Rebels of Mindanao by Tom Anthony

more than 250 pounds, you know; they couldn’t survive in combat charging up a hill with rifle, steel helmet, flak jacket and forty-five pounds of gear in 100 plus degree heat-something the Navy guys don’t have to do-so our football team can’t compete against class A schools.” Thornton lamented the state of football at Army, a situation they both understood. “What’s new with our little project? Should we firm up plans?”
    â€œSome new info from the CIA.”
    â€œAnd?” Thornton was curious.
    â€œThe Turk carrying the cash left the Middle East and has already landed in Mindanao. Neither the CIA nor Philippine Intelligence was able to track him after that. Charlie wanted me to let you know.”
    Liu, sitting beside Thornton, was watching the game but listening tothe Americans. They were all on the same page regarding the Mindanao insurrection. “As usual, your CIA is great with theory but useless on the ground, especially here, in my country. Did you study my report?” he asked Hargens.
    â€œYeah. Your boys aren’t any better. And if they were, they’d just keep the cash.”
    Army scored a touchdown, and there was excitement around the room as the Navy grads hooted and the Army grads cheered, with good-natured heckling from both sides.
    â€œIn my years at West Point, we never lost this game,” Liu commented.
    â€œDuring my years we never won. Staubach was their quarterback and Bellino carried the ball,” Thornton said.
    Hargens got serious with Liu. “Reggie, I have to tell you, I would not like it if your political buddies got hold of the five million the Turk has.”
    Colonel Liu stood up, offended and getting red in the face, “But your guys can’t get it either. You’re not even supposed to be in Mindanao,” and left the Americans to join the Filipino officers at the other end of the table.
    Hargens took the opportunity to update Thornton. “Liu’s an honorable guy, the best of the bunch. Let’s help him stay that way. OK, here it is. You know Al Qaeda is waging worldwide war against us. In the Philippines, they’re using this Turk to get money to the Abu Sayaf, their local cell in Mindanao, who will use the cash to control the New Peoples Army, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, the Moros, and to mount a revolution. If they win the war, they’ll install a radical Islamic government. The Abu Sayaf is on the State Department list of foreign terrorist organizations. You can be sure if they see the U.S. government putting our noses in here, they’ll just toughen their position and move quickly to make something big happen.”
    Thornton wanted some clarification for himself. “If only the Filipinos would do it themselves.”
    â€œThey’ve been trying for forty years to control the Moros. Never will happen; too many different interests, with corruption all along the way. Money makes it worse.”
    â€œWhat exactly do you want me to do, if the U.S. can’t be involved?”
    â€œThat is exactly why I need
you
. I said we could get you close to theTurk, but then it’d be up to you. This is the best I can do and still let you keep whatever you can confiscate. Can’t let too many politicians, theirs or ours, know about our deal. I have to trust Liu and even his boss, Congressman Galan: at least we know them, they’re sitting here cheering on our team with us right now. Keeping your mission outside the CIA umbrella gives you an opportunity; but
you
have to make it happen. You’ll have help from our technicians as STAGCOM. I’ve approved that as the operational name and concept for you as a consultant, but after tonight you’re not going to see me for a while. So, good luck. Stop Hakki before he delivers the money to the rebel leaders. And whatever you do, don’t let the Philippine Army get that money. They’d use it to throw out President Cayton just as