Pullout

There are two sides of the story...

The pullout of the Philippine humanitarian mission is going to be a big embarrassment. It would seem that we are giving in to the terrorists. However, one must realize that the current president was elected by too slim a majority, put into the equation the stuck-up minority that will use any issue to incite chaos and the current sentiment dividing the nation right through the center...

Gloria cannot afford to lose any more support. By not giving in, she risks being seen as a president that does not value life and a US puppet (not that she isn't/or at least does not look like one). This also gives the naughty opposition a chance to exacerbate the situation by arousing sentiments regarding the election to equate Gloria as a president wrongly elected because she does not care for a Filipino's life.

The pullout of the Philippine humanitarian mission, as seen by an outsider's point of view, is a big embarrassment. The international community believes in the strong commitment of the Philippine Government to quash terrorism. However, this current decision seems to belie that fact. In joining the "bandwagon of the willing", the government in return receives a lot of aid from the US. Fact is, in Southeast Asia, the Philippines receives the most aid from the US post-9/11. The pullout, undeniably, will have some effect on aid and appearance.

In crafting the current stand to pull out troops, the government sacrificed what the international community would think in order to gain popularity and good vibe and in order to avert any chance of destabilization. The US should understand the country's current dynamics and must not take it out against the president, the government and especially not the Filipino people.

I think it is to everyone's benefit that destabilization be averted, opposition be silenced and the president to put on a brave face amidst the opinion of other nations.