I think Graham Cooke's article is timely and very well balanced.

Why Sidney Jones does not have a doctorate (or been given a richly deserved honorary doctorate) is a mystery. She may have presented an embarrassment to interested intelligence agencies, like our ONA and the CIA, because Jones is an independent intelligence analyst who predicted the rise and danger of JI in the right place at the right time. Round about the same time 1,000s of collective PHDs in US intelligence had no idea about rising jihadist capabilities (eg. 9/11).

If she had been on the Indonesia desk back at Langley I think she would have been swamped with two much bureaucratic noise to be able to effectively analyse what has proven to be extremely useful intelligence on JI including its "pocket Gandhi" Abu Bakar Bashir (Head of JI) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abu_Bakar_Bashir .

While focus on catching Noordin Mohammed Top (an effective operational leader) is important this should not distract Indonesian security from locating isolated, virtually homegrown, Jihadist, terror cells in that country (as Cooke says).

There would be many parallels with similar home grown threats in Australia in terms of size and specialisations required. However in Indonesia Islam is the dominant religion. Particularly in Java politicians at every level are very careful not to stir up radical Muslims or truly crack down on jihadists.

Bashir is seen as both an Islamic and a nationalist leader (hence he is championing the "CIA Bali bomb" conspiracy theory against the US "infidel West"). So even when Bashir has appeared to all outside Indonesia to be as guilty as sin he has received slaps on the wrist.

Terror cells in Indonesia continue to be inspired by Bashir's jihadist doctrine of hate knowing that Indonesian authorities will not shut him up.

Independent Analyst ;-)
Spooky Pete
http://spyingbadthings.blogspot.com

During an interview with a [very deferential] Australian reporter , Basher made a remark that was along the lines of ,"when Islam is in charge" I think he meant of Australia.
For those who claim muslims are being badly treated here, I would say that they do not have to stay if they are feeling "marginalised"
There are plenty of Islamic countries where they can live with their sharia law,their women can live in black bags and I am sure we all will live much happier ever after.
Or they can, in all cheerfulness, join us and live in peace.
Basher is bad.

Is that a season like 'Summer', 'Autumn', 'Spring' etc. ?

Hi Obozo

"Season" is used in a loose sense.

Its the time of year "JI" considers the mass killing mainly of non combatants, often fellow Indonesians, mainly in Jakarta and Bali.

The (more or less) regular timing is a tactic JI uses to increase anticipation, anxiety and therefore terror.

Pete