Poverty and Terrorism

For Islamic Militants poverty and a lack of education are useful allies. Al Qaeda In Iraq frequently recruits suicide bombers from the poorest of the poor in that country. In addition, there is a report the these ASG members pay each new recruit to join their violent endeavors. In this way the destitute can feed their children and survive poverty. The more educated, reportedly , do not usually join the ranks for money but for ideology or prestige or hatred of government.

The Jemaah Islamiyah, with links to al Qaeda, have been playing a behind the scenes role with MILF rogue Commanders Kato and Bravo according to reports from the National Security Advisor, Norberto Gonzales. (Zamboanga Today, November 26, 2008)..It was stated in reports that Kato is more JI than an MILF Leader."Kato and Bravo have long standing ties with JI.Kato has, reportedly, offered his Liguasan Marsh stronghold to the JI from Indonesia. (Bombers were recently put to death in Indonesia for the Bali Bombings)This arrangement has been operational foreight years. In return, the MILF Commanders have received training in bomb making, urban guerrillla warfare and propaganda.

The MILF's stated goal is to secure more rights and power for Muslim Filipinos. Kato and Bravo are therefore going against the goals of the MILF The JI and Abu Sayyaf want to overthrow the existing government and replace it with Islamic Theocracies all across South East Asia. This kind of rule would be a repressive system very foreign to the Philippines. This is also related to the International Islamic Terrorist goal of overthrowing the West and replacing governments world-wide with Islamic Rule.