US wants Kitty Hawk in Sulu Sea

The United States is asking the Philippine government to allow the deployment of one of its aircraft carriers — the Japan-based USS Kitty Hawk — in the Sulu Sea, a top US defense official said yesterday.

Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz, who arrived yesterday for talks with President Arroyo, also said American troops are likely to remain in Basilan to continue helping the Phi-lippine military fight the Abu Sayyaf.

Deploying the Kitty Hawk in the Sulu Sea would put Basilan within easy striking distance of the ship’s 70 combat aircraft.

If the Kitty Hawk is deployed in the Sulu Sea against terrorist threats, it would be the first time that a US warship would see active duty in Philippine waters since 1992 when Manila shut down two US bases in the country.

Last year, the Kitty Hawk sailed to the Indian Ocean and participated in the US war against the Taliban in Afghanistan.

National Security Adviser Roilo Golez said Wolfo-witz discussed the possibility of greater involvement of US troops in the fight in Basilan, but still in non-combat roles.

"We’re open, allowing US troops to advise, assist and train operating Filipino soldiers from the present battalion level to the company level," Golez said. "But not for combat or rescue operations."

However, that would increase the chances of US troops getting into a firefight with the Abu Sayyaf.

Wolfowitz refused to give any details on the Kitty Hawk’s mission but it is speculated that the Japan-based warship would be used against the Abu Sayyaf.

Wolfowitz, the second in command at the Pentagon, arrived from Singapore where he attended a regional security conference.

He flew in aboard a private plane and was met by US Ambassador Francis Ricciardone and top Philippine diplomats and defense officials.

Wolfowitz is to meet today with Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes before flying to Zamboanga City, the command center of the Balikatan 02-1 joint military exercises, defense sources said. He will also fly to Basilan to inspect the American troops.

Since January, more than 1,000 US soldiers have been giving local troops training and other support as part of the six-month long war games.

That assistance is scheduled to end next month, but probably will be extended as the operation against the Abu Sayyaf continues, Wolfowitz said yesterday.

Elite US Green Berets are training Philippine troops in counterterrorism tactics against the Abu Sayyaf, which has been linked to the al-Qaeda terrorist network of fugitive Saudi financier Osama bin Laden.

"That work is aimed at giving the Filipinos the capability to deal with their own problems," said Wolfowitz. "They’re quite emphatic that that’s what they want to do, but quite willing to take help in getting there."

Because the Constitution bars foreign troops from engaging in combat inside the country, American forces are limited to providing military assistance only.

Other US troops are providing transportation, engineering and additional support functions. The United States has also provided weapons and other equipment to Philippine forces.

Last week, the US State Department offered a cash reward of up to $5 million for information leading to the capture of any or all of five top Abu Sayyaf leaders.

However, sources at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) speculate that the US troops may eventually be allowed to join the hunt for the two American hostages held by the Abu Sayyaf if the Balikatan maneuvers are extended.

However, because of the constitutional prohibition on foreign troops fighting on local soil, US soldiers can only participate alongside with Philippine troops.

At present, the US military is using satellite surveillance and unmanned spy planes to help the Philippine military locate the Abu Sayyaf.

US press reports say the Pentagon is pushing for a more direct role in the war against the Abu Sayyaf. Earlier, Adm. Thomas Fargo, the commander of US forces in the Pacific, had proposed that US troops go after the bandits.

Ricciardone had earlier maintained that US troops would leave as scheduled when the war games end in July, whether or not the hostages are rescued. The US Embassy gave no immediate comment on Fargo’s proposal.

The Abu Sayyaf has been holding American missionary couple Martin and Gracia Burnham for more than a year now. They are also holding a third hostage, Filipina nurse Deborah Yap.

However, the failure of Philippine forces – which have been going after the bandits for more than a year now – to rescue the hostages may provide Washington an excuse to justify an extension.

"To prolong the operation, [the US] would want to end the agony of the [Burnhams]," one of the sources said.

Brig. Gen. Emmanuel Teodosio, the Philippine co-director of the Balikatan, said unless the "terms of reference" or the rules governing the exercises are amended by the government, US troops would have to stay on the sidelines.

And if that does happen, US forces would not be allowed to conduct independent operations without the knowledge of their Philippine counterparts.

"They have limited knowledge of the area there, so they would still be accompanied by our soldiers in patrolling the area, if ever," Teodosio said. –AFP, Paolo Romero, Pia Lee-Brago