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HUNDREDS of elite US troops are being withdrawn from the Philippines as anti-terror units are disbanded, officials said today.
US forces, which were established in the south-east asian country as part of a post-September 11 anti-terrorism drive, are barred by the Philippines constitution from engaging in combat. However US advice, training, military equipment and intelligence, including drone surveillance, had been essential to the Philippines military offensive against Islamist fighters from Abu Sayyaf.
“Our partnership with the Philippine security forces has been successful in drastically reducing the capabilities of terrorist groups,” bragged US embassy spokesman Kurt Hoyer.
The remaining terrorists, he said, have now "largely devolved into disorganised groups resorting to criminal undertakings.”
But Mr Hoyer said a number of US military personnel would remain to “ensure violent extremist organisations don’t regain a foothold.”
The more significant foothold however is for the US itself, as it aims to move away from years of military engagement in the Middle East toward Asia, to counterweight China’s rising influence.
