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Home/ stevenwarran's Library/ Notes/ January 21, 2002, AP / The Columbian (Vancouver, WA) More Troops Arrive in Philippines, by Pat Roque,

January 21, 2002, AP / The Columbian (Vancouver, WA) More Troops Arrive in Philippines, by Pat Roque,

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January 21, 2002, AP / The Columbian (Vancouver, WA) More Troops Arrive in Philippines, by Pat Roque, 604 words

ZAMBOANGA, Philippines -- U.S. military cargo planes brought more troops and equipment to the southern Philippines on Sunday amid growing protests against American involvement in the government's efforts to quash Muslim guerrillas.

Three U.S. Air Force C-130s arrived at an air base in the southern port city of Zamboanga carrying several soldiers, a forklift, a power generator, engineering equipment and a truck and trailer loaded with communications gear.

Capt. Noel Detoyato, spokesman for the Philippine military's Southern Command, said the Americans are part of a contingent that will train Filipino special forces battling Abu Sayyaf guerrillas in the jungles of nearby Basilan island, 540 miles south of Manila.

U.S. and Philippine officials say the guerrillas have been linked with Osama bin Laden and his al-Qaida terror network.

The gradual U.S. military buildup in Zamboanga and Basilan is part of preparations for a six-month training exercise in which small teams of armed U.S. Army Special Forces are expected to enter combat zones to assess their Filipino counterparts and their needs.

Some 660 U.S. soldiers, including 160 Special Forces, are to take part in the training exercise. The U.S. troops cannot engage guerrillas but can defend themselves.

Welcomed by the ill-equipped Philippine military, the U.S. involvement has rekindled anti-American sentiment in the former U.S. colony. Hundreds of leftist activists on Sunday demanded that U.S. troops leave the country.

Protests against the U.S. presence have failed to draw mass crowds in the Philippines in recent weeks, although organizers predict participation will grow in coming days.

In other news from the U.S. fight against terrorism:

* Secretary of State Colin Powell pledged $296 million in reconstruction aid to Afghanistan. Powell made the announcement in Tokyo as some 60 countries attended an international conference on assistance to Afghanistan.

He said the promised money is in addition to $400 million in humanitarian assistance committed by President Bush last fall. U.S. officials said the $296 million figure may not seem generous given Afghanistan's need, but they said the United States has spent $4.5 billion on the war there since October.

* The Pentagon identified two men who died Sunday when a U.S. helicopter crashed in Afghanistan. Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said the cause of the crash appeared to be a mechanical failure.

Killed in the crash were Staff Sgt. Walter F. Cohee III, 26, from Wicomico, Md., and Sgt. Dwight J. Morgan, 24, from Mendocino, Calif.

They were assigned to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361, which is part of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing based in Marine Corps Air Station, Miramar, Calif.

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