Islamic Extremists Fire at U.S. Military Advisors in Southern Philippines - 2002-06-17

Islamic extremists in southern Philippines have fired at U.S. military advisors, but no one was injured, and it is unclear whether American soldiers returned fire. This is the first shooting incident directed at U.S. forces in the Philippines to date. Twelve hundred American soldiers have been sent to the country to train Filipino forces so they can more effectively combat Abu Sayyaf rebels on Basilan Island in southern Philippines, aiming to rid the Philippines of the presence of this terrorist group linked to al-Qaeda. The American unit in the Philippines is part of U.S. anti-terrorism forces. Some American soldiers are stationed on Basilan Island, teaching Filipino soldiers jungle warfare tactics. Meanwhile, the U.S. Congress warns that despite successful military operations in Afghanistan, terrorists still pose a threat to America. Richard Shelby, a senator from Alabama and the senior Republican member of the U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee, stated in a television interview yesterday that terrorist threats have not diminished. Senator Shelby noted that thousands of al-Qaeda operatives remain active in dozens of countries worldwide. Other U.S. congressional leaders also mentioned yesterday that combating the threat of terrorism requires international cooperation. American lawmakers also expressed their support for the Bush administration's efforts to overthrow Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, referencing Baghdad's attempts to acquire weapons of mass destruction.