Caution: The Following is Not Satire

Even though it reads like it is. The latest from the Philippines:

The Philippine government appeared to accede Tuesday to a demand by Iraqi insurgents to pull its small contingent of troops from Iraq in exchange for sparing the life of a Filipino hostage. Deputy Foreign Secretary Rafael Seguis of the Philippines told the Arab television network Al Jazeera that his country would withdraw its troops “as soon as possible” in response to the militants’ demands, but he did not give a specific date for the pullout. “I hope the statement that I read will touch the heart of this group,” he said, adding, “We know that Islam is the religion of peace and mercy.”