Intelligence shortcomings<\/p>\n
For some of us, the series of failed bombing attempts in
\nJakarta, including the one on Monday with the explosion of a
\ngrenade in the hands of one attacker, reminds us of the coyote
\ncharacter in the classic cartoon series The Roadrunner. The
\ncoyote consistently fails in his attempts to demolish the
\nostrich-like bird, not only because the target is way too fast
\nfor him, but also because he is plain stupid.<\/p>\n
It is tempting to dismiss Monday's attackers as a bunch of
\nstupid amateurs like the coyote. But admittedly, there have been
\nseveral other failed attacks in the past, including occasions
\nwhen the bombs exploded in their houses or in their vehicles on
\ntheir way to carry out their misdeeds.<\/p>\n
Any similarity between the amateurish bombers and the coyote
\nin Roadrunner ends here however. The cartoon series is fun to
\nwatch, but there is nothing humorous about the failed attacks.<\/p>\n
In real life, an attack that plans to use any type of
\nexplosives is disturbing, irrespective of whether it has
\nsuccessfully been executed or not. Some of the attacks that
\nreached fruition were devastating or even fatal, like the one at
\nthe Jakarta Stock Exchange building or the one that maimed the
\nPhilippine ambassador to Indonesia.<\/p>\n
What is disconcerting about these attacks is shortcomings in
\nthe intelligence capability of the security apparatus of this
\ncountry. Not only have they consistently failed to anticipate
\nthese attacks, they have, in most cases, failed to solve the
\nmysteries even after the attacks took place. At times, we're left
\nwondering who is the real coyote here.<\/p>\n
The public has yet to be given any credible explanation by the
\nauthorities about the perpetrators of these attacks, and about
\ntheir motives. We are not sure whether they were conducted by the
\nsame people, or by different groups for different motives.<\/p>\n
The few cases that have already reached the courts have
\nsignally failed to provide satisfactory answers to these most
\nbasic questions.<\/p>\n
Monday's incident, coming at a time when this nation, with the
\nrest of the world, is fighting against the threat of terrorism,
\nwill be seen as a test of our intelligence capability.<\/p>\n
While we can count our blessings that there were no casualties
\napart from one of the attackers, the police must come up quickly
\nwith credible answers about the planned attack on Monday: Who are
\nthey, who was the target, and, most importantly, why?<\/p>\n
Most of the attacks that have taken place -- both failed and
\nsuccessful, in Jakarta and elsewhere in Indonesia -- have left
\nfew clues for the public to be able to detect any discernible
\npattern. The targets, timing and type of explosives used all seem
\nto have been randomly selected. The motives too were unclear:
\nWhether they were intended to kill, destroy property, or simply
\nscare people off.<\/p>\n
There is no doubt, however, about the impact that these
\nbombings or attempted attacks, random though they may be, has had
\non the lives of the public: They are terrorizing us.<\/p>\n
As long as the police and their intelligence cannot come up
\nwith credible explanations for these attacks and arrest the real
\nperpetrators, the public will be left to fend for itself.<\/p>\n
We are left guessing about when and where the next attack will
\ntake place. But for most of us, life must go on, even with the
\nthreat of terror attacks haunting us. The only thing we can do is
\nhope we won't be anywhere near when the next attack occurs. That,
\nor hope that our intelligence services will crack the mysteries
\nfast enough to foil them.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/intelligence-shortcomings-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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