Oh, The Irony!

The Philippine government has been "in a state of denial" about the terrorist threat, said a Western diplomat, explaining what prompted the American warning, which was made on March 22. The United States was joined by Australia and Britain in the warning, diplomats and Philippine officials said.

Over a period of months, the United States had given the Philippines intelligence that should have led to the arrest of suspected terrorists, including the leader of Abu Sayyaf, and the Philippine government did not act, one Western diplomat said.

Posted by Eddie Tews at April 13, 2004 02:02 PM