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Australian Embassy East Timor

The numerous recent terrorist attacks, both pre and post September 2001, demonstrate that terrorism is more than a transitory phenomenon and is likely to last for years. A critical strategic and security dimension for Australia is that militant extremists in Southeast Asia are prepared to take up the Al Qaida cause and that Australia has been identified as a target.

Twenty-first century international terrorism, as represented by Al Qaida and its regional offshoots and affiliates, differs from the terrorism of the seventies and eighties. The new terrorism is more strategically focused. Its objective is to roll back Western values, engagement and influence, and to weaken and ultimately supplant moderate Islamic governments.

In the past, terrorist attacks tended to focus on obtaining a symbolic or tactical advantage . Although this involved indiscriminate killing, large numbers of deaths were not in themselves the objective. By contrast, Al Qaida and its associated networks have demonstrated both willingness and capability to inflict massive casualties on civilian targets as a strategic end.

It is not just increased lethality that sets Al Qaida apart, but that it draws on personnel, money and equipment organised across national borders. Since September 2001, the international community has made concerted efforts to trace international terror networks and identify the often-shifting alliances and associations between them. There is still much work to be done to find and destroy terrorist leaders and cells, but even though the main force of terrorist attacks will often be felt at the national or regional level, it is a global conflict. It may eventually be seen as the most violent phenomenon of the information age. Al Qaida cells or operatives have been identified in many countries across the Middle East, Europe, Southeast Asia, Africa and the United States, and it is almost certain that others have yet to be found.

While terrorists lack the resources of the nation state, particularly conventional military forces, they have discovered that this is not a barrier to strategic effect. The reality is that terrorism has gained strategic advantage by turning the strengths of tolerant and open societies into weaknesses, and then striking at vulnerable points to devastating effect. For Australians, this reality was brought home in Bali. There remains a great risk that the mass casualties inflicted in recent attacks have set the terrorists'sights even higher, possibly including the acquisition and use of WMD.

Evacuation following the Bali Bombing

The Bali attack confirmed that extremist organisations in Southeast Asia are no longer focused exclusively on local issues. Regional extremists target secular moderate Muslim and non-Islamic governments, as well as Western targets. And they receive inspiration, training, support and know-how from Al Qaida and Middle Eastern radical Islamist groups.

The Australian Government was aware of the existence in our region of extremist organisations before September 2001 and of the preparedness of some, such as the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), to engage in acts of terrorism against mainly local targets.

We, with other regional governments, tended to see them as focused essentially on domestic issues. Working together we have now uncovered a much more worrying picture - that regional extremist networks are larger, more capable and more active than we had believed. The Bali attacks highlighted links between entrenched militant regional extremist groups and global islamist terrorism.

We now know that Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) has a well-established regional network which sometimes works with Al Qaida in support of its objectives. We also know that it has cells operating throughout Southeast Asia, with the stated goal of creating an Islamic state encompassing Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and the southern Philippines. We know also that JI has planned and conducted attacks in a number of regional countries, including a foiled plot to bomb the Australian, US, UK and Israeli diplomatic missions in Singapore. There has been a significant effort to bring members of JI to justice in Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia, but JI continues to pose a threat. Recognising the threat, Australia took a lead in ensuring that JI was listed in the United Nations as a terrorist organisation linked to Al Qaida.

Operation Slipper patrol in Afghanistan

The Australian Government's response to international terrorism acknowledges that the terrorist threat to Australians and Australian interests has increased, both domestically and overseas. The problem cannot be managed by one country alone - a targeted bilateral, regional and global approach is also needed.

Allowing the threat of terrorism to determine our alliance arrangements would be contrary to Australia's core principles and values. Our participation as a US ally in the War on Terror might attract some criticism. But a weaker or equivocal response to this threat would not serve Australia well, or decrease our vulnerability. And this would not reduce the prospect of US and other foreign interests being targeted in Australia, with the inevitable loss of Australian lives, or of Australians abroad being incidental victims of terrorism. Australia's security is affected if there are any regions in the world from which terrorists with Al Qaida's ambitions and capacity can operate internationally with impunity.

The coalition against terrorism - which includes over 60 countries - is not just about a shared sense of outrage, but also about a shared sense of threat. This was why the Australian Government invoked the ANZUS Treaty immediately after 11 September, for the first time in the treaty's 50-year history.

The Australian Government's contribution to the war has spanned diplomatic, legislative, police and intelligence cooperation, capacity- building, and financial and border controls, as well as direct military activities and broader Defence cooperation . This focus will be enduring and the ADF may well be called on to contribute to further efforts in the War on Terror.

The important role of military force in the War on Terror has been demonstrated in Afghanistan. The removal of the Taliban regime - Al Qaida's host - has eliminated one of the world's most oppressive governments and given the people of Afghanistan the chance of a better future. Information gained has added to our understanding of terrorist networks and disrupted planned attacks. Importantly, Al Qaida has lost its unhindered access to terrorist training camps in Afghanistan. But actions in disrupting Al Qaida's operations in Afghanistan are just the first step. Much remains to be done and some further resort to military force is likely to be needed.

The links between extremist organisations in Southeast Asia underline the need for improved cooperation within the region. During the last year, Australia entered into Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) on Combating International Terrorism with Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand, and negotiations are under way with other governments. The significance of these arrangements was highlighted by the joint investigation into the Bali terrorist attacks, ably conducted by the Indonesian police with support from the Australian Federal Police.

The Australian Government is aware that the majority of Muslims hold moderate views and that they are no less victims than other religious, ethnic or national groups. Moderate Muslims face the challenge of theology and ideology thrown up by bin Laden in his attempt to capture the heart of one of the world's great religions.

Tactical Assault Group