Clearly a significant number of territorial squabbles exist simply to provide a jingoistic distraction, an excuse to rally around the flag or challenge the patriotism of a political rival. And while they can flare up organically, prolonged skirmishes are typically stoked with a clear purpose.br br Which is why policy analysts are scratching their heads about what exactly lies behind the escalating border clashes between Thailand and Cambodia. On Thursday, fighting erupted again near the disputed Ta Moan Thom Temple, located in a border area in northwestern Cambodia’s Oddar Meanchey province, resulting in the deaths of at least 13 civilians and a soldier in Thailand, which dispatched a F-16 to bomb Cambodian targets in response.