Most analysts believe that despite the avowed Islamism of the insurgents this is primarily an ethnic-separatist fight of Malays against Thais, rather than part of any international jihad.

ECONOMIST: A former prime minister returns

Due to Mubarak's commitment to stemming the tide of jihadist forces that threatened his regime, under his rule Egypt served as a major counter-terror hub in the US-led war against international jihad.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: An ally no more

It doesn't take an enormous effort to attack small numbers of soldiers every week, and the international jihad network has opted to support the fight against the coalition in Iraq, making Iraq the central battlefield now in the global war on terrorism.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Remarks to the Council on Foreign Relations