Terror cannot just be stopped
MICHELLE GRATTAN
July 20, 2009

THE deaths of Australians in Jakarta and Afghanistan are being linked in symbolism and politics. Australia's rationale for being in Afghanistan is to fight terrorism, which has claimed three Australians in the Jakarta bombings. But the linkage, supported by both sides of politics, is opening up the perennial argument about the Afghanistan war.

Afghanistan is not a popular war among Australians. Many think it is unwinnable and we'd be better out of it. The latest death brings the Australian toll in Afghanistan to 11, and as the fighting season heightens more deaths are likely.

The Government remains as strongly committed as ever to helping the efforts of the Americans and other coalition partners. It sees anti-terrorism as one interconnected battle.

Foreign Minister Stephen Smith, who spoke about the soldier's loss from Jakarta yesterday, made the connection, saying we were reminded that "we're fighting international terrorism" in Afghanistan. "That's why we're there."

But Hugh White, from the ANU and Lowy Institute, who thinks Afghanistan can't be won, insists that conflict and the Jakarta bombings should be seen quite separately, and that the Government is being intellectually dishonest to claim Australian soldiers are dying to save us from terrorism.

White says while there is a symbolic link, "in practical policy there's no link. It's an illusion to think that if you fix Afghanistan, we'll be safe from terrorism." Ideologically and practically, the activities of Noordin Top, the alleged mastermind behind the Jakarta bombings, have nothing to do with Afghanistan, White says.

The Jakarta bombings are a salutary reminder that for all the Indonesian efforts, bilateral co-operation and Australian travel warnings, terrorist attacks are a recurring phenomenon in that country and so a special threat to the many Australians there.

The spots Australians and other Westerners go to remain the targets. But while current terrorists remain on the loose, and new ones are produced, the risk can only be contained and reduced, not eliminated.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has had Cabinet's national security committee meet every day for briefings, but there is limited scope for more action. Anti-terrorist co-operation with Indonesia has come a long way since the Bali attacks in 2002, and Indonesia has improved its efforts. While there will always be room for some more fine tuning, mostly, what can be done is being done.