soldiers supporting the anti-Abu Sayyaf exercises on Basilan are based. The ABS-CBN news service is citing local radio reports that residents saw at least one U.S. Army MH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter in the area, though they cannot verify if it took part in the rescue attempt.

With the Abu Sayyaf no longer in possession of the hostages, the Philippine armed forces is set to redouble its efforts to crush the group, which has been linked to Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda in the past. At the same time, the U.S. military is considering expanding the role of its troops

in the Philippines, bringing them in closer contact with the anti-terrorism operations.

But the ability of the Abu Sayyaf to move the hostages from their base on Basilan, where several thousand Philippine troops are engaged in tracking them down, suggests that the Philippine military may still find it difficult to wipe out the group, even without having to worry now about hurting the hostages. Perhaps more problematic, with the Abu Sayyaf again spreading to Mindanao -- where the larger Moro Islamic Liberation Front operates -- it may be difficult for U.S. troops accompanying

Philippine soldiers to avoid getting caught up in Manila's ongoing skirmishes against elements of the front.


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