So...a new wrinkle in the war on whatever.

Everyone knows (hopefully) that we have over 1,000 American soldiers in the Philippines right now, furthering the war against terrorism by helping to flush out an Islamic militant group linked with al Qaeda. The Bush Administration has strongly repelled the notion that our troops are actively involved in the counter-terrorism ops - and are merely there to advise and train.

And now, the excuse we've all been waiting for.

One missionary hostage is killed and another wounded during an offensive "rescue mission" by Philippine "troops". Reports maintain that no U.S. soldiers were involved in the fray. But what of the choice to engage the enemy on short notice and in heavy rains when American hostages were at stake? Certainly such involvment would have included American advisors, since the hostage situation is of paramount importance, according the administration.

Bush said that "justice would be done" to the terrorists who seized the couple. Sound familar?

One would guess that this latest incident will only serve to further fan the flames of our global offensive.