“An open foe may prove a curse, but a pretended friend is worse.” — John Gay

The Filipino people have the right to ask their political leaders why they have tolerated the surreptitious build up of US Special Forces combat troops in southern Mindanao by liberally interpreting the provisions of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) which does not provide for stationing land troops on a semi-permanent rotationary status. By the way, Zamboanga military air terminal is abuzzed with activities all night every night till dawn of planes taking off and landing, and ferrying combat-ready troops and disgorging military material, medical supplies and equipment, and steak and ice cream without which American soldiers will be reluctant to go to the bush.

We have the right to ask the government whether these semi-permanent US troops are here for humanitarian or medical missions, or to assist the Philippines in its anti-insurgency, especially Muslim separatists, campaign, or serve as forward outpost for the international anti-terrorism alert since the Philippines’ backdoor opens up to nearly 250 million Muslims east of Bangladesh.

By the same token, was it necessary for President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to reassure US President Barack Obama that she was definitely stepping down in June, 2010, and will not invoke the prerogative of a woman to change her mind?

We have long suspected that US Navy Seals, whose specialty is night missions, have been accompanying Filipino troopers, who rarely go out on night patrols, on these nocturnal forays into the forest for Abu Sayyafs who are on the move at night.

We opine that the renegade Abu Sayyaf terror group and Muslim separatists, such as, the MILF and MNLF, can never be eradicated.

On the contrary, the presence and participation of American combat troops in the Mindanao conflict will only exacerbate the conflict in sympathy with the futile search for peace in the Middle East.

And, the terror can worsen should al-Qaeda or Jemaah Islamiyah decide to terrorize urban centers in Luzon and Manila as American troops’ presence put pressure on Basilan and the Jolo peninsula.

The fact is that US troops attract Muslim militants the way lights attract moths, which places the Philippines in the crosshair of the two combatants.

In brief, the Philippines will be better off without the ubiquitous presence of American combat soldiers in Mindanao or anywhere else in the Philippines.

If America is so paranoid about terrorism, the Obama administration can always assist in kind, such as, modern weapons, ammo, and transport, rather than troops.

The Muslim and NPA insurgencies are domestic conflicts within the competence of the Philippines, but not necessarily within the competence of colonial-minded officials.

Least, the imperial history of the United States has shown that America is essentially inept in administering and governing conquered territories.

In fact, America is more efficient in destroying and pulverizing countries and cities, such as, Poland, Manila, Korea, Japan, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Germany, than preserving cities and building up efficient permanent bureaucracies.

When all is said and done, American troop presence in Mindanao carries more risks than any benefit that the Philippines may be receiving now.

You be the judge. (For comments and views, please e-mail: chaff_fromthegrain@yahoo.com.ph)