Top Terror Suspect Held in Indonesia; Arrest Called Breakthrough

The New York Times ^ | 12/04/2002 | Raymond Bonner

[GeneD]

JAKARTA, Indonesia, Dec. 4 — A man suspected of being a senior commander in a regional terrorist network, and a mastermind of the Bali disco bombing attack, was arrested here today, the Indonesian police said.

The arrest of the suspect, Ali Ghufron, better known as Mukhlas, was heralded by diplomats and security officials as a significant step in learning more about the regional terrorist network, Jemaah Islamiyah, and its links to Al Qaeda.

"It's a big breakthrough, not only into the investigation of the Bali attack, but into shutting down the terrorist network here," said a senior Western diplomat.

"That's really tremendous!" exclaimed a security specialist when he learned of the arrest.

The arrest of Mr. Mukhlas, who is also wanted in Singapore in connection with a plot to blow up the American Embassy there last December, underscores a marked change in the Indonesian government's attitude and policy toward terrorism.

For more than an year, when American officials presented Indonesian officials with evidence of a terrorist network in this sprawling archipelago, the officials bristled at the suggestion and lashed out at the Americans for their policy of closing their embassy and schools.

Now, in the aftermath of the Bali bombing in October, while there are still Indonesians who believe it was all a Central Intelligence Agency plot, law enforcement officials are moving swiftly to roll up suspected members of Jemaah Islamiyah.

"It shows that when there is the political will, they have the ability to do it," said a Western official.

Mr. Mukhlas is the older brother of Amrozi, one of the first individuals arrested in connection with the Bali attack, which killed nearly 200, most of them Australians. At least five others have been arrested, but they have been identified by the police as cell members, or foot soldiers.

But with the arrest of Mr. Muhklas, "you're beginning to get at the network structure," said the security specialist. He is believed to have been the operational commander for several cells.

[GeneD]

Oh well, I guess what AP reported almost six hours ago isn't exactly "breaking news." Anyway, at least somebody confirmed it.

And I did search under "Bali."

[Tennessean4Bush]

How can this be? Tom Daschle says we are not making any progress. There must be something wrong here in the reporting because I know Tom Daschle would not lie to me.

[VMI70]

It just goes to show that the prospect of being blown to smithereens by the Aussies provides some incentive for these people to get off their collective butts and produce.

As this goes on, we will be more and more successful. Witness the success of the Predator in Yemen, thwarting the attack on the Israeli soccer team, etc. These people aren't much different from common criminals. They will turn on their own to ensure their own survival, despite the 72 virgins BS. I would expect the number of our successes will ramp up significantly over time, showing that Dasshole has, again, picked the wrong issue. He is not a very bright guy.

[DCPatriot]

It makes perfect sense.

Capture, rather than kill, the known members.
Then, make them talk. Work your way up the hierarchy.

Works for me. ;^)

[rintense]

[Grampa Dave]

Wasn't it just last week the Aussie Prime Minister promised to use Pre Emptive measures to prevent any acts of terrorism agains innocent Australians. Just yesterday President Bush agreed that Pre Emptive actions should be used to prevent Islamokazi acts of terrorism.

The one thing these scumbags in charge of these third world countries understand is the promise to kill them if they don't clean up the Islamofascists and Islamokazis in their country.

[Man of the Right]

Too little, too late.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Here's more of that "nothing" that is being accomplished. How do you like them apples, Tommy Douchle?

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Douchle is quite the master of timing, isn't he? As soon as he starts getting real vocal on his dissatisfaction and "nothing being accomplished" in the war on terrorism, al-Qaeda bosses start getting hit by missiles and getting caught en masse. I hope Tommy is home having a peptic ulcer over this.