A long time ago when I attended Sekolah Staf dan Komando (Command) Angkatan Bersenjata Republik Indonesia (Bagian Laut), I used to have these lengthy discussions with one of the ‘dosens' (lecturers), a retired admiral whose quick wit complimented his piercing intellect.

The aftershocks of the Iranian Revolution were like tremors reminding the very international (Western and Asian) mix of officers training there of the precarious ground we were standing on in the reality of the rise of political Islam.

Reading Malaysiakini's interview with Yazid Sufaat brought back memories of those discussions which would seem prophetic if not for the fact of hindsight...