The United States has decided to suspend military aid to the Philippines, much of it going to military and civic programs in Mindanao, because of the conviction of a US Marine and the subsequent refusal by a Philippine court to turn the convict over to US authorities.
�I�m not the judge of the guilt or innocence of the individual,� Admiral William Fallon, the commander of US forces in the Pacific, told The New York Times. �The issue is only one of custody. I am responsible to our people in uniform. I have to have guarantees that I can trust their safety to an international agreement.�
[tags]US military, Nicole rape case, US-Philippine relations, US Marines[/tags]
