A Crack in the Pot?

AFP reported that Al-Qaeda's second-ranking leader, Ayman Al Zawahiri, has sharply questioned the wisdom of the leader of the Al-Qaeda movement in Iraq, Abu Musab Al Zarqawi, for opening up a conflict with Iraq's Shia majority. If this report is accurate, then cracks are now developing within the most prolific terror organisation in modern times. This can only mean one thing - the self-destruction of this organisation is beginning. Eventually, it will force any and all organisations affiliated to it (such as the JI) to take sides. This surely will spell its ultimate doom.

Unfortunately, it might mean more terrorists acts - uncontrolled ones, in the future. Things may get worse before they get better. So we have to brace ourselves when a satellite falls to earth - it will burn brighter upon re-entry, but disintegrate re-entering the earth's atmosphere.

I do not think that any peace-loving person will mourn its demise.

See no evil, hear no evil

Mr Jusuf Kalla, the Vice President of Indonesia is on record as saying that Indonesia cannot ban the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) because it does not recognise it in the first place. You cannot ban something you do not know about, so he is reported to have said in Detikom, an online news service.

This argument is a bit sophisticated but faulty nevertheless.

First, the JI does exist, no matter how hard he tries to convince himself that it doesn't. He should recognise the danger within and not keep his head in the proverbial sand.

Second, he needs to deal with this real danger, if only because it has caused 3 major man-made catastrophes in Indonesia since 2002 - 2 Bali bombings and 1 Australian Embassy bombing. If I am not mistaken, the majority of casualties (not just the dead) have been Indonesians, including loss of goodwill, tour business and property.

Mr Kalla should face the facts squarely and take concrete steps to solve the problem! I am sure the world will stand by him to erase this scourge of the early 21st century. I state early because I think they - the JI and Al Qaeda - movements based on hate and cowardice - will not last.

Go to jail, do not pass Go(al)

I wrote in my blog of 17 September 2005 about some bloggers who used this same medium to write insulting and hurtful things about other races in Singapore. They were subsequently charged by the local police for sedition. The verdict is out. Two of them got 1 day (plus $5000 fine) and 1 month of jail time respectively for their intemperate blogging. I did not expect a custodial sentence, but the law courts thought otherwise.

On reflection, perhaps this is the appropriate response to curb people from writing hate-blogs, which serves no useful purpose other than incite hatred among peoples - and hatred kills.

"Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him". 1 John 3:15

In the past, it has led to wars and conflicts where more than just a 1 month jail sentence is involved. You may call me over-reactive, sensationalist, and whatnots, but I believe history is on my side.

I hope that this episode is a lesson to all bloggers (at least those in Singapore) to blog responsibly.