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US forces stationed in SL

2 March 2012 07:33 am - 81     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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US Special Forces teams are currently stationed in five South Asian countries including Sri Lanka as part of the counter-terrorism co-operation with these nations, a top Pentagon commander has disclosed.
 
These teams have been deployed by US Pacific Command as part of its effort to enhance their counter-terrorism capabilities, in particular in the maritime domain, Admiral Robert Willard, the PACOM Commander said yesterday.
 
“We have currently special forces assist teams - Pacific assist teams is the term - laid down in Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives, as well as India,” Willard told lawmakers at a Congressional hearing in response to a question on co-operation with India on counter-terrorism issues. “We are working very closely with India with regard to their counter-terrorism capabilities and in particular on the maritime domain but also government to government, not necessarily DOD (Department of Defence) but other agencies assisting them in terms of their internal counter-terror and counterinsurgency challenges,” Willard said. Willard said, Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (Let) is a very dangerous organisation.
 
It not only has very good operational security, but also a lot of international design in terms of their aspirations. “So it is a very important threat, and we’re working very closely with the nations in the region to help contain it,” he said. The PACOM Commander was responding to a question from Congressman Joe Wilson as to what effort is being made to counter threat from LeT. In his prepared statement, Willard told lawmakers that the US and India are working together on contain LeT. “Responsible for many attacks in India, including the horrific attacks into Mumbai, LeT is headquartered in Pakistan, affiliated with al-Qaeda and other VEOs, and contributes to terrorist operations in Afghanistan and aspires to operate against Asia, Europe and North America,” Willard said.
 
He said Pacific Command’s Indian Engagement Initiative that resourced and hosted Mumbai counter terrorist specialists for training exercises and exchanges throughout the US, together with capacity-building activities with South Asian partners are mainly focused on containing LeT and contributing to CT self-sufficiency of the sub-region’s militaries. (PTI)

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  Comments - 81

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  • RW Friday, 02 March 2012 04:28 PM

    What's a BROBLEM?? LOL..

    citizen1 Friday, 02 March 2012 05:57 PM

    strategically quiet

    sltk2004 Friday, 02 March 2012 05:57 PM

    Obviously they must be here with the consent of the SL government, even though some guys commenting here seem to think otherwise.

    citizen1 Friday, 02 March 2012 05:56 PM

    According to authorities the threat is still there...so you see, we asked for it.

    citizen1 Friday, 02 March 2012 05:55 PM

    Great comment. A bit like the pot calling the kettle black

    bernard Friday, 02 March 2012 05:40 PM

    Don't worry, Wimal W will go on a fast and they will leave.

    citizen1 Friday, 02 March 2012 05:49 PM

    Our leaders, their stooges and our troups are already miles ahead in this department.

    citizen1 Friday, 02 March 2012 05:33 PM

    well said.

    citizen1 Friday, 02 March 2012 05:32 PM

    Exactly. Atleast they revealed this fact whereas our people haven't breathed a word to us.

    GK Holdings Friday, 02 March 2012 05:09 PM

    US forces are there to protect US assets once a resolution is passed at he UNHRC

    citizen1 Friday, 02 March 2012 06:00 PM

    no, from the govt!!

    elaris Friday, 02 March 2012 03:31 PM

    When did US forces arrive SL

    KaRa Friday, 02 March 2012 03:23 PM

    The US is in our court. They will not want to bring HR issues against SL. It's only a diplomatic game, stopping short of taking actions. All the Tiger sympathisers should know that.

    ravi Friday, 02 March 2012 03:22 PM

    I LOVE AMERICA PLEASE HELP US FROM LANKA..

    UK TAMIL BOY Friday, 02 March 2012 02:26 PM

    WELCOME TO AMERICA,
    TEACHING DEMOCRACY TO SRI LANKA.

    TMA Friday, 02 March 2012 01:16 PM

    No from ur dear leader (the minister of defence). Y U think they just can come & station without the patriotic leaders of our country?

    Shaik Ahamath Friday, 02 March 2012 12:36 PM

    There will always be sycophants like Shesh and Dinesh who forever prefer to be on their knees licking the boots of USA disregarding their acts of wickedness to the rest of the world. is Iraq now any better after the US massacred over a million civilians in the guise of an illegal regime change. Is Libya any better or Egypt. They wrecked Vietnam with Orange-T rendering their arable lands useless. Japan is still suffering after Hiroshima. The only country in the World to deploy Weapons of Mass Destruction is USA yet they have the cheek to invade other countries in the guise of removing non-existant Weapons of Mass Destruction.

    Fazeel Hussain Friday, 02 March 2012 12:39 PM

    We have sold our sole, and why not our girls too

    tinkiriya Friday, 02 March 2012 12:09 PM

    will cobras eat roast bread...?

    Asrar Friday, 02 March 2012 12:01 PM

    Wait till PUTIN to come on March NATO (No Action Talk Only) will shout there mouth till 2024 , hope world will be a peace full place to live one again

    john Saturday, 03 March 2012 05:39 AM

    Historian ,

    When troops are stationed in a foreign country there will always be issues with local girls, how serious these issues become depends on how well trained and disiplined the troops are . Lets not forget that over 100 of the SL peace keeping force were expelled from Haiti after serious allegations were made against them.

    Archeologist Monday, 05 March 2012 04:18 AM

    I don't think historian denies that fact. Why are you so quick to jump in to the defence of US?

    Archeologist Monday, 05 March 2012 04:18 AM

    From the responses to Historians post, it seems there are too many US Military fan boys reading DM. Too many super-hero movies guys?

    lal Saturday, 03 March 2012 10:42 AM

    Any idea how many US troopps on Lankan soil? What does Lanka gain from them? We are better at combating terrorits!

    gamunu Saturday, 03 March 2012 10:04 AM

    As the responses indicate this is all news to general public in sri lanka.
    Why our leaders NOT inform the public about this, unwarranted intrusion.
    As the CPI ( communist party of india) asked their Prime Minister WHY India has allowed US troops in the country, our opposition leaders must ask our present President & Prime Minister why foreign troops are stationed in a stuanghly NON - Aligned sovereign country.. Thank you.

    lal Saturday, 03 March 2012 08:56 AM

    Let them to stay.Nothing wrong with this.Our people like to go to USA on green card and stay there.We will share their presence.

    Sumedha Saturday, 03 March 2012 08:47 AM

    Malysia, Bangladesh. Also, there is strife in Mulsim countries because of the US/UN/NATO actions in the Middle East.

    KD Saturday, 03 March 2012 07:32 AM

    Looks like good admiral toppled the apple cart by revealing covert operations.

    Marusira Saturday, 03 March 2012 06:48 AM

    we dont have Oil...

    faqi Saturday, 03 March 2012 06:31 AM

    There seems to be a lot of absurd comments here. Many have no idea about America , its military or what America stands for.
    If one takes all the aid given to other countries, America stands way above. USAID is active in all the countries of the world including Sri Lanka. People forget the fact the Europe was rebuilt after the devastation of WWII with American Aid under the Marshall Plan European nations received nearly $13 billion, in todays context its about $258 Billion.

    adel Friday, 02 March 2012 11:51 AM

    well well........ interesting. signs of the US trying to arm some other rebel group so Sri Lanka can again go to war. for them to sell weapons, and accuse SL Govt of war crimes again. what a strategy....... Well done US

    Johann Gunasekara Saturday, 03 March 2012 05:24 AM

    Hm..............this explains the softly softly approach by the US on the HR resolution, typical bully tactics..........and all you Diaspora fellows think they love you for you.......hi hi. Hats off to MR and team.....who has managed the aftermath of the war and its geo politics

    j Saturday, 03 March 2012 05:36 AM

    Before English teach him to Sinhala and give him to Brain

    kudu Saturday, 03 March 2012 05:20 AM

    now its gonna double mate
    maybe quadruple
    with all the phedos coming in as tourists
    and add the US military
    its gonna be an orgy

    Ranatunga Saturday, 03 March 2012 03:22 AM

    Dear Mahroof,
    America wll not need to send counter terrorism forces anywhere when the whole of the Islamic world stops breeding and exporting world terrorism, and hatered agaisnst all that is non islamic.
    Tell me a single Islamic country that is in peace and has democracy, and don't balme the wets for it. Turn the serach lights inwards.

    R.Suntharalingam Saturday, 03 March 2012 02:20 AM

    Big powers are fishing in troubled waters.Beware,Set our house in order. No outsider will dare to trespass.

    lovenation Saturday, 03 March 2012 02:05 AM

    You have to study retrospectively how CIA and mossad acted. if someone worked for these agent say after their retirement u r accepting as true.PLEASE read the book BY WAY OF DECEPTION by Victor Ivorsky(former director of mossad), u will admire.

    Hussain Saturday, 03 March 2012 01:45 AM

    They came to learn from Our Soldiers how to destroys terrorism
    and after they will tell the world they teach our soldiers. they are most dangerous terror in the world. the big fish always attack small fish. Not allow to come our soil.

    KD Saturday, 03 March 2012 01:37 AM

    my foot!

    Silva Saturday, 03 March 2012 01:33 AM

    No Wimal, W willl have party with them, like all Politician just a 180 degree turn. And get his green card and will start his American English Tution soon

    lankashantha Friday, 02 March 2012 09:04 AM

    Where is our Vimal Mahathaya?

    buffaloa citizen Friday, 02 March 2012 09:18 AM

    Only state terrorism.

    buffaloa citizen Friday, 02 March 2012 09:16 AM

    Our leaders talk volumes about patriotism and soveriegnity, and under the carpet they agree on this.

    buffaloa citizen Friday, 02 March 2012 09:15 AM

    Counter terrorism is not killing innocent civilians, ala carte Sri Lanka style.

    AMG Friday, 02 March 2012 09:24 AM

    Welcome home! !

    Shesh Friday, 02 March 2012 09:21 AM

    mate, child sex abuses cases recorded last year was the highest ever in Sri Lanka....do u want to go wit Okinawa? or do u want to c dat not happening in SL 1st?? Grandfathers raped kids, one father repeatedly raped his own daughter..did u comment then??

    Prabath Friday, 02 March 2012 09:14 AM

    South Asian countries shouldn't allow them to come and stationed here. No Terrorism here now.

    DUWI Friday, 02 March 2012 09:11 AM

    Hunting with the Hound and Running with the Hare????

    kawda boy Friday, 02 March 2012 09:09 AM

    what about double stand sri lanka?

    TMA Friday, 02 March 2012 09:08 AM

    Er... we didn't want any foreign country 2 interefere suring war

    TMA Friday, 02 March 2012 09:31 AM

    To that 2 happen in SL we don't need US troops. It's already happening without them

    Srilankan189 Friday, 02 March 2012 08:40 AM

    tell me where the base is, I'll show the pentagon some real combat.

    There are only two kinds of people that understand me; Me and my enemy, everyone else just has a second hand opinion.

    j Friday, 02 March 2012 08:41 AM

    What ???? Did Vimal Kows that..? may be he is Reading only Sinhala News,

    Mahroof Friday, 02 March 2012 08:40 AM

    Mahroof.
    Counter terrorism! why America does not send forces to counter Israel's terrorism on children, women, elderly persons etc.

    Dinesh Friday, 02 March 2012 08:38 AM

    Bether see what happens around Srilanka.Check the new statistics Historian

    Dee Friday, 02 March 2012 08:36 AM

    Nothing to counter here now. all have been given 'refugee status' by the west. but you may hang around if you wish and protect from the mid east storm.

    Historian Friday, 02 March 2012 08:25 AM

    please keep the girls well away - remember what happened to the 12 year old girl in okinawa in 1995 ?
    It is said that From 1952 to 2004, there were approximately 200,000 accidents and crimes involving U.S. troops, in which 1,076 Japanese civilians died in Okinawa.
    History may repeat it self.

    Mufleeh Friday, 02 March 2012 08:09 AM

    Counter-Terrorism??? why didn't they send the forces when we were struggling with the Terrorism? Double standard country, shame on USA. Will do anything for its own benefits.

    kondebendapucheena Friday, 02 March 2012 07:56 AM

    Shame Double stand USA

    willows Friday, 02 March 2012 07:55 AM

    A good opportunity to teach them counter terrorism

    dinesh withanage Friday, 02 March 2012 10:24 AM

    let Russia come to the pitch. Putin will aim the gun on 5th March

    Robin Friday, 02 March 2012 12:03 PM

    May god save mother Lanka. US in the pretext of helping us in the "counter- terrorism" are going to "USE" us for whatever purpose it may serve them and are here to be "stationed forever" and will be our blood sucking vampire.

    buffaloa citizen Friday, 02 March 2012 11:49 AM

    Who told you this great secret, surely Weerawansa or that other demented idiots in the JHU?

    buffaloa citizen Friday, 02 March 2012 11:21 AM

    I want the sponsorship for Lemon Puff advertsiment this time.

    Mifaz Friday, 02 March 2012 11:32 AM

    Ha Ha Wimal Mahaththaya & our well known Kelaniye Dutugemunu

    ind Friday, 02 March 2012 11:12 AM

    Is it from you ??

    jack Friday, 02 March 2012 11:20 AM

    where ever the washington go. they will create some broblem in future

    pasha Friday, 02 March 2012 11:18 AM

    They have come here to learn how to defeat terrorism please teach them and charge some money for the course

    Mfzansr Friday, 02 March 2012 10:46 AM

    He will be fasting to "death" from tomorrow onward

    TMA Friday, 02 March 2012 10:38 AM

    Funny how every1 is blaming the Americans for this. they came here for invitation not invasion

    Shane Friday, 02 March 2012 07:51 AM

    Is this something to do with iran?

    das Friday, 02 March 2012 10:36 AM

    Part of SL culture. dont try to impose western values. :-)

    Dalu Banda Friday, 02 March 2012 10:05 AM

    They could burn our 'Pirith Poth Wansse' and other sacred religious books and urinate over the killed victims in a crisis situation. Please provide additional security to our `Dalada Hamuduruwo' also. Very untrustworthy buggers.

    Historian Friday, 02 March 2012 10:14 AM

    RE:"did u comment then??"
    Answer : Yes.

    Historian Friday, 02 March 2012 10:13 AM

    Is it in the same level of the state terrorism practiced by US all over the world and within their borders as well?

    Historian Friday, 02 March 2012 10:11 AM

    I do not deny SL is infested with sick freaks.
    The aim of my post was to remind people of what happened elsewhere in the world where the troops, so glorified by movies set up camp.( Apparently you see them as heroes as well and this comment hurts you). I suggest you read more about the 1995 Okinawa incident and the manner they carried out the rape and torture which reveals unimaginable levels of mental sickness.

    xlntgson Friday, 02 March 2012 10:08 AM

    When? Started long ago or new phenomenon, what China do?

    lovenation Friday, 02 March 2012 09:44 AM

    CIA may be behind LET and backing this terrorist organisation to happen everything to their timetable.

    Dinesh Friday, 02 March 2012 09:42 AM

    You got it Shesh

    Patriot Friday, 02 March 2012 09:21 AM

    Obama plays to the interest of the Zionists whose interests in Sri Lanka is not known to the public yet.


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