The weakest link

The weakest link

Identifying last Saturday's suicide bombers in Bali is
obviously essential. The more detail we have on them as
JP/6/E00
terrorists. But intelligence cannot always save us from anonymous
attackers whose names have never appeared on any intelligence
agency's watch list.

While the Indonesian Government is not keen on closing JI
down, lest this somehow offend ordinary Muslims, the nation's
elite police and military are obviously committed to catching
terrorists. But the situation in The Philippines is not so
certain.

Manila's military seems unable, or unwilling, to break up
these long-established insurgency and terror training networks.
The attitude of The Philippines Government, cursed with a corrupt
civil service and faltering economy, towards terror is also
relaxed.

It is hard to argue with the assessment in a recent
International Crisis Group report that the Philippines is the
weak link in Southeast Asia's struggle to trammel terror. For as
long as JI, its allies and offshoots train troops in The
Philippines, the region is at risk from suicide bombers, sent to
their death from safe havens there. This is a war Canberra and
Jakarta need help to fight. While the terror track from The
Philippines is clear, the bombings will continue.
-- The Australian, Canberra