In the News Today

This (actual article is below, link will become useless in three days -- thanks a lot, ST!) is why some countries will never achieve anything great. Nor achieve anything by way of international recognition.
 

JULY 18, 2004
Manila may complete Iraq pullout on Monday

MANILA - The Philippines said it would complete the withdrawal of its peacekeeping contingent from Iraq as early as Monday in an apparent effort to save a Filipino hostage threatened with beheading by Iraqi insurgents.

The kidnappers holding Filipino truck driver Angelo de la Cruz said earlier they would release him by the end of the month, when the full withdrawal of the Philippines' contingent of peacekeepers was expected.

However, Foreign Secretary Delia Albert said in a statement on Sunday that the remaining 22 peacekeepers from the original 51-strong deployment would make an 'exit call' on the new Polish commander at Camp Charlie in Iraq's Babil province on Monday.

'After the call, the remaining contingent will then proceed to Kuwait and from there return to Manila by commercial flight,' she said in the statement.

The Philippine Embassy in Kuwait is arranging their flight back to Manila and the time of their arrival would be announced as soon as the details are available, she said.

The Philippine decision to withdraw its troops earlier than their scheduled Aug 20 departure from Iraq has been criticised by Manila's allies, including the United States and Australia, which said it would encourage more terrorist acts and endanger other members of the US-led coalition in Iraq. -- AP