by Alliance-Philippines (AJLPP)
Friday, Apr. 16, 2010 at 2:17 PM
ajlpp_socal@yahoo.com 213-241-0906 337 Glendale Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90026
A US defense official arrived in the country Wednesday and met with local defense and intelligence executives, said a spokesperson for the US Embassy.
“Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Garry Reid is here,” said US Press Attaché Rebecca Thompson in a phone interview with INQUIRER.net.
Counter-Insurgency (COIN)
According to Philippine Daily Inquirer(PDI) sources not authorized to talk to media said initially that it was Michael Vickers, assistant secretary for defense for Special Operations, Low Intensity Conflict and Independent Capabilities, who was scheduled to go to DND and to the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA).
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AJLPP Update
April 15,2010
US Defense officials in RP for COIN ops
Los Angeles--A US defense official arrived in the country Wednesday and met with local defense and intelligence executives, said a spokesperson for the US Embassy.
“Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Garry Reid is here,” said US Press Attaché Rebecca Thompson in a phone interview with INQUIRER.net.
Counter-Insurgency (COIN)
According to Philippine Daily Inquirer(PDI) sources not authorized to talk to media said initially that it was Michael Vickers, assistant secretary for defense for Special Operations, Low Intensity Conflict and Independent Capabilities, who was scheduled to go to DND and to the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA).
When sought for a confirmation, Thompson told INQUIRER.net in a separate interview, “Mr. Vickers has not come but rather, deputy assistant secretary of defense Garry Reid is here.”
Reid was welcomed by defense undersecretary Antonio Romero, DND undersecretary for finance and Armed Forces modernization affairs, defense undersecretary Arturo Lumibao, and an unidentified senior military official, a defense source also told the media adding that Vickers’ name was initially on the advisory that was circulated around DND.
It was not immediately known why Vickers did not come or if there were talks that took place. But when the Inquirer called Romero’s office, his staff said he was attending a meeting.
Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales was not present as he had pending matters that required his attention, Inquirer sources said.
Thompson downplayed Reid’s visit, saying this was “part of a routine trip through the Asia-Pacific region.”
Vickers is a former member of the US Special Forces and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), according to the US Defense Department website.
In the 70s and 80s, Vickers was part of covert action, espionage, and counter-terrorism operations in Central America, the Middle East, and Asia.
The US considers the Philippines as an important ally in its fight against global terrorism and the maintenance of US superiority in the region.
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