Manila Downplays Role of U.S. Troops
From Times Wire Services
The Philippine government insisted that the country will not be the scene of a new Afghanistan-like campaign in the U.S.-led war against terrorism, saying American troops here aim only to help in a battle the military has long fought against guerrillas.
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and officials were trying to calm concerns among many Filipinos that a U.S. mission to train soldiers against the Islamic militant group Abu Sayyaf will lead to a large deployment of American troops.
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