Offensive in Philippines

[deanwells]

DAVAO CITY (Mindanao Examiner / 07 Sept) — At least 6 people were injured in a grenade attack Wednesday at a busy market in the southern Philippine port city of General Santos, the mayor said. Pedro Acharon said the wounded were rushed to the hospital as he ordered police and military to cordon off the market. He said witnesses saw a boy hurled the grenade and exploded inside the market. “Six people are injured in the blast and we have cordoned off the area.

Witnesses said they saw a boy lobbed the grenade,” Acharon said. “We are investigating the motive of the blast whether this has something to do with grudge.”

The blast occurred past 6.30 in the evening while many were returning home from work.

It was not immediately known if the attack had anything to do with the fighting between troops and Abu Sayyaf militants tied to al-Qaeda and Jemaah Islamiya terror networks in the island of Jolo.

The attack came just two days after the Southern Philippine military warned of possible Abu Sayyaf bombings in key cities in the country as the 5th anniversary of the September 11 al-Qaeda attacks in the United States.

Fighting is fierce in Jolo as the battle entered its 5th day. Close to 100 militants, including 8 soldiers were killed in the clashes as security forces battle about 200 Abu Sayyaf gunmen protecting two Jemaah Islamiya leaders Dulmatin and Umar Patek, who tagged as behind the 2002 Bali bombings in Indonesia.

A small group of US soldiers involved in training Filipino troops were helping the local military in the hunt for Janjalani and Dulmatin and Patek.
The US offered as much as $10 million bounty for Dulmatin and $1 million for Patek’s capture and another $5 million for known Abu Sayyaf leaders, including Janjalani, its chieftain. President Gloria Arroyo also put up P100 million rewards for the capture of the group’s leaders and their members dead or alive.

I found this while doing a follow up on current events. I hope they find, fix and finish the enemy.

[mconrad]

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/e56b916c-a96...0779e2340.html

It seems there is some open source news that Janjalani is definitely dead, but I think the General and President are overestimating the importance of his death. It doesn't seem like he provided much leadership anyway.

Edit: I just noticed that they claim to have killed Sulaiman also. Very interesting.

[optactical]

Since 2007 started:

"Black Killer" was killed by (AFP*) Marines

"Sulaiman" was killed by (AFP*) Special Forces

"KJ" Khadafi Janjalani was confirmed killed by DNA tests. He was reportedly killed in a firefight on 4 Sept 2006, and buried by ASG. His grave was exhumed due to information from a source around Xmas time. The DNA tests took a few weeks.

All above items are open sourced and can be found through simple google searches.

The overall role of the US in these killings is being over-blown in my opinion, every one of these ops was mainly AFP driven and the credit should go to the host nation.

The US still is nothing more than an advisory role in the PI, don't fool yourselves into thinking we are actively engaged there.

As for the importance of these deaths...let's put it in context for all you 1st Group vets...the leadership is dying, do you think that the underlings are ready to step up? Whatever your answer is, let's not underestimate the situation...


*AFP=Armed Forces of the Philippines

[deanwells]

I agree they did blow the U.S. involvement way out of proportion. I am glad to hear that the DNA tests were confirmed. In my opinion, I never really believed KJ was pulling the strings. Well it's nice to see that the AFP is going back out again and truly hunting the ASG down.
As for the younger generation, only time will tell.

[chilly68]

Originally Posted by deanwells

I agree they did blow the U.S. involvement way out of proportion.

What, the Fils exaggerate to their media? Never