Innocents in Web of Philippine Terror The New York Times reminds us of the ongoing hostage situation in Mindanao. More than fifty people have been held for up to six weeks by Islamic separatist rebels; several have been killed by their captors as government troops encroached. Hostages include more than a dozen schoolchildren. The crisis gives us a glimpse into an incredible “lawless world of pirates, smugglers

and warlords, where kidnapping for ransom is a business and

religious wars are fought by throwing bombs into markets

and churches.”