Azzam Threatens New Zealand.

The Dominion Post (New Zealand) ^ | November 1, 2002 | JONATHAN MILNE and TRACY WATKINS

[JohnathanRGalt]

Sinister warning for NZ

01 November 2002
By JONATHAN MILNE and TRACY WATKINS

An Islamic news agency has warned New Zealand that its involvement in the war in Afghanistan might open it up to terrorist attack.

Foreign Affairs Minister Phil Goff is defiant, saying New Zealand cannot let its foreign policy be cowed by "an apology sheet for the Taleban and al Qaeda".

The Internet news service Azzam claims to offer "truthful information and news to keep the Muslims informed without the propaganda and misinformation being disseminated by the enemies of Islam".

A report this week, identified as coming from Kabul, discussed the injuries to three New Zealand SAS soldiers when their vehicle hit a landmine.

According to Azzam: "Analysts say that this incident begs the question, what are New Zealand's troops doing in Afghanistan, what do they have to do with the current conflict?

"After many Australians blamed their government's involvement in Afghanistan as the cause of the Bali bombing that targeted Australians, perhaps New Zealanders should also ask their government the same questions."

It is the first time that New Zealand has been publicly singled out by a source linked to al Qaeda or the Taleban. Last year the Taleban ambassador to Pakistan warned of a jihad against all countries fighting in Afghanistan, but did not mention New Zealand.

Mr Goff said New Zealand was vulnerable to terrorist attacks anywhere in the world. "But that has never been used as a grounds for New Zealand not standing up against terrorist activities and making the maximum contribution it can.

"We base our foreign policy on what needs to be done to enhance international security and stability. That's why we've made a wholehearted contribution to the campaign against terrorism in every facet."

He said the Azzam report was "clearly full of inaccuracies", including its claim that all three New Zealanders injured in Afghanistan were in a critical condition.

The American-hosted azzam.com website was closed down by authorities in September, but its news service is still carried by websites in Indonesia and elsewhere.

It reportedly has correspondents with mujahedin forces in Afghanistan, and last week carried an "exclusive" statement purported to be from al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.

The statement said al Qaeda was waging war against the American people because America first attacked Islam in Palestine, and described the United States as the "worst civilisation in the history of mankind".

Green Party defence spokesman Keith Locke said he did not attach much credence to the threat, but that Azzam raised legitimate questions about New Zealand's military involvement in Afghanistan.

"New Zealand is seen as a small nuclear-free country opposed to an invasion of Iraq. If we weren't in Afghanistan, then the majority of people in the world, opposed to what the Americans are doing, would be more favourably disposed to us."

The Government brought New Zealand into line yesterday with other Western countries in outlawing terrorist organisation Jemaah Islamiah, thought to be behind the Bali bombings, and unveiled plans for a memorial service for the Kiwi victims in Wellington on Wednesday.

Prime Minister Helen Clark announced yesterday that the Government had listed Jemaah Islamiah, believed linked to al Qaeda, as a terrorist organisation under stiff new counter-terrorism measures enacted this month. It would be an offence to participate in the group, collect funds, recruit members or make property or financial services available to it.

Miss Clark said Jemaah Islamiah was not known to have any links with New Zealand.

[JohnathanRGalt]

Azzam makes up news reports "clearly full of inaccuracies" implicating New Zealand and then threatens the entire country. Azzam is hosted in Northern Ireland (a place that has had a lot of experience with terrorist threats over the years) at Vibus Ltd. Why is Vibus associating itself with one of al-Qaeda's main websites?

Here's the Haganah database for Azzam's site (Waaqiah.com)

[cardinal4]

FYI

[Mitchell]

The site www.waaqiah.com is running Microsoft IIS under Windows 2000. All or most of the sites they have actually paid for appear to be running IIS. In contrast, the sites they hijack are running Apache under Linux.

I don't know exactly what to make of this, but it's an interesting fact. It makes me think that the group of people doing the hacking is separate from the group of people running the regular sites.

[JohnathanRGalt]

Jehadi website ping: (let me know if you want on or off)

[shaggy eel]

,,, thanx for the ping mate.

[Grampa Dave]

al Qaeda has entered the world that scumbags have lived for centuries. If you back the correct side, we will kill you or make your life miserable.

This approach has worked with the Euro Axis of Whining Weasels. It doesn't seem to be working with NZ and Australia.

[Shermy]

"New Zealand is seen as a small nuclear-free country opposed to an invasion of Iraq. If we weren't in Afghanistan, then the majority of people in the world, opposed to what the Americans are doing, would be more favourably disposed to us."

What a delusional statement. A lefty fantasy.

[shaggy eel]

FYI

[shaggy eel]

If we weren't in Afghanistan, then the majority of people in the world, opposed to what the Americans are doing, would be more favourably disposed to us."

,,, does this mean all those countries that put steel tariffs on us would review their decisions? [LOL!]

[Constantine XIII]

Green Party defence spokesman Keith Locke said he did not attach much credence to the threat, but that Azzam raised legitimate questions about New Zealand's military involvement in Afghanistan.

"New Zealand is seen as a small nuclear-free country opposed to an invasion of Iraq. If we weren't in Afghanistan, then the majority of people in the world, opposed to what the Americans are doing, would be more favourably disposed to us."

Translation: "Here, let me grab my ankles for you."

What sort of MORON puts a green in charge of defense?! Sigh, at least our troops might enjoy getting to see NZ's scenery, as they have no real army of their own to speak of.

Also on the bright side, some enterprizing individual could make a bunch of money with a LOTR tour for our GI's, no? ;o)

[Constantine XIII]

Isn't the self-hatred in that statement just heartbreaking?

[shaggy eel]

,,, it seems you're about as informed on this as Keith Locke is. Locke isn't New Zealand's Minister of Defence. He's the son of Keith and Elsie Locke, two staunch [now deceased] members of the New Zealand Communist Party. He's presently the Green Party's defence spokesman.

[Madame Dufarge]

Green Party defence spokesman Keith Locke

"today reiterated that its defence strategy will remain unchanged; i. e., rolling up into a fetal position and begging not to be hit in the face."

[Constantine XIII]

Whoops! Sorry about that. Since he is the spokesman, though not the head honcho, do his statements reflect the defense ministry's position?

[shaggy eel]

,,, as in the US, our media is top heavy with lefties. If they want an opinion on defence they run to a vegetarian eunuch. The GREENs haven't really been a big part of the equation since the election of July 26, this year. Our defence force has never been large, in line with the 3,9 million total population of New Zealand but having socialist matrons running the show is the final nail in the coffin. There's never been a better time to line our old A-4Ks up on the tarmac - they're still here and admittedly, better than Cessnas. Clark is gearing our defence force to a peace keeping UN arse kissing role. She has to go and so do her political placement nannys.

[Constantine XIII]

Dang, well, prayers for you freedom loving folk in the land of the kiwi. When is your next round of elections?

[shaggy eel]

,,, many thanx. Our terms are for three years, not four like the US. A lot will happen over the next three years and any administration at the helm would be tested. Labour is the Party in charge now and the very weak National (centre right) is in a state of self destruction. It seems their strategy of campaign to the right and administrate to the centre didn't work out as they'd planned. You can fool some of the people some of the time...

[JohnathanRGalt]

"New Zealand is seen as a small nuclear-free country opposed to an invasion of Iraq. If we weren't in Afghanistan, then the majority of people in the world, opposed to what the Americans are doing, would be more favourably disposed to us."

What a delusional statement. A lefty fantasy.

I guess the 'Green Party' must be New Zealand's equivalent of the Democrats.

[facedown]

There's never been a better time to line our old A-4Ks up on the tarmac - they're still here and admittedly, better than Cessnas.

LOLOL!!!