Croatian American Association

Home

News

CAA Documents

We Must Win the Battle of Ideas
By ALEXANDER DOWNER
October 18, 2005 Wall Street Journal

Despite many arrests, successful prosecutions and an unprecedented level of regional cooperation, the threat from transnational terrorism remains a real and present danger. This was made chillingly clear when suicide bombers murdered 20 innocent people at restaurants in Bali on the evening of Oct. 1.

Terrorism is a brutal and nihilistic force. It threatens the aspirations that millions of people have for a safe and prosperous life. It challenges regional governments, just as many are making significant economic progress and consolidating their transitions to democracy.

The terrorists aim to destroy moderate Muslim governments, undermining their economies by driving out Western interests. Their ultimate goal is to create a new Caliphate in the Muslim world including Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, the southern Philippines and southern Thailand.

This extremist regime would plunge these countries into a pre-modern world, where women and minorities would have no rights, where technology would be shunned and where personal choice and economic freedom would not be tolerated. To picture the sort of regime I am talking about you only have to cast your mind back a few years to the Taliban regime that existed in Afghanistan until the end of 2001. This is the reality that the extremists seek to impose on the Islamic world -- a reality that would seek to have freedom and democracy denied to us all.

In South East Asia, Jemaah Islamiyah remains the greatest threat. Among many other attacks it was responsible for the 2002 Bali bombings which killed more than 200 people, including 88 of my countrymen. Some of JI's most dangerous operatives remain at large, and it is increasingly tapping into wider networks of likeminded extremists from within its Indonesian heartland and from neighboring regions such as the southern Philippines.

Communal violence in southern Thailand and elsewhere could serve as a beacon to such networks, which continue to cross borders in search of refuge, training and logistical support.

Australia has put considerable effort into working with our neighbors to confront terrorism. Strengthening cooperation and capacity in our region has been the primary focus. Much of this work is done through bilateral arrangements -- a network of 11 counterterrorism Memoranda of Understanding. We also play a leading role in region-wide initiatives, such as the Bali counterterrorism process we have co-chaired with Indonesia. In the aftermath of this month's Bali atrocity I have visited Indonesia again to discuss ways we can further bolster our counter terrorism efforts.

Over the past two years, Australia has allocated 250 million Australian dollars ($188 million) toward regional counterterrorism. This help is crucial as it funds cooperation among law-enforcement officials in the region. Australian Federal Police officers are currently working in support of Indonesian officers in their investigation of the recent horrific attacks.

This is part of an ongoing engagement that touches on all aspects of policing. Australia and Indonesia, for example, jointly run a regional facility for training and operational support -- the Jakarta Center for Law Enforcement Cooperation, which has already trained close to 400 officers from the region since its establishment last year. Australia also provides training programs to the South East Asia Regional Center for Counter Terrorism in Malaysia.

Australian intelligence agencies are also closely networked with their counterparts in the region. These liaison relationships have resulted in an unprecedented level of cooperation and information sharing, underpinned by a 20 million-Australian-dollar regional counter-terrorism intelligence training program operated by Australia.

We have achieved considerable results. For example, the Indonesian authorities successfully brought to justice more than 40 terrorists involved in the 2002 Bali bombings. Three received death sentences; while four were jailed for life. This was a joint investigation -- a model for successful international cooperation to combat terrorism.

This is welcome progress -- but more remains to be done. We need better communication and coordination of counterterrorism efforts both between and within governments in the region. And all countries need to ensure that their legal systems are up to the task of dealing with terrorist networks. We continue to strengthen our own counterterrorism laws, and are assisting others to do likewise.

Much more needs to be done internationally as well. At the United Nations, a chance was missed last month to produce a political declaration defining acts of terrorism. The international community now needs urgently to conclude negotiations on the Comprehensive Convention Against Terrorism.

We must also continue to fight and win the battle of ideas. Contesting the extremist vision is a challenge that religious, political and community leaders must embrace world-wide. The most successful warriors against the Islamic extremist terrorists will be mainstream Muslims. They must be given support to ensure that they successfully defeat the divisive message of hate, tyranny and intolerance propagated by the extremists.

Our enemy will not disappear overnight. But there is one message that the terrorists should understand: we shall not back down.

Mr. Downer is the foreign minister of Australia.

Croatian American Association
National Treasurer
Daniella Sumera
6607 W. Archer
Chicago, IL 60638