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.
Im 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]
