Philippines is priority The man designated to be the next commander of all military forces in the Pacific plans to make the Philippines one of his first stops.
for likely new chief
of Pacific forces
Adm. Thomas Fargo explains
his plans to a Senate committeeBy Gregg K. Kakesako
gkakesako@starbulletin.comThere are now more than 650 U.S. military personnel providing counterterrorism training and education to Philippine soldiers.
Appearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee yesterday, Adm. Thomas Fargo, currently Pacific Fleet commander, said in a statement that the U.S. mission in the Philippines is clear:
"Our mission ... is to train, and advise and assist the armed forces of the Philippines so that they can develop a sustainable counterterrorist capability so that they can ... put continual pressure on those terrorist organizations and ultimately ... root them out."
In addition to the 650 soldiers, 340 U.S. military engineers are building roads and helping build infrastructure needed to combat the Abu Sayyaf terrorist group. Finally, more than 2,500 U.S. personnel are training with their Filipino counterparts on the main island of Luzon.
Fargo, nominated to replace retiring Adm. Dennis Blair as commander in chief of the Pacific Command, said the U.S. role is not direct combat with Abu Sayyaf.
"We do have the normal protection of self-defense," he said. "And that's the manner in which we'll move forward."
The Senate committee is expected to move Fargo's nomination to the Senate floor Monday, with a confirmation vote scheduled to be held that same day in time for his change-of- command ceremony slated for Thursday at Marine Corps Base Hawaii at Kaneohe Bay.
Sen. Daniel Akaka, a member of the Armed Services Committee, praised Fargo's work as head of the Pacific Fleet for the past 2 1/2 years and said he supports him as he assumes his new post.
On the threats facing U.S. forces in Asia, Fargo said: "The place where the stakes are highest continues to be on the Korean peninsula. North Korea poses a significant conventional threat on the peninsula and continues to be the major exporter of ballistic missiles and associated technology."
Fargo voiced concern on Pyongyang's efforts to develop long-range missiles, citing estimates by U.S. intelligence that North Korea could have the capability to strike the continental United States with ballistic missiles within five years.
In responding in writing to questions submitted in advance by senators, Fargo also said: "There is real concern that Southeast Asia could become a haven for international terrorists as they are forced out of their current locations."
The former submariner added that another Pacific area challenge is "miscalculation" -- "the potential for accelerated military competition or worse, gross miscalculations between India and Pakistan, China and Taiwan, or some other strategic rivals."
Fargo said the United States has no immediate plans to reduce its military presence on Okinawa, which has the bulk of U.S. forces in the Pacific, but may look for more efficient ways to deploy its forces.
He also stressed the need to keep U.S. forces deployed in Japan as a quick response to emergencies in the region.
"I think that it's very clear to me that the forward-deployed naval forces that we currently have, stationed mainly in Japan, are a huge advantage to the Pacific Command and the nation," Fargo said. "That presence has been key to the relative peace we've had in the Pacific for the past 50 years."
Star-Bulletin wire services contributed to this report.