Catching Southeast Asia’s bin Laden

Last week's arrest of Jemaah Islamiya leader Riduan Isamuddin -- alias Hambali -- was a major blow to the international terrorist network. Because the blackout that hit 50 million occurred the same afternoon as the arrest announcement and inevitably dominated media coverage for a couple of days, the public may not be aware how important it is that this man was picked up. A dangerous terrorist was taken off the streets, and, more significantly, the bust reveals that the dragnet set up to catch Osama bin Laden and his lieutenants is catching those in al Qaeda's highest ranks.

Hambali, an Indonesian, is the only member on al Qaeda's military council from Southeast Asia, and, thus, the point man on plots across the violent region. Like broadcasting the photographs of Saddam Hussein's dead sons across the world, the arrest of Hambali proves that progress is being made in dismantling an evil organization. Still, we must not delude ourselves into forgetting that new leaders will continue to emerge from the millions of potential jihadists for years to come.

The capture of Hambali at least temporarily prevents some attacks. Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra stated on Sunday that the terrorist was in the kingdom planning a major strike at October's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Bangkok. President Bush and approximately 20 other heads of state will be in the Thai capital for the meetings. Although Hambali was the planner, his team of at least five al Qaeda operatives is still on the loose in Thailand. On his Asian tour, Mr. Bush also is scheduled to stop in the Philippines, where Jemaah Islamiya bomber Fathur Rohman al-Ghozi is at large after escaping from prison. There is little question that the president will be and has been considered a target during these visits.

Hambali's place in al Qaeda's terror web was important. He was with bin Laden in Afghanistan in the 1990s and has spent recent years orchestrating the most high-profile strikes in Southeast Asia, with connections to the Aug. 5 bombing of the Jakarta Marriott, last year's bombing in Bali and other attacks in public places in the Philippines, Indonesia and Singapore. He has recruited hijackers and brought other Middle Eastern tactics -- such as car bombs and suicide missions -- to Asian cities. Hambali has worked with both Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, the suspected organizer of the September 11 attacks, and Zubair Mohamad, an al Qaeda money man -- both of whom are in custody. Mr. Thaksin said that information from other detained al Qaeda members led the CIA and Thai officials to Hambali. Thankfully, when arrested, terrorists tend to sing like canaries.

Recent days have been very successful for the war on terror. Bali bomber Amrozi bin Nurhasyim was convicted and sentenced to death in Indonesia, Jemaah Islamiya spiritual head Abu Bakar Bashir is awaiting sentencing in Jakarta and Hambali and a handful of terrorists were detained in Thailand. These are victories of intelligence, and give witness to how well foreign intelligence services are working with Washington to dismantle al Qaeda and its affiliates. With pressure mounting to increase regional security before Mr. Bush's trip to Asia in two months, manhunts like those in Thailand and the Philippines can be expected to bear even more fruit. But the clock is ticking. No doubt a wounded al Qaeda and Jemaah Islamiya are planning to hit back.