US scales down troops joining Balikatan war games By Michaela P. del Callar 04/04/2011

US scales down troops joining Balikatan war games

By Michaela P. del Callar 04/04/2011

The United States (US) has scaled down its troops who will be joining this week’s military exercises in the Philippines as hundreds of them are currently engaged in humanitarian mission in quake-devastated Japan, an embassy spokesman said yesterday.

Wossie Mazengia, US deputy spokesperson, said only 3,000 will be deployed for the activity and not 6,000 as initially announced.

“The annual Philippine-US Balikatan exercises will take place as scheduled even though some 3,000 US Marines who are stationed in Japan have remained there to assist with the relief effort,” Mazengia said in a text message..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/