US army official in town

A top US army official arrived yesterday for counter-terrorism talks with ranking Armed Forces and defense officials.

The US Embassy said Brig. Gen. James Lewis Kennon, US Pacific Command logistics chief, will review US-Philippine "military-to-military security cooperation activities," including the military’s procurement reform program.

The visit falls under the regular series of meetings between military and security officials of both countries "to discuss programs for sustained counter-terrorism capability," the embassy said.

Capt. Dennis Williams, USPACOM liaison officer, in a press statement released to the Armed Forces Public Information Office yesterday, said Kennon will meet with the top defense and military officials headed by Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz Jr. and Armed Forces chief Gen. Efren Abu.

"He will review RP-US military-to-military security cooperation activities, including the Philippines Defense Reform initiative," he said.

Williams said Kennon will discuss with Cruz and top military officials programs for sustained counter-terrorism capabilities of the Philippines and the US.

"This visit is part of a regular series of meetings between military and security officials of both countries to discuss a wide range of related issues, including (the) war on terrorism and reform initiatives," he said.

Kennon will reaffirm US-Philippines alliance and stress the value of continued Philippine support for Operation Enduring Freedom in Iraq and the global war against terrorism, Williams said.

The US government is helping train and equip the Armed Forces against al-Qaeda-linked terrorists in Mindanao.

Small numbers of US special forces train troops on a regular basis as part of US President George W. Bush’s pledge to assist countries who backed his global war on terror. — Jaime Laude, AFP