Libya's Azzarouq on the Jolo hostage crisis As long as it takes. Not the three days sought by President Joseph Ejercito Estrada when he told his military to reduce the Abu Sayyaf rebels on Jolo island to ashes. Not the seven days promised by his task force chief. But the military now says it will take at least a month to hunt down their targets and free the 17 hostages still being held.
Military operations continue no matter how long it takes.
Civilian deaths, rights violations and refugees are secondary to national interest. Alternatively, the military posts only minor victories and a few hostages escape. War continues indefinitely, with the military in a quagmire. The hostages, with or without a ransom, are released. In return, Abu Sayyaf fighters somehow elude the military cordon.