Listening to Bill Patterson, Australia's Diplomat for Counter-Terrorism, at the Lowy Institute lunch last week - a calm and reasoned perspective on the headlines. "Terrorism has a long history", he said. "But in the end, local issues drive it". The key motivators are alienation, poverty, and lack of opportunity. Which is why development assistance plays a major, long-term role. In Indonesia for example, AusAid have been engaged in curriculum training for teachers and the construction of schools. What more can we do to encourage economic participation and build resistance to malignant small group interests amongst our SE Asian neighbours?
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