Kapihan de Zamboanga
By Hader Glang

Barack Obama's election a triumph for black Americans

The election of Democrat Senator Barack Obama to the presidency of the United States is an amazing moment in American history.

This is an incredible accomplishment considering that never before have the Americans chosen a black candidate with Muslim roots to be president.

Indeed, the election of Obama is a long awaited triumph for the black American people who suffered much from slavery and oppressions by the whites in the past.

But his victory clearly indicates that America has come a long way since the dark time of segration, where the black people were treated like animals.

Some Filipino analysts had earlier speculated that a victory by Obama could lead to a reduction of American troops in Mindanao or even end their presence in the region.

I think this is more likely to happen because Obama wants to alter the US-lead global war on terrorism and the fact that he's calling for an end of war in Iraq, which was launched by outgoing President George Bush Jr.

But would this be a good thing or a bad thing for us? I think again we have to ask ourselves if the presence of US military here is not detrimental to our interest.

We have been hearing government officials saying that the strategic importance of the Philippines in America's geopolitics should remain constant and not lost.

Others say the US troops presence here and their non-combat assistance have helped prevent terror attacks and training and have neutralized Abu Sayyaf leaders and their JI cohorts.

On the other hand, diverse activist groups including Moro organizations demanded American troops involved in counter-terrorism exercises to leave Mindanao.

They said the humanitarian mission by American troops was a cover for counterinsurgency operations and amounted to US intervention in domestic affairs.

In light of all these issues, What is the best way for us? Should we demand Obama for a change in RP-US relations? Should we tell him to withdraw all US troops from Mindanao?