News from our little corner of the world

[Dunaruna]

Three years ago, our version of 'Homeland Security' (ASEO) began a clandestine operation which involved servailance etc on suspected terrorists - all of middle eastern origin.<br /><br />The problem was, we don't have special laws for these guys, they get all the rights/privileges of any common criminal. They can't be arrested just because of suspicion - gotta have rock solid proof. <br /><br />So they couldn't be arrested, ASEO watched & waited.<br /><br />Last month, our gov attempted to pass laws which are more inline with the U.S. That is to say, suspected terrorist could be arrested and HELD - no bail etc. But of course all the bleeding heart civil rights people raised a storm over civil rights abuses and the laws did not pass.<br /><br />Last week, our Prime Minister announced that there is intelligence reports that claim an inimment and real danger of a terrorist strike on our soil. Everyone fell into line, the laws were passed and rushed through parliment (senate). The very next day, ASEO perform multiply raids across the country and arrest 18 people, they find bomb making materials and near completed bombs - the sh*t was about to hit the fan.<br /><br />There are many rumours flying around today. Not the least of which is that the Prime Ministers' announcment of an iniment attack actually sped up the terrorists timeline, 1 or 2 more days and it would have been all over. Another rumour is that a lot of those arrested are Aussie citizens, some even born here. This could make the new laws unlawful.<br /><br />Watch this space.

 

[rodbolt]

Re: News from our little corner of the world

glad to see they caught it in time, we did the same thing only if your suspected of making a bomb they have always been able to arrest ya. long before the homeland bungling act. in this country you can be arrested and held for up to 24 hours just cause and for 48 if someone thinks you may be abusive . trust me on that one. 48 hours, no charges, no bail have a nice day. nice thing is they have to serve and find you to do it,

 

[pjc]

Re: News from our little corner of the world

best to you Dunaruna, the world as we used to understand it has changed. These "new" laws that allow more careful (read intrusive) examination of so called common peoples are warrented IMO.<br /><br />Sad reality, but, want you or yours injured or killed by the nut job "extreemists" as they are labeled. I do not.

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: News from our little corner of the world

i agree pjc, I slept better last night.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: News from our little corner of the world

Glad to hear it Aldo. No Bill Clinton/Algore that John Howard.

 

[KaGee]

Re: News from our little corner of the world

Curses, foiled again!

 

[orca]

Re: News from our little corner of the world

Dunna, I read you this morning but I thought that I would think before putting fingers to keys.<br />Australia is a multi cultural society, we are used to seeing people from differant lands in this country and generally they are accepted by other people.<br />However when a few start to make trouble than it causes problems for many innocent people of similar ethnic backgrounds.<br />Just think back a couple of years when groups of Lebenese teenagers were gang raping young Aussie girls, for a while the whole lebenese community were tarred with the same brush.<br />It is the same with these guys, 15 People have been arrested however the whole muslim community are now living in fear of reprisals, and the families of the accused are probably distressed and confused and saddened.<br />When will this madness end.<br />I spent a couple of years in Libya during my youth, the majority of people were decent, law abiding citizens who just wanted to get on with their lives. <br />I have heard people say 'Bomb the lot of them", how many decent law abiding citizens would also die. And do we bomb the home town of Timmothy McVain (I hope the spelling is right) who caused the Oklahoma bombing.<br />Dont get me wrong, I am not siding with the terrorists, however there are no easy answers.

 

[stan_deezy]

Re: News from our little corner of the world

Heard about this yesterday and was well impressed with the Aussies. Watched the political side unfold and did think to myself that the government seemed to be moving very quickly all of a sudden. good thing too by the looks of it.<br />You probably know we have the same problems here and the latest is that the government want to bring in 90 day detention without charge on suspected terrorists. It's causing a major brewhaha in parliament and last week it looked like it could seriously go wrong for Tony Blair and his party as the vote could be lost. This morning it looks like he may survive the vote tonight and that the new law will come in. It is freaking out the muslim community because they say that the only people who will be locked up will be young muslim men. Well, I guess if four young muslim men hadn't decide to become "martyrs" in the middle of London on 7/7 and take 50+ innocent people with them and injure hundreds more we wouldn't be needing laws like this.<br /><br />I had to have a wry smile though on Sunday morning: breakfast TV had a discussion and one of the team was an American journolist. He listened to the discussion about 90 detention and said "Shucks, only 90 days? Heck we lock ours up for years and nobody bothers!"

 

[Link]

Re: News from our little corner of the world

Originally posted by KaGee:<br /> Curses, foiled again!

LOL<br />More of us need to have a since of humor in times like these. Good job.<br /><br />Dunaruna<br />

There are many rumours flying around today. Not the least of which is that the Prime Ministers' announcment of an iniment attack actually sped up the terrorists timeline, 1 or 2 more days and it would have been all over. Another rumour is that a lot of those arrested are Aussie citizens, some even born here. This could make the new laws unlawful.<br /><br />Watch this space.

Aldo<br />A: One side of me screams don't cross the line and let "OUR" Goverments get too much power.<br />B: The other side of me screams prop/screw the GD un-weds <br />Being born a Aussie citizen, American, UK or pick a country, means nothing to these people. <br />They are out to kill us. <br /><br />It's time for ALL Countries to wake up IMO!<br />My .02 worth<br />Glad it turned out well this time for you.<br />Link

 

[PW2]

Re: News from our little corner of the world

Man, and all you folks are celebrating the suspension of civil rights, the constitution, et al in favor of an all powerful government on the hope that it will somehow provide "security"?<br /><br />It just sends shivers down my spine!

 

[kenimpzoom]

Re: News from our little corner of the world

PW2 for some reason you dont believe that this is WAR. In times of WAR, there will be some civil rights taken away. I dont like it either, but our survival is more important.<br /><br />Ken

 

[technostingray]

Re: News from our little corner of the world

Originally posted by KaGee:<br /> Curses, foiled again!

<br />Your really deserve a ten, but I am only allowed *. Have noticed that if you quote some one and leave the gremlins it subtracts from you quota. ;biggrin;

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: News from our little corner of the world

Originally posted by PW2:<br /> Man, and all you folks are celebrating the suspension of civil rights, the constitution, et al in favor of an all powerful government on the hope that it will somehow provide "security"?<br /><br />It just sends shivers down my spine!

The new laws do not suspend civil rights, all they do is extend the time a suspect can be held in cusody, it also allows for more lenient search criteria. Before an arrest can occur, there must be (at the very least) reasonable circumstancial evidence, the cops can't arrest you just because you 'look' like a terrorist. These guys get state paid lawyers (MY tax dollars!) & they get their day in court. The media is all over this like flies on s*it, these suspects will get treated better than most. <br />Truth be told, I doubt that these new laws even come close to what you guys have.<br /><br />Update - Bail refused for all suspects (no surprises there). Friends of suspects arrested for attacking news crews outside court house. (real smart guys - NOT).<br /><br />Aldo

 

[technostingray]

Re: News from our little corner of the world

Ah, perspective. Mawnin, A. Have you had you coffee yet? You have mail.

 

[technostingray]

Re: News from our little corner of the world

Ah, perspective. Mawnin, A. Have you had your coffee yet? You have mail. edit------->noted a typo and hit the back button. Please excuse double posts if I didn't catch it in time.

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: News from our little corner of the world

Ray, no mail. Nuttin', zilch, nada.<br /><br />You paid your phone bill?

 

[QC]

Re: News from our little corner of the world

Aldo,<br /><br />Good on ya, you Aussies you . . .<br /><br />PW2,<br /><br />I am with KIZ on this. Just because I support our freedoms doesn't mean there aren't times that they need a little tweaking. Yes, I know how scary that sounds. Fact is, if you are not a bombmakin', terrorist, MoFo, you needn't worry too much anyway. Yes, I know that if I stop worrying and blindly follow my big scary gov't that still has FAIR elections I will be a victim. Yes, I also know that I have mixed in some sarcasm.<br /><br />

Originally posted by whaley:<br /> Australia is a multi cultural society, <br /><br />I am not siding with the terrorists, however there are no easy answers.

Yup, we Yanks think we understand this muti-cultural thing pretty well and I would fight to keep it this way. I hate that good Muslims are looked down upon and believe that those that would do the downlooking are indecent, wrong and subhuman. I also totally agree that the answers aren't simple, but frankly the clock was literally ticking and sometimes we just have to get out of the way.<br /><br />My .02

 

[PW2]

Re: News from our little corner of the world

This is a WAR without end. We have had terrorists creating havoc in one form or another for centuries, and that is not going to end anytime soon.<br /><br />Power given to a government is not easily taken back, and we in the US have a long history of using one agency or another in political control as opposed to law enforcement.<br /><br />And I am certainly not advocating anything but stringent law enforcement using state of the art technology and techniques, but we have to have proper judicial checks on that power. And yes it bothers me a lot that we can hold an American citizen apparently indefinitely ala Jose Padilla for, as near as I can tell, allegedly thinking bad thoughts. (If he committed a crime somehow--any crime--he should be charged)<br /><br />We are in an open society, which is how it should be. Fear is a powerful emotion, but reason has to somehow prevail to retain a free and open society.<br /><br />And I am somewhat reassured that the Aussies appear to be respecting the rights of their citizens, even as they diligently enforce their laws.

 

[rodbolt]

Re: News from our little corner of the world

other problem here is you can be arrested and held for 24 hours with no arrest warrents. it happens. can ya imagine if someone that the cops were mad at got pulled over and arrested for 90 days with no charges then they say ooopps, my bad . see ya next time, that happened quite a bit in this area some years back and in the lower alabama missisippi are. ya just dont argue with bubba on the backroads of alabamy at 2 am.<br /> the deputy is not interested in the finer points of law. <br /> like PW says, this so called "war" will fade but will the laws fade with it?<br /> we are no safer or in danger now than 10 years ago. passing laws wont make it any safer, may give a veneer of safty but if the simple act of passing a law isreal would not have had a bombing in years. for those who like to postulate I need help with 3 questions.<br /> 1, who declared the war and the date of the declaration<br /> 2, what govt or entity do we accept terms of surrender<br /> 3, what entity or population,specifically are we at "war" with ?<br /> I am having some difficulty tracking it down.

 

[QC]

Re: News from our little corner of the world

rodbolt,<br /><br />puuuuleeeeeze. You know that your 3 questions don't have an answer. No more in danger than 10 years ago? Maybe because the threat has been equalized with the security measures, come on . . . You know dang well that a war on terror is different than a war on a specific country etc. You also know that this war, fight, brawl, hunt, dust up, search, intelligence gathering mission, etc. etc. etc. (call it what you flippin' want, I don't care), will not end in a traditional fashion. What do you propose sir? You're a bright guy, who does a lot of research. How do you propose that we secure this country? Oz? The UK? Only need one idea. Don't pretend that this is the same as declaring war on Duplicitania . . . Jeez dude!!!