Republican Hypocrisy on Placing U.S. Troops Under Foreign Command

February 13, 2002

TO BUZZFLASH.COM:

Text of an e-mail I sent to Senator McCain:

"Dear Senator McCain [or whichever staffer is assigned to read e-mails],

I thought you [or your staff] might find this interesting. Bill Clinton was regularly excoriated for any hint that United States troops would ever be under foreign command. Yet, this recent little agreement, which puts U.S. Troops under the command of Phillipines defense forces, goes unnoticed or unmenntioned by anyone. Here's an excerpt of the article linked-to below:

"The US military was reportedly not happy with the inclusion of provisions in the document giving Philippine commanders authority over American forces in the field. One such provision reads: “Nothing shall infringe on the AFP Unit Commander’s authority.” In another, “US forces at all levels shall comply with the operational instructions of the AFP Unit Commander and at no instance shall they operate independently within Philippine territory.” But the contentious word “command” would not be dropped from the TOR, Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes had said."

http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2002/feb/13/top_stories/20020213top4.html

I know that most of your Senate Republican colleagues will not say anything about this, lest they embarrass the President or Secretary Powell. But I thought you might mention something, anything about it.

Please don't bother sending me a form e-mail in response. I don't need a response. I just wanted to call this to your [and your staff's] attention."

Thanks.

A concerned American,

[Name withheld]