Indonesia: The Latent Threat
By Eric A. Billings. Mr. Billings is pursuing a Masters Degree in Public Policy at American University, and is a former research intern with the Center for Security Policy.
In October of 2005, several blasts rocked the resort island of Bali in Indonesia, the work of Islamofascist militants who desire nothing less than the establishment of an Islamic state and the enforcement of Sharia. Their extreme means were matched only by the propensity of their views to be unyielding and intolerant of the beliefs and lives of others.
Despite the wanton and draconian nature of the attacks, however, the Indonesian government has since continued to largely ignore the growing influence of Islamism within the country’s borders. In fact, it might be recalled that only after much international prodding did the government even acknowledge in late 2001 the existence of terrorist training camps in Indonesia, only to have their Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda deny there was evidence that local Muslim organizations had ties to international terrorist networks.
Even more frightening than the suggestion of ignorance, it appears elements within the Indonesian government actually sympathize with the Islamist cause. After Abu Bakar Bashir – the spiritual leader of Jemaah Islamiah – was sentenced to 30 months in prison for his connection to the Bali bombings, then-Vice President Hamzah Haz visited Bashir and Jaffar Umar Thalib – the head of the terrorist organization Laskar Jihad – in prison.
Mr. Gaffney is the host of Secure Freedom Radio, a nationally-syndicated radio program heard weeknights throughout the country. He is an associate author of highly acclaimed Shariah: The Threat to America and the publisher of over a dozen other books and monographs from the Center for Security Policy Press.
In April 1987, Mr. Gaffney was nominated by President Reagan to become the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Policy, the senior position in the Defense Department with responsibility for policies involving U.S.-USSR relations, nuclear forces, arms control, missile defense policy and U.S.-European defense ties. He acted in that capacity for seven months during which time, he was the Chairman of the prestigious High Level Group, NATO’s senior politico-military committee. He also represented the Secretary of Defense in key U.S.-Soviet negotiations and ministerial meetings.
From August 1983 until November 1987, Mr. Gaffney was the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear Forces and Arms Control Policy under Assistant Secretary Richard Perle.
From February 1981 to August 1983, Mr. Gaffney was a Professional Staff Member on the Senate Armed Services Committee, chaired by the late Senator John Tower (R-Texas). And, in the latter 1970’s, Mr. Gaffney served as an aide to the late Senator Henry M. “Scoop” Jackson (D-Washington) in the areas of defense and foreign policy.
Mr. Gaffney holds a Master of Arts degree in International Studies from the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies and a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service from the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service.
Mr. Gaffney’s leadership has been recognized by numerous organizations including: the Department of Defense Distinguished Public Service Award (1987), the U.S. Business and Industry Council’s Defender of the National Interest Award (1994), the Navy League of the United States’ Alfred Thayer Mahan Literary Achievement Award (1999), and the Zionist Organization of America’s “Louis Brandeis Award” (2003), the Western Conservative Summit’s Stephen H. Long Award (2015), the Council for National Policy’s George Washington Military Leadership Award (2016) and the IMPACT Award from Ginni Thomas and United in Purpose (2017).
Mr. Gaffney was born in 1953 and resides in the Washington, D.C. area.
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