THE USG IS HELPING DEFEAT THE TERRORISTS ON JOLO

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MANILA 000255 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP, PM, S/CT, AND EAP/MTS USPACOM ALSO FOR FPA HUSO AND J5 SECDEF/OSD/ISA/AP (TOOLAN/BAILEY) JOINT STAFF/J5 (WILKES/ROBINSON/CLEMMONS) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PTER MARR MASS MOPS MCAP PREL EAID RP SUBJECT: THE USG IS HELPING DEFEAT THE TERRORISTS ON JOLO REF: A. MANILA 241 ¶B. MANILA 196 ¶C. 06 MANILA 786 ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY. The deaths of Abu Sayyaf Group leaders Khadaffy Janjalani and Jainal Antel Sali AKA Abu Solaiman at the hands of the Philippine Armed Forces represent a significant victory for President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and the people of the Philippines. This achievement is also a testimony to the effectiveness of our comprehensive Mission-wide effort to improve the capacities of the Philippine military and, through civil military operations, USAID assistance, and public diplomacy, to shrink the Abu Sayyaf and Jemaah Islamiyah terrorists' margin of maneuver into an ever-diminishing physical and psychological space. Leaders of the Philippine government and armed forces have publicly and effusively praised U.S. support and assistance as crucial in these efforts. Our combined efforts will need to continue until all key terrorists here are captured or killed. Final eradication of terrorists from the Philippines will required continued intensive engagement and support from a wide range of USG agencies. END SUMMARY. CIVIL-MILITARY OPERATIONS CAMPAIGN -------------- ¶2. (SBU) In November 2005, we and the Philippines faced a significant challenge on Jolo, which had been a long-time Abu Sayyaf recruiting ground and was considered its most impregnable redoubt. Janjalani, Abu Solaiman, and the 2002 Bali bombers Dulmatin and Umar Patek from the Jemaah Islamiyah had fled to the island in the belief that they could operate from there with near-impunity. In a carefully coordinated effort, Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines and USAID worked together to build upon existing USAID projects in a coordinated civil-military operations campaign aimed at driving a wedge between the terrorists and the population on whom they depended for support. Beginning with the February 2006 Balikatan Exercise and bolstered by the May-June 2006 deployment of the USNS MERCY, these activities succeeded in isolating the terrorists, who found -- to their surprise -- the population of Jolo was not sympathetic to their cause. A USAID-funded $1 million road now links the former Abu Sayyaf stronghold of Indanan to Jolo City. A region that once took Philippine soldiers days of hard fighting to reach is now only a 20-minute drive from Jolo's capital. BACKING UP THE TROOPS ON THE GROUND -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Philippine troops have demonstrated impressive tenacity and aggressiveness during "Operation Ultimatum," the ongoing effort since August 1, 2006 to eliminate the Abu Sayyaf and Jemaah Islamiyah leadership on Jolo. U.S. assistance has helped build the Philippine military into an increasingly formidable force. Joint U.S. Military Assistance Group efforts in support of defense reform and the maintenance and mobility program have provided key training and equipment. Backing up the Filipino soldier on the ground are OV-10 aircraft, MD-520 gunships, and UH-1H helicopters with improved readiness rates. U.S.-trained pilots equipped with night vision goggles have evacuated wounded from jungle battlefields, while Light Reaction Company snipers firing from helicopters have used U.S.-taught skills and SR-25 rifles to decimate fleeing groups of Abu Sayyaf terrorists. The U.S. Naval Special Warfare teams and vessels of Joint Task Force 515 have provided the intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance support that has enabled the Philippine Navy to keep intact the maritime cordon around Jolo and to conduct over 5100 maritime interdictions. The engagement of Joint Special Operations Task Force personnel on the ground with their Philippine counterparts has provided critical intelligence and planning assistance, and Federal Bureau of Investigation agents have helped with sensitive site exploitation, evidence handling, and DNA analysis. Armed Forces Chief of Staff General Esperon has been unstinting in his public praise, saying that Philippine troops were getting "very critical, very substantial" intelligence support from MANILA 00000255 002 OF 002 the United States. President Arroyo and other senior leaders have publicly praised U.S. cooperation and underscored the importance of our "strategic alliance against terrorism and poverty." ACTIVE PUBLIC DIPLOMACY -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Public diplomacy has played an important role in changing perceptions. Through the International Visitor Program we have brought young and dynamic Jolo leaders to the United States to learn from U.S. counterparts how to improve their island's governance and development, as well as learn more about the United States and its people. Jolo Provincial Administrator Don Loong proudly notes on his business card that he was a 2006 Leadership Fellow. The Strategic Speaker's Initiative brought a U.S. imam to Jolo, where he engaged the local Muslim community and demonstrated that Islam can co-exist and thrive in a modern, secular society. The Ambassador and Deputy Chief of Mission have both made a dozen trips to Jolo to open USAID infrastructure projects and internet classrooms and to participate in medical and engineering civic action programs. The Ambassador joined Governor Ben Loong in April 2006 in a public commemoration of the victims of the March 2006 Jolo City bombing perpetrated by the Abu Sayyaf Group. A TEAM EFFORT -------------- ¶5. (SBU) The war on terrorism in the southern Philippines is not yet over. Dulmatin and Umar Patek remain at large, and other Jemaah Islamiyah and Abu Sayyaf Group operatives are still actively plotting to attack U.S. and Philippine targets. We cannot let down our guard. Nonetheless, we can take satisfaction in Philippine successes and in the knowledge that many elements of our Mission have played a role in this effort. Final eradication of terrorists from the Philippines will required continued intensive engagement and support from a wide range of USG agencies. Visit Embassy Manila's Classified website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/manila/index. cfm KENNEY