Howard vows to pre-empt terrorists

[MKSheppard]

Howard vows to pre-empt terrorists
By Neil Frankland
ASSOCIATED PRESS

SYDNEY, Australia — Prime Minister John Howard said yesterday he was prepared to act against terrorists in neighboring Asian countries and that the U.N. charter should be changed to allow nations to strike pre-emptively against terrorists planning to attack them.

His comments were criticized by
governments across Asia.

Australia has one of the most powerful militaries in its region, with a modern air force and experienced special forces.

Mr. Howard's comments come as his nation observes how Southeast Asian countries deal with Islamic militants in the wake of the Oct. 12 bombings on Indonesia's resort island of Bali. The attack left nearly 200 people dead, almost half of them Australian tourists.

The al Qaeda-linked terrorist group Jemaah Islamiyah has been blamed for the Bali attacks.

Though dozens of suspected Jemaah Islamiyah operatives have been jailed, many more are still believed to be operational. Australia has boosted security at its embassies overseas and warned that terrorists may also attack within Australia. Last week it closed its mission in the Philippines, citing a specific and credible terror threat.

"It stands to reason that if you believe that somebody was going to launch an attack on your country, either of a conventional kind or a terrorist kind, and you had a capacity to stop it and there was no alternative other than to use that capacity, then of course you would have to use it," he told Australian television's Channel Nine.

Asked if that meant taking pre-emptive action against terrorists in a neighboring country, Mr. Howard said: "Oh yes. I think any Australian prime minister would."

But he added, "There's no situation that I'm aware of at the moment that raises that issue."

In Jakarta, Indonesian Foreign Ministry spokesman Marti Natalegawa said Australia did not have the right to conduct military strikes in other countries.

"States cannot willy-nilly flout international law and norms," he said.
Thailand's government spokesman, Ratthakit Manathat, said: "Nobody does anything like this. Each country has its own sovereignty that must be protected."

Philippine National Security Adviser Roilo Golez said Mr. Howard's comments were "not wise," adding that they did not "follow the doctrine of peacekeeping and sovereignty."

Australia has proposed a deal with the Philippines that may allow joint anti-terrorist operations and training in the two countries, according to a draft.

But a Philippine foreign affairs official, who asked not to be named, said the deal would not allow Australia to conduct anti- terror operations in the Philippines.

In 1999, Australia sent thousands of troops into East Timor as peacekeepers when Indonesia's army and its militia proxies killed hundreds of people after the territory voted in a U.N.-sponsored referendum for independence.

Australia, a longtime ally of the United States, deployed special forces to Afghanistan last year to help U.S. troops root out Taliban and al Qaeda remnants.

Mr. Howard said the U.N. charter should be altered to allow member countries to pre-emptively strike at terrorists.

He said the document was developed when conflicts were defined in terms of nations attacking nations.

"That's different now. What you're getting is non-state terrorism, which is just as devastating and potentially even more so," he said. "All I'm saying, I think many people are saying, is that maybe the body of international law has to catch up with the new reality."

[weemadando]

Its looking more and more like a vicious cycle...

And I am not thrilled at the idea of "preempting terrorism". Doesn't he realise that it is an act of terrorism to preempt terrorism.

I really need to get face to face with a political science class and debate them all into the ground over this (its surprising how many morons buy this rhetoric). Though, I must say the SAS etc would completely own any of the regional terrorists with the possible exception of Abu Sayaff.

[Stuart Mackey]

Its looking more and more like a vicious cycle...

And I am not thrilled at the idea of "preempting terrorism". Doesn't he realise that it is an act of terrorism to preempt terrorism.

I really need to get face to face with a political science class and debate them all into the ground over this (its surprising how many morons buy this rhetoric). Though, I must say the SAS etc would completely own any of the regional terrorists with the possible exception of Abu Sayaff.

I dont have a problem with pre-empting a terroist attack, providing you have the evidence that its going to happen and there are reasonable grouds to think that local governments wont do something about it, it if given the chance. The trick is not to publisise it, lest people think you are invading them.
Howard was a dickhead to announce this as he has managed to piss of most of SE asia which is dumb when a good chunk of Aussies trade is with these nations.

[Crown]

What I want to know is why can't I launch a pre-emptive strike against the pussy-hat-fucking-bold-dwarf that currently rules my country for being an A grade wanker!

[Stuart Mackey]

What I want to know is why can't I launch a pre-emptive strike against the pussy-hat-fucking-bold-dwarf that currently rules my country for being an A grade wanker!

Thats what elections are for. Remember you vote out a government, you dont vote in a government.

[Mr Bean]

And I am not thrilled at the idea of "preempting terrorism". Doesn't he realise that it is an act of terrorism to preempt terrorism.

Acutal NO its not, Its an act of WAR if done aginst another Nation and depending on what your doing its either assination or acutal a premtive strike

Contrys can't commite terriosim unless they use third partys (IE insurgants)

[Crown]

Thats what elections are for. Remember you vote out a government, you dont vote in a government."

Well I would have to disagree with you on that. Only two days ago I did my duty to ensure that Victoria remained a Socialist State! Have you heard the results? A total Victory for Labor.

Funny, isn't it? Every state and territory has a Labor government, but federally it's Liberal!

[Stuart Mackey]

And I am not thrilled at the idea of "preempting terrorism". Doesn't he realise that it is an act of terrorism to preempt terrorism.

Acutal NO its not, Its an act of WAR if done aginst another Nation and depending on what your doing its either assination or acutal a premtive strike

Contrys can't commite terriosim unless they use third partys (IE insurgants)

Which is why little Johnny is such a fucking moron to say what he did.
This sort of shit is best kept under wraps if you want to do it, as its moronic to violate the soverghnty of a forghn nation esp if they take a large amount of your trade.

[Jason von Evil]

I hope Aussieland invades Indonsia and occupies it until the Aussie military has scoured the country and rooted out all extermists and if the UN (Useless Nutjobs) gripes about it, Mr. Howard should just tell them to fuck off.

[Crown]

I hope Aussieland invades Indonsia and occupies it until the Aussie military has scoured the country and rooted out all extermists and if the UN (Useless Nutjobs) gripes about it, Mr. Howard should just tell them to fuck off.

*Pulls Aya aside*

Ahh, you do realise that Indonesia is the worlds largest populous Muslim country don't you?


NB: Muslim doesn't mean fundie!

[Stuart Mackey]

Thats what elections are for. Remember you vote out a government, you dont vote in a government."

Well I would have to disagree with you on that. Only two days ago I did my duty to ensure that Victoria remained a Socialist State! Have you heard the results? A total Victory for Labor.

Funny, isn't it? Every state and territory has a Labor government, but federally it's Liberal!

*Obligitory Kiwi Aussie Bash*
Yeah well you have a fucked up federal sytem over there. What else is a government good for, if not for voting out in a wave of national disgust?.
We here in New Zealand have a far better system, but of course we are not cretious crims like Australians
*Obligatory Kiwi Aussie Bash*

[Stuart Mackey]

I hope Aussieland invades Indonsia and occupies it until the Aussie military has scoured the country and rooted out all extermists and if the UN (Useless Nutjobs) gripes about it, Mr. Howard should just tell them to fuck off.

Well that would be a pointless attempt given that Aussieland could hardly scrape up a brigade to sort out East Timor. Of course, NZ could hardly scrape up the battalion that Aussie needed to help out, but we were much better orgnised than the Aussies.

[Jason von Evil]

I hope Aussieland invades Indonsia and occupies it until the Aussie military has scoured the country and rooted out all extermists and if the UN (Useless Nutjobs) gripes about it, Mr. Howard should just tell them to fuck off.

*Pulls Aya aside*

Ahh, you do realise that Indonesia is the worlds largest populous Muslim country don't you?


NB: Muslim doesn't mean fundie!

So? If they wanna try fighting a US ally, let em try, it'll give Bush an excuse to have B-52s bomb them.

[Stuart Mackey]

I hope Aussieland invades Indonsia and occupies it until the Aussie military has scoured the country and rooted out all extermists and if the UN (Useless Nutjobs) gripes about it, Mr. Howard should just tell them to fuck off.

*Pulls Aya aside*

Ahh, you do realise that Indonesia is the worlds largest populous Muslim country don't you?


NB: Muslim doesn't mean fundie!

So? If they wanna try fighting a US ally, let em try, it'll give Bush an excuse to have B-52s bomb them.

read my bit about Aussie hadly being able to send a brigade to Timor.
Australia simply does not have the ability to launch a war of occupation on any one..with the possible exception of Norfolk Island. B52 raids cannot alter this fact

[Sonnenburg]

Australia has one of the most powerful militaries in its region, with a modern air force and experienced special forces.

Maybe I'm just off but to me "modern air force" seems redundant. It's not like it's going to be: "The Australian Air Force, which at the moment consists of three hot air balloons and the charred remains of the Hindenberg, will be expanding today with the addition of Zopar, the Human Cannonball!"

[weemadando]

Australia has one of the most powerful militaries in its region, with a modern air force and experienced special forces.

Maybe I'm just off but to me "modern air force" seems redundant. It's not like it's going to be: "The Australian Air Force, which at the moment consists of three hot air balloons and the charred remains of the Hindenberg, will be expanding today with the addition of Zopar, the Human Cannonball!"

Actually a recent doco series on ABC had me laughing my arse off... It was all about the current RAAF, one of the quotes by a defense analyst: "No airforce in the world can take on the RAAF over Australia and win."

Wrong. We don't even have enough missiles to take out HALF of the USAF assuming all our missiles hit their targets and killed with one hit. Thats removing the Navy and Marine Aviation from the equation as well...

[Dalton]

Maybe I'm just off but to me "modern air force" seems redundant. It's not like it's going to be: "The Australian Air Force, which at the moment consists of three hot air balloons and the charred remains of the Hindenberg, will be expanding today with the addition of Zopar, the Human Cannonball!"

Love the way you deflate Shep's bag of fun and make a joke at his thread's expense

[Sonnenburg]

Love the way you deflate Shep's bag of fun and make a joke at his thread's expense

Would you expect any less of me? Come to think of it, would you expect any more from me?

[MKSheppard]

Love the way you deflate Shep's bag of fun and make a joke at his thread's expense

Bag of fun? I posted this for our Aussie friends to have something to bitch
about: Namely JohN Howard.

[Enlightenment]

Ahh, you do realise that Indonesia is the worlds largest populous Muslim country don't you?


NB: Muslim doesn't mean fundie!

True. 90% of the time, 'Muslim' means 'terrorist sympathiser' or '11th century social throwback' instead.