Terrorism in the Philippines: dangerous delays are dashing hopes | The Strategist

We had a JTF assisting SOUTHCOM until 2012 when it was pulled back because success was occurring even on Jolo... and shortly there after came the rise of IS, ASG swearing allegiance to IS, and advising and funding followed and the old ASG of bandits and desperate jihadis was transformed into something else, The seed money form piracy was probably the real kicker - when Malaysia paid off the randsom. We have had SOF advising through TSC for a long while and yet all know the issues in Manila in the government and the issue of corruption in the SOUTHCOM AO and how things happen due to both..
My thinking is the next task out there is past what we have been doing and changing up the thinking of supporting in unilateral aspect, which has had limited success on the short term - but instead a multi-lateral aspect with a By/Through/With approach in support to support long term solution to the southern region. Sometimes its not facilitating the leading but in the supporting role - and its an area that needs serious assistance. Such is a very different situation now than when Frido lead 1SFG into the South after 9-11, and Filipino SOF units are very capable these days.

SSG Unger - had to dig to find it - but here is a 2014 article that talks with COL Dave Maxwell (now retired and at Georgetown Unv). Really good background read in just how far we got and where we stopped. i still regard Dave Maxwell as the best commander we ever sent to the PI in the Long War. (and we had some great ones too!) http://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/trend-lines/13900/as-u-s-winds-down-counterterrorism-task-force-in-the-philippines-challenges-remain

SSG,

MILF in this case stands for Moro Islamic Liberation Front. A terrorist group in the region.

Chip - it wont be us solving it... but the article was on target with those 4 items - and whiile they make things go slow - the main issue is about to be turned... However - the time aspect is that Raqqa will fall - and IS will be taking advantage of the situation in the PI to facilitate its campaign in SEA.