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"We may be small in number, but we have plenty fighting with us--the angels and the hand of Allah," Abu Sayyaf's current leader, Khadaffy Janjalani, told TIME on two-way radio. Khadaffy, who took over after government forces killed his brother in 1998, spoke as his camp was being attacked by the Philippine military. "We dream of an entire Islamic world, and we will achieve it. Allah is with us. Just now three bombs turned out to be duds--they did not explode."
Abu Sayyaf's objectives may sound unreal--600 rebels are not going to overturn a country of 79 million people anytime soon, let alone convert the world. But last week the Philippine military was bogged down as troops faced an enemy at home among jungle and land mines. Zealotry only makes dealing with the guerrillas more hazardous. "How do you negotiate with guys like that?" asked an Estrada aide last week. "They're crazy."
--Reported by Nelly Sindayen/Basilan