As someone who genuinely knows only the barest outlines of things in SE Asia, your reporting the last couple weeks leaves the impression of Govt. forces generally making solid progress. Is that accurate? Or is it a matter of there being plenty more individuals out there like these suspects?
Interesting question. Philippine authorities are making commendable efforts and if "progress" means there have been no terror attacks and kidnappings recently, then yes, they made progress. But there are lots of unknown elements out there and the most important to me are recruitment and preparations for future attacks. Speaking of recruitment, lots of terrorists have been neutralised but apparently they're never finished, leaving only one of two things - either their ranks are underestimated by authorities or they keep getting replenished.
As someone who genuinely knows only the barest outlines of things in SE Asia, your reporting the last couple weeks leaves the impression of Govt. forces generally making solid progress. Is that accurate? Or is it a matter of there being plenty more individuals out there like these suspects?
Interesting question. Philippine authorities are making commendable efforts and if "progress" means there have been no terror attacks and kidnappings recently, then yes, they made progress. But there are lots of unknown elements out there and the most important to me are recruitment and preparations for future attacks. Speaking of recruitment, lots of terrorists have been neutralised but apparently they're never finished, leaving only one of two things - either their ranks are underestimated by authorities or they keep getting replenished.