Australia:PM urged to admit war raised terrorism risk

[cal04]

The Federal Opposition says the Federal Government must acknowledge that its decision to go to war on Iraq has heightened the terrorist threat to Australia.A key suspect in the bombing of the Australian embassy in Jakarta has linked the war in Iraq to the attack.A transcript of the interrogation of 30-year-old Rois, reveals that he told police that the bombers' goal was "for Australia to stop repressing Muslims, especially in Iraq".

Rois also criticised Australia's interference in other Muslim countries, including Indonesia.Labor's foreign affairs spokesman Kevin Rudd says it is time for the Prime Minister, John Howard, to face up to the consequences of going to war in Iraq.Mr Rudd says the suspect's comments only confirm what most people already believe."I think the Australian public have grown tired of John Howard trying to convince them that our involvement in Iraq has no impact whatsoever on Australia as a terrorist target," Mr Rudd said."It's time for the Prime Minister just to level once and for all with the Australian people on this. Tell them the truth."

'Unsafe assumption'
However, Attorney-General Philip Ruddock says Rois's claim is a questionable claim."We know that they were targeting us well before and to assume if we had not been involved in Iraq, if we hadn't been involved in Afghanistan that these wouldn't be happening I think would be a very unsafe assumption," Mr Ruddock said. Australian Federal Police Commissioner Mick Keelty has previously linked the bombing to Australia's involvement in Iraq.But he now says his focus is on preventing terrorist attacks on Australian soil, and not the motives of those responsible

"What we got to do is focus on being preventative and ensuring that we don't have an attack here in Australia," he said."On that point we're working very closely with the British police, looking at the experiences that we can learn from the UK and working with our other agencies in the region to ensure we do our best to prevent an attack happening in Australia." The bombing of the Jakarta embassy killed 11 people, all of whom were Indonesian.Rois faces a verdict later this month for his role in the attack.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200508/s1427068.htm

[warrens]

1. Face up to consequences?

Fascists NEVER do that. They could care less about the consequences. And they will never admit error. Ever. Look at Bush when someone asked him to name ONE LOUSY MISTAKE HE EVER MADE. Someone without sociopathic personality attributes could have come up with one in a heartbeat, even if they didn't really think it was a mistake.

[soaky]

2. howard will never admit anything like that

this is after all the man who defines election promises into 'core' and 'non-core'

[Matilda]

4. And gets an attack of lockjaw if asked to say "sorry".

[LynnTheDem]

3. Aussies know the truth.

Poll: Aussies, Brits, Italians say Iraq war increased terrorism
http://www.startribune.com/stories/1576/5027215.html