01/28/2002
EDITORIAL NUMBER=0-09671

TERROR SUSPECTS ROUNDED UP

In the wake of the September 11^th terrorist attacks on the U.S., the civilized nations of the world are working together to destroy Al-Qaida and its associated terrorist groups. From Spain to the Philippines, police are capturing suspects linked to Osama bin Laden's terror network.

In Bosnia, six Algerians believed to have terrorist links have been turned over to U.S. military authorities. They are suspected of involvement with Islamic terrorist groups. U.S. and Bosnian authorities believe the six men posed a significant threat to U.S. personnel and facilities, as well as to the people of Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Earlier in Barcelona, Spain, police arrested two suspected members of al-Qaida who had been on the run since a raid against the terrorist organization late last year. In that raid, police arrested eight people and seized firearms, ammunition, machetes, and forged identity documents. The suspects were reported to be involved in training Islamic terrorists and providing cover for others in Europe. They also raised money for al-Qaida, mainly through stolen credit cards and robberies.

Nine people suspected of al-Qaida links were recently arrested in Pakistan and the Philippines. Police in Manila also seized a ton of explosives. In Malaysia, authorities arrested fifteen members of an al-Qaida-affiliated Islamic terrorist group that wants to establish an extremist Muslim state comprising Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines. Singapore authorities arrested fifteen people reported to be involved in a plot to kill Americans and blow up the U.S. embassy and other diplomatic offices in Singapore.

The U.S.-led coalition is cutting off the flow of terrorist money, disrupting terrorist operations, and making it more difficult for terrorists to cross borders to carry out their murderous plans. It is a campaign being fought on many fronts and in many parts of the world. As President George W. Bush put it, "This broad-based and sustained effort will continue until terrorism is rooted out. The situation is similar to the Cold War, when continuous pressure from many nations caused Communism to collapse from within. We will press the fight as long as it takes. We will prevail."