New crop of Jihadis is 'set to step up'

The Australian ^ | January 28, 2008 | Natalie O'Brien

[3AngelaD]

A new crop of home-grown jihadis, groomed to step up and replace the leaders of Australian terror cells who have been arrested or jailed, is almost "mature" enough to launch an operation, an international terror expert has warned. The warning came after the release of figures showing the Australian Federal Police had 76 new counter-terrorism cases to investigate in the past financial year. At June 30 last year, the AFP had 83 cases being examined by its counter-terrorism team. The latest so-called network of militant extremists has been steadily evolving and its members are almost ready to take over from their predecessors, according to Rohan Gunaratna, international terrorism expert and the author of Inside al-Qa'ida.

Dr Gunaratna said the home-grown terror suspects had been under investigation by Australian law enforcement agencies for some time. The new networks were very similar in "character and composition" to those that had been disrupted by law enforcement agencies.

"Law enforcement has only peeled back one layer of jihadis," he said. "The second rung is maturing and ripe for another operation, possibly in the coming months."

Intelligence sources say they are aware of the new threats, but deny there is any evidence that the groups may be close to planning an attack in Australia. AFP Commissioner Mick Keelty and NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione have revealed that they are investigating new terrorist threats, particularly in NSW. Statistics in the latest AFP annual report show that in 2006-07, they had 76 new counter-terrorism cases, they finalised another 83 cases and at June 2006 they had a total of 83 open cases

[3AngelaD]

Australia, like the United States, needs to rethink its immigration policies.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

By all means "step up".

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Deport them.

[Berlin_Freeper]

They saw how the election went. Australia is more worried about the polar bears than the terrorists. From the terrorist perceptive that means weakness to exploit. I hope they get rounded up in time.

[Jeff Head]

Let them step up...and get knocked down hard (as in dead) like the tens...no, hundreds of thosuands of others who are drawn to our fly traps.

[EyeGuy]

“.....hundreds of thosuands of others who are drawn to our fly traps.”

Yes....and fly traps set up in their own backyard.

There are no better options to deal with this deranged death cult.

None.

[usurper]

Deport them.

They can’t, they’re Australian citizens. This is the problem with most of the EU and Australia, we have visa wavers with them and any of their citizens can jump on an aircraft with only a valid passport without any consulate screening. We can only hope these people are on some kind of watch or no fly list.

[Owl558]

“They can’t, they’re Australian citizens.”

Not can’t, won’t. Nations have been revoking citizenships since it was invented and they can easily do so here. The problem is out-of-date laws and a lack of political will to change them (i.e. political correctness).

[usurper]

Not can’t, won’t. Nations have been revoking citizenships since it was invented and they can easily do so here.

Without checking, I am fairly certain that the Australian constitution bars them from revoking the citizenship of nationals born in Australia, just like our constitution does.

I like your tag line BTW.

[Owl558]

The US immigration code specifies conditions for revoking citizenship:

becoming a naturalized citizen of another country, or declaring allegiance to another country, after reaching age 18;

serving as an officer in a foreign country’s military service, or serving in the armed forces of a country which is engaged in hostilities against the US;

working for a foreign government (e.g., in political office or as a civil servant);

formally renouncing one’s US citizenship before duly authorized US officials; or

committing treason against, or attempting or conspiring to overthrow the government of, the US.

I can’t speak for the Australian constitution and can barely speak for our own, but as I understand it, it is possible to revoke someone’s citizenship, native-born or not. However, I’ve been wrong may times before.

(I see by your tagline that we suffer the same public school handicap that I do!)

[Fitzy_888]

“Peace through Vulnerability” isn’t working. Maybe next time they can poll second graders.