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SOUTHEAST ASIA: Warning by Bush (Ronald Hilton, USA, 12/09/01 11:47 am)

Bienvenido Macario has sent me a Reuters dispatch (12/5/01) from Manila of which I reproduce the opening part:

"There was a chilly response from three governments in southeast Asia to comments by President George W. Bush that U.S. troops could strike outside Afghanistan in its war against terrorism. Officials in the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia ruled out any move by the United States to send troops to their countries and Manila, Washington's closest ally in the region, has already said it can look after itself. "There may be a need to use military troops elsewhere," Bush said in an interview with ABC News, to be aired on Wednesday. "And I just want the American people to know that we're keeping all options on the table." The idea was greeted with dismay in Asian capitals."

My comment: Bush must have known that this would be the response. He was just giving fair warning that they must take effective steps themselves, or else..."

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