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