Posted on 12/12/2001 7:11:34 AM PST by vooch
Taliban Fighter Could Be Tried in US
By PETER O'CONNOR
.c The Associated Press
CANBERRA, Australia (AP) - An Australian man captured in Afghanistan and trained by the al-Qaida network could face murder charges in the United States or penalties in Australia for mercenary work, legal experts said Wednesday.
Attorney-General Daryl Williams said the 26-year old man from the southern city of Adelaide was caught last weekend by northern alliance fighters.
He is believed to have traveled to Europe in mid-1999 to join the Kosovo Liberation Army fighting in the former Yugoslavia.
In November 1999 he went to Pakistan where he trained with the Lashkar-E-Taiba group, a Pakistan-based militant Islamic group.
In 2000 he entered Afghanistan and undertook extensive training with Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida network.
Williams said security considerations severely restricted the amount of information the government could reveal at the moment. The government will not reveal his name, how he was caught, where he was held, or possible charges. He said the possible charge needs to be examined in consultation with the United States and authorities in Afghanistan.
Gillian Triggs, a professor of law at Melbourne University, said the United States could have first call if he was proven to have been involved in planning the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington.
``If the U.S. can demonstrate a link with Sept. 11 there's a clear case of jurisdiction,'' Triggs said. ``It could be as simple as murder charges under New York law.''
However, it may be possible to charge him in Australia under laws designed to stop Australians fighting overseas as mercenaries, she said. The laws carry a 14-year jail sentence.
Australian National University international law expert Chris Reus-Smit said the man could also be open to charges of crimes against humanity under international war crimes laws.
Reus-Smit said the issue was complicated by the fact Australia had not formally declared war on Afghanistan.
Williams said there was no information to suggest the man had planned any terrorist attacks in Australia.
``He has no known criminal record and has not previously come to notice in a security context,'' he said.
AP-NY-12-12-01 0326EST
Copyright 2001 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
Answer: if you didn't say "Australia", you're wrong.
It further proves the contention that Clinton was supporting Islamic terrorists is his Bosnian & Kosovo adevntures. It reinforces the post 9-11 premise that we fought on the wrong side in Yugoslavia.
However, this policy of support for them extended into the Bush admin, so I wouldn't myself just blame it on Clinton.
It is very unseemly that it is even mentioned that this Aussie might be charged with violating mercenary laws for fighting with the Muslims in Kosovo. The reason it is unseemly is because many sources have reported to us that American mercenaries who were being sponsored by the US government also fought for the Muslims both in Kosovo and in Macedonia.
Hackworth and others reported that when the 400 Muslim fighters were captured near Skopje a few months ago that they had 17 Americans among them. These were all ex-military and sponsored by the CIA. A company set up and funded by the CIA was their employer.
The US made an about face after 9/11 and has apparently stopped supporting these Muslims in southeast Europe. Instead, our leaders have instead decided to work with Russia rather than against Russia in this region.
I myself really wish that those 17 Americans caught fighting as muslim terrorists against the Macedonian nation would be charged according to US laws. It is against the law for Americans to work as mercenaries in a foreign war. We should all understand that it is President Bush who is in charge now and who is failing to enforce american laws regarding this issue.
Captured Aussie fought for bin Laden: Williams
Captured Australian had trained with al Qaida ( Aussies have a Johnny Jihad too ! )
How's the hat coming along Hoppie? Might I suggest using real tinfoil instead of using those old NYT paper clippings of Joe DiGuardio(sp?) and John McCain. If your good enough, maybe you can make a faux 7th brigade beret out of Alija's muslim manifesto.
Yeah, US forces should have helped Milosevic and his companions Mladic, Karadzic, Arkan and Martic finish their job. Wonderful Vooch!
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