Understanding this organizational distinction is essential in devising effective strategies at combating these various groups. To group them all together obscures the actual conditions of their operation and can lead to inneffective responses.

It leads to flawed thinking--as exhibited by the comment posted by Bithead--whereby my explanation of organizational differences and independence between Laskar Mujahidin and Al Quaeda is somehow interpreted as being indicative of my willingness to "abide these bloodthirsty idiots."

Without positing any evidence to support his claim, Bithead repeats the false canard that "they're all the same people."

It makes an interesting contrast to those who complain about faith based aid orgs being 'hearts and minds' efforts, here in the states.

And what do you know... for the most part, they're the same people.

Al Qaeda is merely an umbrella some many of which have been around for decades. My understanding is that Osama actually set up various social programs in the Muslim world for "hearts and minds" purposes.

As the article states, Laskar Mujahidin--who have been active since the late 1990s--set up the camp. While there have been alleged informal contacts between Laskar Mujahidin and members of Al Qaeda over the past 6 years, they are not the same organization.

The Islamic movement in Indonesia is rather decentralized and often beset by internecine rivalries. To suggest that Al Qaeda is behind this camp distorts the complex reality of the ties and simplifies the nature of the Islamisist threat in Indonesia.

Just thought I'd throw it in there before someone else did. No...not gonna add anything too it.