"Raids Foil Terrorist Attack": Police Chiefs

[Matilda]

"The police chiefs of New South Wales and Victoria say overnight
raids have foiled a terrorist plot.

"Fifteen people have been arrested in raids conducted by more than
400 police on a number of suburbs in Sydney and Melbourne."

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200511/s1499988.htm


Without going into the facts of the arrests and whether or not they
were justified, doesn't this prove that our current laws are
sufficient to deal with any terrorist situation that arises? Why
then do we need tougher laws that trample on our civil liberties?

I don't think this is the message that Howard wants to convey, but
I read this as an indictment of the new laws, not a reason to
support them.

[PinkUnicorn]

1. Dupe (n/t)

[PinkUnicorn]

2. As I understand...

The new laws are already in effect.

But some interesting snippets...

"Victoria's Police Commissioner, Christine Nixon, agrees that police have prevented a major terrorist attack from occurring. "We believe that they were planning an operation," she said. "We weren't exactly sure when nor, more importantly, what they planned to damage or do harm to. it was a point where, when we had sufficient evidence, we were able then to move."

What happened to 'imminent threat?'

Commissioner Nixon says some of the charges laid against those arrested in the raids have been made possible by a change to existing anti-terrorism laws that was rushed through federal Parliament last week."But this is a long-term operation. It isn't just something that happened last week. "We believe that we were moving to a point where we had sufficient evidence to charge these people with a range of offences."

This makes it far more obvious that Jackboot Johnny was using an ongoing investigation as a excuse. I am not overly surprised it passed, Labour folded like a paper bag and Backdown Barnaby couldn't milk it for pork or political capital. Imam Abu Bakr has been raided twice by ASIO this year (in June IIRC) and his passport confiscated, and whilst most agree he is a borderline nut, actual proof (beyond shooting his mouth off) has been very nebulous.

I am mildly suspicious that since they couldn't get any solid evidence they needed to move on flimsier material which is permitted under the new laws. Due to those earlier botched ASIO raids, he knew he was being watched and would have been very cagey if he was doing anything. It will be interesting to see how many get quietly released due to the evidence being so flimsy the court laughs at it.

What will make it interesting is when the inevitable Constituational Challange concerning it goes to the high court.

[Matilda]

3. What Howard wants now is the right to call out the army in a terrorist

situation - he says he has the Commonwealth Games in mind, but I
wouldn't take his word on that. He wants them to have the shoot-to-
kill powers that he couldn't get through the current laws.

I'm really starting to wonder about his mental health - either he
has become totally drunk with the power he has, or he's seriously
losing his marbles. What is he trying to turn this country into?

An unintended side effect could be the failure of the Commonwealth
Games - I believe ticket sales are poor anyway, and the way Howard
is talking up terrorist threats, it's quite likely people will just
decide to stay away. That's going to be a lot of money down the
gurgler.

[PinkUnicorn]

4. Think Menzies

- either he, has become totally drunk with the power he has, or he's seriously, losing his marbles.

I'd say both. His power tripping is fairly obvious, but his mental state has always been suspect IMHO. Watch is little stuttering shriek/giggle when someone dares to interrupt or contradict him.

But he's also made no secret that he worships his Menzies Idol and follows his mentors footsteps in including 'imperial worship' (menzies wanted decimal currency to be called 'royals'), union busting ('Pig-Iron-Bob' and the Transport Workers Act), smear politics (Brown/Fitzpatrick) and fear politics (White Australia Policy, McCarthy 'Reds under beds, and Petrov).

That's going to be a lot of money down the gurgler.

Don't forget when Jackboot Johnny was treasurer he drove the economy down the toilet which required some serious work to get it solvent again. It would be keeping with his style.

[Matilda]

5. I just hope he may be over-reaching himself; he's getting scary.

Jackboot Johnny is a very good name for him.

[PinkUnicorn]

8. Agreed

There have been scary PM's in the past, but at least you had a decent opposition holding the delusions of grandeur in check. Now we have a spineless opposition and he can run rampart with his fantasies

I have several names for Howard, though Jackboot Johnny is by far the most pertinent these days. Others included...

Kaiser of Kirribilli

Mullah John

* Johnny the Toad - A mixing of "Johnny the Boy" and "Toady" from the films Max Max 1 & 2. Both were cowardly suck ups to the gang leader who tried to be tough. Any resemblence to a slimey bald frog is co-incidental.

* Procurator Pontius John - Always ready with a bowl of water, never responsible for anything and takes his orders directly from the Imperial Capital.

* Howard floresis - Remnant of a tiny-brained, one-metre-tall human species thought to be extinct for 18,000 years.

[Matilda]

7. Checked with the Greens Office,

and the new laws are still being discussed.

One amendment to the current laws was rushed through last week, but
there are still a range of changes on the table which Howard wanted
to have passed this week, but it may not happen that fast. I guess
a lot depends on Joyce and Fielding.

[PinkUnicorn]

9. Ta for the info (n/t)

[Matilda]

6. Howard today: "When it comes to the safety of the Australian people

and the security of this country there is no room for political
manipulation and I have not sought to do that in relation to this
issue and I will not in the future."

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200511/s1500149.htm

He'll rot in hell for that one!