Posted on 11/01/2001 10:17:26 AM PST by Eric Esot
AFGHANISTAN has declared holy war on Australia. The Taliban ambassador to Pakistan, Abdul Salam Zaeef, last night declared Australia a target for retaliation.
Until yesterday, only the US and Britain had been named as enemies of the Taliban, which harbours Osama bin Laden's terrorist network.
"Any person, any military coming to Afghanistan, for invasion, for fighting the people of Afghanistan, we are ready for a jihad," he said.
"Any people who join with the Americans - they are Americans to us."
Answering Australian journalists, he said jihad applied to anyone who joined America in the war on Afghanistan.
Asked if that included Australians in Australia, he replied: "Yes, yes, yes, this is clear."
Mullah Zaeef said the flow of asylum seekers to Australia would not stop until the attacks against Afghanistan ceased.
More than 1500 Australian troops have been committed to join the US and Britain in the war against terrorism.
Prime Minister John Howard last night said Australia was prepared to meet any threat.
He said increased security measures had been put in place after the September 11 terrorist attacks on America.
"We should not ignore this, but we should not overreact," Mr Howard said.
"My message to the Australian people is one of reassurance, but also one of saying we cannot just be brazenly indifferent to this sort of thing."
The Islamic Council of Victoria last night appealed to Australian Muslims to ignore the declaration of a holy war.
Council president Yasser Soliman called on all Muslims to work towards peace. "I would definitely direct all Muslims to ignore any calls for a holy war against Australia," he said. "Muslims should be working with all sectors of Australia for a holy peace.
"I think the Taliban themselves, speaking as Muslims, would have to admit that killing innocent people is also wrong."
But the Taliban ambassador to Pakistan said Australia was wrong for siding with America.
"If they are joining with Americans in coming to Afghanistan the jihad is clear, (it includes) any person who wants to accompany the forces of America," Mr Zaeef said.
Mr Howard condemned the Taliban for portraying the conflict in religious terms. "It is not an issue of religion, it is an issue of good against evil and fighting evil ought to be a common cause among the great religions of the world, of which Islam is clearly one," he said.
"It is the Taliban that is defining this issue in religious terms, it is not the US and it's not Australia."
The United States and Britain have mounted a non-stop bombing campaign in Afghanistan to weaken the Taliban before a ground assault by opposition forces under US guidance.
Special forces troops, including 150 from Australia's Special Air Service, will conduct surgical strikes deep inside Taliban territory.
The Government's Special Incident Task Force will meet to decide the government's response to the new threat.
That task force, led by the Attorney-General's Department, involves all government security agencies, including Defence, which has been on high alert since the September 11 attacks.
A government source said the jihad comments would certainly alter the security posture.
Australia is already on a high security alert and agencies are prepared for a terrorist attack.
4th generation Aussie with numerous relatives who served Australia in war (including a great-uncle who won the VC in North Africa during WW2). Current serving member of the Australian Defence Force with several tours of duty in the world's worst hell holes.
If the Taliban want war, then they'll get their wish. Even Hitler and Rommel respected our fighting ability. We don't want the Taliban to respect us. We want them to FEAR us.
Aussies don't start wars, but we sure as hell finish them.
Two years later - Surprise!
I just spent the last two years working with the RAN on a project. I concur with your assessment of the ADF, as do most of the people who count.
If you ever get a chance to read "About Face" by David Hackworth, he was full of praise of the Aussies in Vietnam. In fact, he used to sneak members of his batallion over to the Aussies for a month at a time so they could learn how to fight a guerilla war.
Or maybe during the 'holy' month of Ramadan families could purchase Jihad naming rights for a loved one in celebration of the holidays. The gift package could come with a gold leaf embossed certificate of authenticity (suitable for framing) clearly listing the name of the loved one and the Western country assigned to their jihad.
The marketing possibilities are endless...
If someone was not from the area or unfamiliar with this crime spree, it would not be apparent what really happened.
You'll notice how there is no mention of the motives for these attackes and absolutely no mention of this maggot's ethnicity.
That would be 'hateful', after all, islam is a religion of peace. </vomit>
If anyone steps up and does anything to these POS, there will be immediate 'outrage' from the usual loudmouth suspects, as the 'liberal' crew only reacts when something threatens their ability to get high or have sex.
An unarmed populace is unprotected.
The best way to end war and ensure peace is to kill the enemy.
why is this hairy butterball still breathing. Sniperbait for crying out loud. Right between the eyes. On Al Jezeera!
This is like letting Apaches raid your homesteads and doing nothing about it.
More at The Great Aussie Beer Page
It makes me ill, I cannot explain it.
Further evidence of the Balkanization of the country, diversity is wonderful!
BTW - The gov't effectively banned gun ownership to protect the people.
The people said "Hurrah! This will save us."
The day after the gun ban went into effect, a street robbery occurred two blocks from my office.
The crim used a barbeque fork as a weapon.
I thought this was hysterically funny.
The irony was lost on my peers.
Recent letter to editor in local paper. Airmnn from WWII in Europe. Shot down, said he was saved by the SS from the local civilian populace, who didn't take too kindly to the guys dropping bombs on them.
And I was referring to this remark. I never claimed to be the official spokesman for Australia. And you assume Im male. Assumptions make you screw up. I was merely refuting Kanga's claim that hes the only real Aussie on the board.
As what would appear to be the only real Aussie here, let me set you straight on a few things.
"Which way to the boxcars sir?"
Disarmed, you follow orders, or you die. Or you follow orders AND you die.
Or are you saying he is the only real Aussie here. Looking at the forum, there are a number of people refuting his claim. Go b**** at someone else.
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