THE two men, sitting cross-legged, were facing each other. “Now there are many wives and orphans who are unattended because our brothers have been arrested,” said the first man, Zarkasih, 45, the emergency leader of the Jemaah Islamiyah, opening the discussion. The other man, Hasanuddin, 30, JI’s leader of operations in Poso, Central Sulawesi, nodded.

Zarkasih, who has led JI since 2004, continued: “If you have money, I am willing to re