These days, it’s hard to keep an “open mind” if you’re the Australian foreign minister, Alexander Downer. Given the choice between capitulation to terrorism, and actually standing one’s ground, there’s not much space to keep an open mind anyway.

The Philippine national security advisor has been quoted on FOX News (TV) as complaining that the country has been “unfairly singled out” in its promotion of terrorism. To him I say, “screw you.” Right now, the singular country that has paid ransom to terrorists in a situation like that of Angelo De La Cruz’s has been the Philippines. It isn’t unfair to single out the single country that has turned coats and encouraged terrorism with its actions.

It’s time that the Philippines stopped blaming other countries for its situation and to ditch is “woe is me” ethic. It took the Spaniards a train wreck and three hundred dead to bow to terrorist pressure; it took one kidnapping victim to ruin a nation.