Weak vs strong intelligence<\/p>\n
The Bali blasts have been followed by much criticism of
\nIndonesia's intelligence capabilities. Recently, The Jakarta Post
\npublished a number of articles, e.g. Controlling our intelligence
\n(Oct. 29, p. 6), which establish the tragedy as proof of the
\ncountry's weak intelligence agency. When reading enough of these
\ncondemnations, one would think the security officials do so
\nlittle, they probably operate food stalls on the side because
\nthey are so bored.<\/p>\n
Although scapegoating is a natural phenomenon after such a
\nvicious and gratuitous act, it is important to place Indonesia's
\nintelligence body in perspective. If one is to qualify
\nIndonesia's intelligence agency as \"weak\", a comparison might be
\nnecessary to determine just how weak.<\/p>\n
Thus, let us compare with a \"strong\" intelligence agency, that
\nof the United States. The C.I.A. certainly has more financial
\nresources than Indonesia's agency, and, since the Cold War, has
\nbeen a leader for much of the international intelligence
\ncommunity. Yet, for an agency that has access to more financial
\nresources, more technology, and solid ties to other effective
\nwestern spy agencies, it has unfortunately done no better. For if
\nit had, Sept. 11 would not be a date we so painfully remember.<\/p>\n
If the U.S. was unable to prevent such a large-scale act of
\nterror, I strongly doubt other countries can effectively deal
\nwith smaller scale, inconspicuous-thus-harder-to-detect,
\nterrorism.<\/p>\n
I am sure that this country's intelligence agency acted in its
\nbest capacity. And yes, maybe the government should review how to
\nincrease this best capacity. However, I see little use in blaming
\nthose who work to protect us from such atrocities. What about
\ncondemning those who perpetrated this carnage? Preventing
\nterrorism is not only the responsibility of security officials;
\neveryone must be involved. We must teach our children about
\ntolerance, we should exemplify compassion, and we have to promote
\nmulticulturalism.<\/p>\n
MICHAEL KING, Balikpapan, East Kalimantan<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/weak-vs-strong-intelligence-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }