Washington — U.S. military officials are poised to send in more troops and equipment to help the Philippine military rescue an American missionary couple held hostage by Muslim extremists, Rep. Todd Tiahrt said Friday after meeting with the head of the U.S. Pacific Command.
Tiahrt, R-Kan., met Thursday with the head of the command, Adm. Dennis C. Blair, in Hawaii, the command's base of operations. The lawmaker was returning from a trip to the Philippines, where Wichita, Kan., missionaries Martin and Gracia Burnham and Filipino nurse Deborah Yap are held captive by terrorists linked to Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida network.
"Admiral Blair told me the personnel are trained and equipment is ready to go they're just waiting on a green light," Tiahrt said.
He said the OK must come from Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, whom Tiahrt telephoned Friday upon returning to Washington. The Kansan had not heard back from Rumsfeld late Friday.
"We're not talking about a battalion; we're talking about a few more people going in now to develop and coordinate a plan with the Philippine military," Tiahrt said, adding that security prevented him from discussing how many troops would be involved or when they would arrive in the Philippines.
"That's going to add a lot to the Burnham effort," Tiahrt said. "Not only will it help technically with what's going on there, I think it will help with getting the latest information out quickly."
Officials there have been adamant that American soldiers may not directly participate in combat operations, which would require congressional approval. However, Tiahrt said, U.S. forces have been invited to help train rescuers and will work alongside Philippine troops.
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