Global Terror

 The View from Australia

by Murray Allatt

Sometimes, I am sure, many, and probably most, people living in Australia can almost believe they are so far away from bad things happening in the world that there is no place they would rather be. I imagine that thought crosses the minds of Australians from Cairns to Hobart and from Hobart to Broome. And in the thousands of small towns and hamlets and farms that dot the Australian countryside. Perhaps even in the big cities of Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. And of course some people do seem to live idyllic lives in idyllic places where no bad thing happens and any bad happening overseas, or even in another part of the country, while horrific on the evening news, quickly passes from consciousness as we get about our daily lives.

Of course, in this modern world, we are all very much closer to bad things happening, not necessarily to us, but certainly to someone we may know. And even if the bad thing happens to people to whom we have no connection we can still be impacted by horror, fear, grief and hopefully compassion for the victims. Satellites and television and the internet ensure we get instant coverage with photos any time, any place.

Recent Target

Much of the world today is beset by and very much occupied by terrorism. Not just any terrorism, but that of radical fundamentalist Islam. On Thursday, 11 March the first news came over the Internet of a bombing in Madrid at a railway station. As the hours passed updated news gave casualties of 35, then 62, then 90 dead. The next morning the figure had swelled to over 160 and by the next day's end 200. And 1500 wounded. The Spanish Government was quick to blame the ETA, the murderous Basque separatist organization. Then plain evidence quickly emerged pointing to an al Qaeda connection and that the attack may have been retribution for Spain's support of the U.S. in the attack on Iraq. Besides, the ETA denied it, while al Qaeda or at least one of its cohort organizations quickly claimed responsibility.

This latest terror attack, carried out on ordinary folk going about their daily lives, follows 9/11 and the Bali bombing. Again, attacks against ordinary folk getting on with their lives.

Subsequently, the fact that Al Qaeda was behind this atrocity became undeniable. Just a day later voters swept the conservative Spanish Government from office in an apparent backlash. Just a day before the bombing all polling showed another conservative victory. But the voters were furious at the government's lying about the source of this terror attack. They lied because 90% of the Spanish electorate had opposed Spain's involvement in Iraq fearing, in part, becoming a target. This terror attack it was said came because of that involvement.

What About Australia?

The question now occupying many in Australia (and Britain and other members of the Coalition) is not IF but WHEN and WHERE terror of this magnitude will strike Australia. The Chief of the Australian Federal Police, Mr. Bill Keelty, stated plainly on Sunday 14 March that a terror strike on Australian soil was inevitable. Those in the small towns and hamlets and farms can take some comfort any such attack will occur in a major population center or at least where a large crowd is gathered. Mr. Keelty stated that there was an increased risk of an Al Qaeda terror attack because of Australia's involvement in Iraq. He was, of course correct. Notwithstanding the plain common sense of the statement, the Federal Government, mindful of the general election no doubt due by the end of this year downplayed the connection and rejected the notion Australia was any more likely to be a target of terror because of the support Australia has given the U.S. in Iraq.

The supposition is that the Madrid attack changed the Spanish government. An attack in Australia, or even the heightened threat of attack because of Iraq, may do the same here. It is never edifying to see politicians defy logic and the obvious for the sake of supposed electoral advantage. The fact is, notwithstanding the targeting of Australia earlier by Al Qaeda for its involvement in East Timor and the Bali bombing does not mean there is no increased risk from involvement in Iraq. Of course there is. And surely the Australian Government and people realized that at the time of making that commitment. It is the price this country pays for defending freedom.

Increased Security

The various state governments have all made announcements of increased security measures for trains. But what reasonable measures can be taken? The Premier of NSW, Bob Carr, made the obvious point that we simply cannot check every bag being carried on to a train. Sydney alone has scores of suburban railway stations. Many of them at present completely unmanned. Then there are scores, if not hundreds, of country stations. Train travel is not plane travel so far as ease of screening is concerned. But just as plane travel became a whole lot more inconvenient after 9/11 (and even more so after the failed shoe bomber), train travel may become more difficult after the Madrid bombing. And if searches are instituted then they will be carried out on an equal opportunity basis such that a grandmother of non-Islamic appearance with three red haired children in tow will be as likely to be “randomly” searched as some more likely suspect as now happens with the plane travel.

Just how intrusively the terrorists have encroached on our lives, even those idyllic lives, is demonstrated by a plane trip. Courtesy of the “would be” shoe bomber I no longer wear my favorite shoes on plane trips. They send the now super sensitive X-ray machines into a spin. Returning from Canberra a few weeks ago I was “randomly” selected for an explosives powder examination. After advising me I had the right to refuse the examination, but then could not fly, the young severe looking woman advised she would undertake the examination using a wand (with special paper on the end) and would need to touch my person at various points. The paper would then be fed to a machine: My bag would be opened and the wand inserted and then tested. All went well. No trace of explosives dust was found on me or in my bag. The severe looking young lady did comment how clean was my bag. It was brand new. When a colleague approached to see what was going on I could not resist replying with the tag that I was “randomly” chosen and “I was not even wearing a tea towel on my head.” The severe young woman was not amused.

The fact is that the terrorism perpetrated by fundamentalist Islam these past few years impact on every one of us in very real and intrusive ways both emotionally and physically. And that is what these acts of barbarism are meant to do.

But Why is This Happening?

A report carried in the Sydney Morning Herald of 20 March 2004 informed us that a New York based “Iman” Feisal Abdul Rauf had stated “the West had to understand the terrorists’ point of view.” The report went on to state “Imam Feisal said it was Christians who started mass attacks on civilians.” He was then quoted as saying:

“The Islamic method of waging war is not to kill innocent civilians. But it was Christians in World War II who bombed civilians in Dresden and Hiroshima, neither of which were military targets...”

"Imam Feisal said the bombing in Madrid had made his message more urgent. He said there was an endless supply of angry
young Muslim rebels prepared to die for their cause and there was no sign of the attacks ending unless there was a fundamental change in the world.

Real peace is not going to come about by the U.S. apologizing to a bunch of Islamic radical terrorists for perceived wrongs.

Imam Feisal, who argues for a Western style of Islam that promotes democracy and tolerance, said there could be little progress until the U.S. acknowledged backing dictators and the U.S. President gave an “America Culpa” speech to the Muslim world.

But what exactly is their cause. This Iman, who the Premier of NSW, Bob Carr was so impressed with that he invited him to Australia for a two week speaking tour, implies that all these troubles are the fault of the West. That all that has to happen to stop the violence is for America to say, “we are sorry.” For what pray tell? For backing dictators? The U.S. and its allies just got rid of a heinous dictator in Saddam Hussein. The perpetrators of the Madrid bombing have stated it was in retaliation for that act the bombing took place. In other words the perpetrators wanted Saddam to continue in office. (Just like a vocal bunch of leftists of all stripes who “opposed” the war but apparently supported Saddam with his violence to his own people). The fact is that this Iman, just like Australia's very own “Grand Mufti” Sheik al Hilaly of the Lakemba Mosque in Sydney, is an apologist for Islamic fundamentalists bent on bringing down the West. They are engaged in “holy” war based on the teaching of the Koran. Despite his denials and claims he was misinterpreted, Sheik al Hilaly in a recent speech in a Lebanon Mosque did say that 9/11 was the work of God against the oppressors. He did praise the Jihad martyrs. He lives in a democracy, as does Rauf. But do their expressed views seem like they are interested in “promoting democracy and tolerance”? Is that what the Islamic terrorists are really all about? Absolutely not.

Will Australia Escape Terror?

As Federal Police Commissioner, Mick Keelty, said after the Madrid bombing, it is not a matter of IF but when. The Australian Federal and State Governments have embarked on implementing increased security at Australia's ports and major infrastructure sites. But an article in the Sun Herald of 21 March NSW deputy Police Commissioner, Scipione was quoted:

“Police Deputy Commissioner Andrew Scipione, who is in charge of NSW's counterterrorism force said Australia faces at least another 10 to 15 years on at least a medium level of terrorist alert.

When there are specific threats the alert level will rise and there will be more police and counterterrorist military forces on the streets and at public buildings.

Mr Scipione said security was being tightened at critical infrastructure, buildings and industrial plants that were essential to keep the political and economic system running, especially telecommunications, the banking and finance sector, airports and nuclear and energy facilities.

“We will see tighter security, better identification of people entering crucial areas and stricter control of vehicles entering vulnerable zones,” he said.

“Already at the Opera House we see fewer vehicles allowed on to the forecourt. I hope we don't have to screen people going into the Opera House but if there is intelligence of a specific threat then, unfortunately, it might be necessary.”

He was further quoted “There will be more monitoring of packages or bags left behind in lobbies or terminals.”

But he warned that none of this would be a guarantee against terrorist attacks in public areas.

“These people don't wear uniforms and they don't let you know they are corning.”

Where will it end?

The Bible points plainly to things getting worse, much worse, before the return of Jesus Christ and the implementation of REAL peace on this earth. Real peace is not going to come about by the U.S. apologizing to a bunch of Islamic radical terrorists for perceived wrongs. An apology is not what they want anyway. What they want is DEATH, preferably in the act of taking as many “infidels” with them as they can in order to earn their passport to “paradise” - the virgins, the little boys “scattered around like pearls,” the grapes hanging down and all the physical pleasures promised in the Koran to the martyr.

Iman Rauf was right about one thing. There is “an endless supply of angry young Muslim rebels prepared to die for their cause.” If Bin Laden is eventually killed or captured, there will be plenty more to replace him.

The pages of your Bible spell out to those with an ear to hear and eyes to see that this age is coming to an end. The increase in terror from Islamic fundamentalists is just the beginning. Before it ends we are going to see even more terrible events carried out in the name of “Allah” in acts of hateful terror. And eventually, the response from a ten-nation powerhouse, which will rise in Europe, will dwarf the actions presently being undertaken by the U.S. and its allies in the Middle East, at least partly in response to just such terror.

Jesus Christ said in Mark 13:8 speaking of the end time “ For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.” He went on to say, in verse 20, “And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved (alive): but for the elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days:” Make no mistake. Jesus Christ is coming back. That is what the world needs now. Are you going to be there to meet Him?