The Abu Sayyaf Strike Again
By Zachary Abuza
The Abu Sayyaf is suspected in detonating a bomb in the southern Philippines island of Jolo, which killed 9 and wounded 20. Some 2,000 US forces conducted a joint training exercise with their Filipino counterparts there earlier this month. A small contingent of US advisors and trainers is based in Zamboanga, where a bomb was detonated killing one, outside of the military base. A Special Forces soldier was killed by an ASG bomb in October 2002. The attack continues a trend of ASG terrorism since 2004, with a concurrent stoppage in kidnapping.