From Deseret News archives:

Bush urges Asia to join terror fight

Also, no new pact with N. Korea, he says

Published: Monday, Oct. 20, 2003 11:38 a.m. MDT
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The United States is pressing the case in Bangkok that security is essential for economic development. The United States announced Saturday it would give $5.4 million in seed money to build a regional counterterrorism facility at the Asia Development Bank. The money would help fund projects in such areas as port security.

A senior U.S. official said the initiatives were designed to address the link between trade and security, highlighting the devastating economic impact terrorist attacks can have by discouraging both business and tourist travel.

Some countries — particularly China —argued Saturday that APEC should remain focused solely on trade and economics, the purpose for which it was founded.

In Manila, Bush also found dissenters. Rep. Liza Maza, one of the lawmakers who walked out, wore a hand-painted shawl depicting a peace dove crushing a U.S. missile next to the words, "No to U.S. war." In an interview, Maza said she objects to Bush's plans to help the Philippine military combat Islamic terrorists based in the southern part of the island nation.

"We don't want to be a launching pad for this war that is being led by President Bush," she said. "I don't think we have any problem that we cannot contain ourselves."

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But most lawmakers, and many Filipinos, seemed to welcome Bush's visit. Thousands of flag-waving schoolchildren lined the streets as Bush drove through the congested city. Sen. Heherson Alvarez said he viewed Bush's stopover here as a badly needed vote of confidence for the Philippines, which has had to deal with communist insurgents and military unrest as well as Islamic extremists.

"The whole country is very afraid, very fragile. It drags down the whole economy," Alvarez said. "We're almost on the brink of looking like some of those Latin American republics 25 or 30 years ago."

Bush's visit was also intended to shore up President Gloria Arroyo, a staunch ally in the war on terrorism who is up for re-election next year. Bush said the United States and the Philippines are locked together against a common enemy.

"Americans witnessed the murder of thousands on a single day. Filipinos have known bombings and kidnapping and brutal murders," Bush said. "These killers torture and behead their victims while acting — or claiming to act — in the name of God. But murder has no home in any religious faith, and these terrorists must find no home in the Philippines."

Officials traveling with Bush declined to put a price tag on his pledge to help beef up the Philippines military. Last year, the United States provided about $114 million in military aid to the Philippines.

"We don't have a final number yet. We're still talking numbers with the Filipinos," said a senior administration official, who briefed reporters on the condition of anonymity.


Contributing: Associated Press

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Bullit Marquez, Associated Press

In Manila, President Bush salutes an honor guard officer.

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