Terrorist havens

Terrorist havens

Since most Americans do not keep a Baedeker to terrorist sanctuaries on their home bookshelves, they need some help from Mr. Bush in determining which countries harbor bin Laden operatives or other terrorist. Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz has mentioned several countries where the Pentagon seemed eager to act. These range from anarchic states like Somalia, Yemen and Indonesia to allies like the Philippines that might welcome U.S. military cooperation.

It is one thing to raise an alarm about terrorism in distant places, and quite another to present detailed evidence and a military plan that makes sense. Mr. Wolfowitz and his colleagues have yet to meet the latter test.

Indonesia's vast archipelago is rife with local rebellions, Islamic radical movements and inter-religious conflicts. Indonesia also happens to be the world's largest Islamic nation. It is exactly the kind of intricate society where heavy-handed U.S. intervention is likely to backfire.

Wisely for now, Mr. Wolfowitz's list did not include Iraq. With no effective opposition movement inside Iraq and much of Europe and the Arab world strongly opposed to military action, this is not the time for Washington to wage war against Saddam Hussein.

-- The New York Times