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JIHAD DECLARED ON AUSTRALIA
By IAN McPHEDRAN Defence Reporter
02nov01
AFGHANISTAN'S Taliban Islamic militia has declared a jihad, or holy war, against Australia.
The Taliban ambassador to Pakistan, Mullah Abdul Salem Zaeef, singled out Australia for special mention for the first time yesterday.
"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."
Asked if that included Australians in Australia he replied: "Yes, yes, yes, this is clear."
Until yesterday only the US and Britain had been named as targets for the Taliban's jihad.
Mullah Zaeef said the jihad also extended to Afghans siding with the Americans.
"If they are joining with Americans in coming to Afghanistan the jihad is clear, any person who wants to accompany the forces of America," Mullah Zaeef said.
Prime Minister John Howard said of the threat last night: "We shouldn't ignore this but we shouldn't overreact."
The US and Britain have mounted a non-stop bombing campaign in Afghanistan for weeks to weaken the Taliban prior to a ground assault by opposition forces under US guidance. Special forces troops, including 150 from Australia's Special Air Service, will conduct surgical strikes.
The Government's special incident task force will meet to decide the response to the new threat.
That taskforce, led by the Attorney-General's Department, involves all government security agencies including Defence which has been on high alert since the attacks against the US on September 11.
Mr Howard said the Taliban's response was to be expected after the events of September 11 and Australia's display of strong support for US military action in Afghanistan.
He said Australia was on a heightened sense of alert and everything that could be done was being done.
He moved to reassure the community not to overreact and to continue on with their daily lives.
"This reaction is not unexpected, it was obvious that after September 11 that nations such as Australia strongly supporting the US would experience a heightened alert," Mr Howard said. "We have responded to that and I want to assure the Australian public that we have been on a heightened state of alert and quite a number of security measures have been implemented.
Mr Howard said it was the Taliban, not the US or any other country that was the defining this issue in religious terms.
"It is not an issue of religion against religion. It is an issue of good against evil and fighting evil ought to be a common cause among great religions of the world of which Islam is clearly one."
One 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.
"If we need to upgrade that [alert] it will happen," a spokeswoman for Attorney_General Daryl Williams said.
The jihad will not alter any aspects of Australia's military deployment to the war against terrorism.
More than 1500 Australian personnel will be deployed and elite SAS troops will be on the ground in Afghanistan within a fortnight.
One government source last night said military personnel would be angered by the jihad call.
"It makes you feel like you want to send more people," the source said.
The SAS will be followed by three warships, four fighter jets, two patrol aircraft and two refuelling aircraft.
Sydney is already on a high state of alert due to the war on terrorism, with every facet of police service operations currently under review.
Specialist equipment used by the bomb squad and forensic teams are being tested with extra staff trained and specialist "critical incident" teams raised to a higher level of training and preparedness.
Police Commissioner Peter Ryan said it was better to be over prepared for any eventuality than find the state under prepared.
"The newly formed Strategic Operations Unit is conducting a state-wide review of the service capabilities," Mr Ryan told The Daily Telegraph.
"Everything that can be done is being done; we're dotting every 'i' and crossing every 't' and double and triple checking everything to make sure we are ready."
Mr Ryan said the service was building on the expertise gained from the Sydney Olympics last year and he was getting daily briefings on events overseas than may affect domestic security.
A "Special Operation Room" at an undisclosed location in Sydney was last night on standby to be used by police and security agencies in the event of a major terrorist act.
The Australian Federal Police and ASIO are also conducting a series of probes and investigations into potential targets and local protagonists.
The AFP last night declined to comment on its security measures being take
JIHAD DECLARED ON AUSTRALIA
By IAN McPHEDRAN Defence Reporter
02nov01
AFGHANISTAN'S Taliban Islamic militia has declared a jihad, or holy war, against Australia.
The Taliban ambassador to Pakistan, Mullah Abdul Salem Zaeef, singled out Australia for special mention for the first time yesterday.
"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."
Asked if that included Australians in Australia he replied: "Yes, yes, yes, this is clear."
Until yesterday only the US and Britain had been named as targets for the Taliban's jihad.
Mullah Zaeef said the jihad also extended to Afghans siding with the Americans.
"If they are joining with Americans in coming to Afghanistan the jihad is clear, any person who wants to accompany the forces of America," Mullah Zaeef said.
Prime Minister John Howard said of the threat last night: "We shouldn't ignore this but we shouldn't overreact."
The US and Britain have mounted a non-stop bombing campaign in Afghanistan for weeks to weaken the Taliban prior to a ground assault by opposition forces under US guidance. Special forces troops, including 150 from Australia's Special Air Service, will conduct surgical strikes.
The Government's special incident task force will meet to decide the response to the new threat.
That taskforce, led by the Attorney-General's Department, involves all government security agencies including Defence which has been on high alert since the attacks against the US on September 11.
Mr Howard said the Taliban's response was to be expected after the events of September 11 and Australia's display of strong support for US military action in Afghanistan.
He said Australia was on a heightened sense of alert and everything that could be done was being done.
He moved to reassure the community not to overreact and to continue on with their daily lives.
"This reaction is not unexpected, it was obvious that after September 11 that nations such as Australia strongly supporting the US would experience a heightened alert," Mr Howard said. "We have responded to that and I want to assure the Australian public that we have been on a heightened state of alert and quite a number of security measures have been implemented.
Mr Howard said it was the Taliban, not the US or any other country that was the defining this issue in religious terms.
"It is not an issue of religion against religion. It is an issue of good against evil and fighting evil ought to be a common cause among great religions of the world of which Islam is clearly one."
One 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.
"If we need to upgrade that [alert] it will happen," a spokeswoman for Attorney_General Daryl Williams said.
The jihad will not alter any aspects of Australia's military deployment to the war against terrorism.
More than 1500 Australian personnel will be deployed and elite SAS troops will be on the ground in Afghanistan within a fortnight.
One government source last night said military personnel would be angered by the jihad call.
"It makes you feel like you want to send more people," the source said.
The SAS will be followed by three warships, four fighter jets, two patrol aircraft and two refuelling aircraft.
Sydney is already on a high state of alert due to the war on terrorism, with every facet of police service operations currently under review.
Specialist equipment used by the bomb squad and forensic teams are being tested with extra staff trained and specialist "critical incident" teams raised to a higher level of training and preparedness.
Police Commissioner Peter Ryan said it was better to be over prepared for any eventuality than find the state under prepared.
"The newly formed Strategic Operations Unit is conducting a state-wide review of the service capabilities," Mr Ryan told The Daily Telegraph.
"Everything that can be done is being done; we're dotting every 'i' and crossing every 't' and double and triple checking everything to make sure we are ready."
Mr Ryan said the service was building on the expertise gained from the Sydney Olympics last year and he was getting daily briefings on events overseas than may affect domestic security.
A "Special Operation Room" at an undisclosed location in Sydney was last night on standby to be used by police and security agencies in the event of a major terrorist act.
The Australian Federal Police and ASIO are also conducting a series of probes and investigations into potential targets and local protagonists.
The AFP last night declined to comment on its security measures being take
