January 19, 2002, New York Times, Fighting Terror in the Philippines,

January 19, 2002, New York Times, Fighting Terror in the Philippines,

American troops are already arriving in the Philippines to assist Filipino troops fighting the violent Muslim separatist group known as Abu Sayyaf. The organization has a record of terrorism and should be dismantled. But before proceeding with a plan that could easily engage American forces in combat, the Bush administration owes the country a far more candid discussion of its plans than it has yet presented.

So far, the administration has provided only vague and conflicting descriptions about the American role, suggesting that officials either have not thought through the plan or are being deceptive about it. The Pentagon has a long and ignoble history of announcing that it is dispatching American forces abroad as ''advisers,'' when they are really meant to be combatants. We hope the Bush team will not play that game.

The Pentagon says it is sending more than 600 American troops to the Philippines as advisers, including 160 Special Operations troops along with helicopters, night vision equipment and small arms. As the plan was described earlier this week, Special Forces soldiers could accompany Philippine troops into battle, with permission to fire in self-defense. The Americans could also be involved in offensive operations if asked by Manila, even though such actions would appear to violate the Philippine Constitution. This sounds like the kind of loosely designed operation that has led the United States into costly military blunders in the past decades.

The Philippines today is considerably more democratic than it was in the days of Ferdinand Marcos, who was overthrown in 1986, and its military forces are less prone to coup attempts and human rights abuses. The current president, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, requested American help in her efforts to oust Abu Sayyaf from its main stronghold, Basilan Island. Still, the Bush administration must be careful to respect Philippine nationalist sensitivities. Manila spent decades as an American colony and 11 years ago insisted on closing down United States naval and air bases.

While there is a long history of separatist unrest among Muslims in the southern Philippine islands, Abu Sayyaf is a fringe group with limited political support. Some of its 500 or so members appear at least loosely connected with Osama bin Laden and other Al Qaeda figures, and Abu Sayyaf is responsible for plenty of terrorism on its own. Its trademark is kidnapping, and it currently holds an American missionary couple.

Future American military actions against terrorism should, where possible, come at the request of friendly democratic governments, with local military forces taking a lead in the fighting and the United States role clearly spelled out to the American people. A mission to help the Philippines defeat Abu Sayyaf could be designed to meet these tests. The present plan falls disturbingly short.