Wichita — U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback said Wednesday the U.S. was scaling up U.S. involvement in the Philippines, and could send even more troops and advisers.
"It appears the Philippines is going to be the second, the next target, after Afghanistan in the war on terrorism," Brownback said. "That Abu Sayyaf group is the target."
The Abu Sayyaf, which has been linked to Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida network, is holding Kansas missionaries Martin and Gracia Burnham.
The Kansas senator made the comments during a stop in Wichita as Philippine officials said the U.S. contingent would total about 660 troops, including 160 U.S. special forces.
Brownback said more troops potentially would be sent.
"The Philippine military is not adequately trained or equipped to conduct an aggressive war on the terrorist group, Abu Sayyaf," he said. "In some cases, the Abu Sayyaf are better equipped than the Philippine military."
Brownback, who serves on the foreign relations committee, said he ascertained the information from his conversations and was not making the statements as an emissary for the Bush administration.
The senator said the mission of the U.S. forces was to subdue the Abu Sayaff and win the safe release of the Burnhams.
U.S. officials have been careful about how they characterize the growing U.S. involvement in the Philippines because of that country's constitutional ban on foreign combat troops on Philippine soil.
U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has said American forces are training the Philippine forces.
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