tune with what is happening on the ground" and that the government was "making gains against terrorists and poverty every single day and week that passes."
I also noted how in a previous blog how an arrest of terrorists trying to enter the country was crack police work and not stupid luck but on the whole that is the exception rather than the norm.
There are numerous reasons to be worried about what Mr. Mussomeli is saying is true. A former colleague of mine (a supra-advanced traveler and Aussie) described the Filipines as being lawless even years ago, most reports have the state of the Filipines backsliding not progressing in this regards. Their economy is not doing well, there are numerous reports of increased international cooperation between Abu Sayyaf and Jemmah Islamiya and the rest of that nefarious gaggle, and the rank corruption that plagues the military and other governmental institutions.
The last item is becoming more and more obvious every day. The out and out incompetence of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's administration. Her administration can talk but when it comes time to dance two left feet would be an improvement!
UPDATE:
- 10:40 am April 15, 2005 The story I quote was from the a Pakistani Newspaper and the Philippine Times reported it as such.
- 10:40 am April 15, 2005 The link to the original story no longer directs one to the story about the comments of Mr. Bunye regarding Mr. Mussomeli's statements. It now directs one to a story from the International Herald Tribune about Filipino Economics. This is not the first time I have found a "shifting-link" like this. I will try to dig up the correct link later.
- 10:46 am April 15, 2005 Here is a link to the story that served as the source for this blog.
posted by Marcus Aurelius at 8:04 AM
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