Spineless Philippines Sucker Punch Iraq

“So. The Coalition has lost 50 humanitarian workers in Iraq, and an al Qaeda-affiliated group has six million dollars in cash. It's time to recognize a new coalition, one initiated by the new Spanish government. We'll call it the Coalition of the Prostrate. Give a lukewarm welcome to the Philippines as the newest member of the club.”

So commented Vodka Pundit in response to reporting by The Daily Tribune via Michelle Malkin that the Philippine government, in order to secure safe release for truck driver Angelo de la Cruz, not only agreed an early withdrawal of it’s humanitarian workers in Iraq, but also agreed to pay $6 million in ransom to the Islamists who kidnapped him.

This sucker punch to Iraq- losing humanitarian workers while Islamists pocket an enormous sum of money with which to purchase weapons to turn against the Iraqi people- has a positive side. Americans of good conscience can add the Philippines to the growing list of countries whose exports should be avoided to the maximum extent possible. As the Philippines do not actually export anything of value- the lifestyle impact will be nil.