Cambodian lessons in anti-terrorism

Thailand Ponders Counterterrorism:

I am developing a fondness for the good people of Thailand. This article ran originally in the Bangkok Post:

Whatever the immediate effects, it is important to know, and vital to exploit the fact that the terrorist gangs have such tiny leadership cores. To be clear, authorities must double and then redouble efforts to identify and then to track and stop the leaders of al-Qaeda, JI and allied terrorist groups. It is beginning to appear that cutting off the head of the terrorist gangs can prevent attacks. Since the US invaded Afghanistan and put the Taliban and al-Qaeda leaders to flight, there has been no successful terrorist attack in America. Similarly, since Thai and Indonesian police arrested JI leader Abu Bakar Bashir and operations chief Hambali, the violent movement has had only one terrorist attack. The bombing of the Marriott Hotel in Indonesia last year appalled most of the JI members, because nearly all victims were Indonesians. Clearly, the arrests of the JI leaders was a huge setback.

Emphasis added. That's a happy phrase: "Cutting off the heads of the terrorist gangs." They are, of course, speaking figuratively.