Perhaps the adjective to best describe the current state of Jemaah Islamiya (JI) is “fractalized.” A “fractal” is defined as “a complex geometric figure whose small-scale and large-scale structures resemble one another.” Just as Jemaah Islamiya is often labeled as a regional ally or subset of al-Qaeda , at least three fractals currently exist within Jemaah Islamiya. While the strategic leadership of JI in Indonesia is in disarray, an extremely talented and motivated cell focused on western targets continues to operate in Jakarta, while another has forged ties with jihadists in the Philippines and threatens regional interests there. These “wheels within wheels” refract al-Qaeda’s internationalist agenda in subtle ways and each threatens Western interests slightly differently.

The article above highlights the degradation of JI’s formal structure and militant capacity due to the counter-terrorism policies pursued by the Indonesian security forces and the legal system. Abu Bakar Bashir , the founder and spiritual head of JI, has been detained since October 2002 and though he has been acquitted on some charges, was found guilty on others and remains in jail. Abu Rusdan, Bashir’s successor, was found guilty for a role in the October 2002 Bali bombing and is currently serving a 3.5 year sentence. Hambali (a.k.a. Riduan Isamuddin), at once the JI operational chief and the operational coordinator for al-Qaeda, is also in allied custody (January 2004 WAR Report). Although the group’s core nominally clings to its stated goal to create an Islamic state, comprising Malaysia , Singapore , Indonesia, and the southern Philippines, its effectiveness after the arrest, detention, and even execution of several hundred members is severely limited.