No just cause

With great contempt the world is witnessing a spree of abductions of foreign nationals by terrorist elements in Iraq.

Their actions have extended beyond the kidnapping of Americans and Britons, and now include nationals whose governments -- Egypt, Japan, India and the Philippines -- are not traditionally perceived as front-liners in the war in Iraq.

The abduction of innocent civilians shows that the kidnappers have little bias toward nationality or religion, proving that despite their claims of a religious crusade or an uprising of a subjugated people, these acts of violence are nothing more than despicable crimes.

We have never supported the American-led invasion of Iraq. The rationale behind the attack was faint and since then revelations, or lack thereof, in the case of weapons of mass destruction, have only reinforced our belief that the invasion was an arrogant act of superpower politics.

That is not to say that we condone the documented barbarism of Saddam Hussein's regime. Neither does it reduce our support or Indonesia's commitment to the fight against terrorism. Indonesia knows all to well the consequences of living under tyranny and the human cost of terrorist attacks.

Our denunciation of the Iraqi invasion has no relation with our commitment toward human rights, the fight against terrorism or empathy toward the American people's suffering in the 9/11 terrorist attack. It is simply a case where we have found it impossible to consistently justify a unilateral act against another sovereign state.

Our position reflects that of our government, which has rightly stood steadfast in fighting terrorism, yet found the invasion of Iraq to be a specious cause.

With some trepidation we must admit that certain Indonesians may empathize with the feelings of some Iraqis who felt they are an oppressed people living under a foreign occupation force.

However, this precludes any suggestion that we support, excuse or sanction the criminal acts being carried out by terrorist elements in Iraq. The kidnappings and beheadings are barbaric by any standard of law, culture or religion. Perpetrators deserve the severest punishment, and their collaborators warrant prosecution.

Victimization of innocents in any conflict is inexcusable, the kidnapping and beheading of harmless civilian workers in Iraq goes beyond the limit of human tolerance.

There is no validity in Clausewitz's axiom. No matter how just an end is claimed to be, it does not justify an unjust means.

It should now be the task of an internationally sanctioned United Nations-led, effort to reconciliate the people of Iraq and rebuild a nation whose history can be traced through to Mesopotamia -- an Iraq which is truly independent and distinct in its character and not a marionette of a major power.

It will not be through force, but the just economic reconstruction and establishment of a national identity that will truly weed out the roots of terrorism in Iraq.

This dark episode of kidnappings has also led to a moral conflict between allies. In particular, American hands pointing a recriminating finger at the Philippines.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's decision to pull out Philippine troops from Iraq in a effort to secure the release of kidnapped Angelo de la Cruz has earned the ire of the American public and media. She is accused of caving in to terrorists and emboldening their efforts even further.

While refusing terrorist demands is a categorical principle, we can understand President Arroyo's belief that the Philippine predicament was a "special case".

The decision was as much political pragmatism as it was a moral one.

Manila had already decided to withdraw its troops from Iraq even before De La Cruz was abducted. There seems little point in risking his life given that the small 51-member Philippine contingent was due to leave in a matter of weeks. The safety of over a million plus Filipino workers in the Middle East was another consideration. As a politician,

Arroyo also faced domestic pressure having been ushered into office just a month earlier with the slimmest of margins. For her, the hasty withdrawal made political sense.

We do not believe this decision should reflect negatively on the Philippine people. It is not a retrenchment of Manila's commitment to fighting terrorism, nor should it be blamed as a catalyst for further kidnappings.

Repeated abductions preceded De La Cruz's kidnapping. It would have likely continued with or without the Philippines withdrawal.

As a neighbor Indonesia has seen first hand how the Philippine government has for years persevered in the face of sabotage and guerrilla attacks even before terrorism became a global cause celebre.

As a friend we have also witnessed Filipinos' commitment to the pursuit of a just cause. Like Indonesians, the Philippine people are resolute when the moral foundation of their mission is strong. They have risen above the shackles of colonialism and displayed an unrelenting determination to endure during the Japanese occupation in World War II.

Maybe, deep down the Philippine people did not really want their young men to be part of an occupation force. And maybe, just maybe, they did not believe the cause in Iraq was just in the first place.