Speaker
First Post
Re: Re: [OT] Bali terrorist attacks
A point. But several other forms of violence have taken place recently as well, that could just as easily have sponsored this attack. Not only the Christian response to the mentioned attacks (which was admittedly much more disorganized, and had a much smaller following... what else can you expect in the worlds largest Muslim country?), but more pertinently, the recent conflicts between the military and the police.
The prevailing views held by the local expat community lay in two directions;
1. that this attack is a continuation of the September 11th attacks initiated by the local fundamentalist groups aided perhaps by outside forces.
2. that the attack is a continuation of the militaries efforts to gain influence and power. By disrupting tourism they justify a move for power in an attempt to bring stabilization to the country.
Not so long ago a police station was attacked by a large force of soldiers, and a full out battle resulted. The military were attempting to rescue a drug smuggler under their control, who the police had arrested in flagrant disregard of military territory. A few low level soldiers were clapped on the wrist and thrown out of the military for this attack. Then a grenade went off in the police headquarters here in the capital. Bombs are just a few more steps up from the time-honored practice of hiring unorganized riots from a couple hundred dollars, a popular pastime among the Indonesian elite.
So, one more suspect for the roster, take it or leave it. The truth is that unless Indonesia allows in outside help for investigative work, we’ll never know for sure.
I swear that Indonesia has given me the materiel for a hundred D&D campaigns. I would know how to run a corrupt nation in my sleep now. When I manage to get regular games going again, this will no doubt come in use. Life experience is funny that way.
Mark Chance said:
A point. But several other forms of violence have taken place recently as well, that could just as easily have sponsored this attack. Not only the Christian response to the mentioned attacks (which was admittedly much more disorganized, and had a much smaller following... what else can you expect in the worlds largest Muslim country?), but more pertinently, the recent conflicts between the military and the police.
The prevailing views held by the local expat community lay in two directions;
1. that this attack is a continuation of the September 11th attacks initiated by the local fundamentalist groups aided perhaps by outside forces.
2. that the attack is a continuation of the militaries efforts to gain influence and power. By disrupting tourism they justify a move for power in an attempt to bring stabilization to the country.
Not so long ago a police station was attacked by a large force of soldiers, and a full out battle resulted. The military were attempting to rescue a drug smuggler under their control, who the police had arrested in flagrant disregard of military territory. A few low level soldiers were clapped on the wrist and thrown out of the military for this attack. Then a grenade went off in the police headquarters here in the capital. Bombs are just a few more steps up from the time-honored practice of hiring unorganized riots from a couple hundred dollars, a popular pastime among the Indonesian elite.
So, one more suspect for the roster, take it or leave it. The truth is that unless Indonesia allows in outside help for investigative work, we’ll never know for sure.
I swear that Indonesia has given me the materiel for a hundred D&D campaigns. I would know how to run a corrupt nation in my sleep now. When I manage to get regular games going again, this will no doubt come in use. Life experience is funny that way.
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