September 04, 2003

THE ABU IN SPAIN CALLS MAINLY ON THE PHONE

A Spanish court case has turned up some familiar names:

Al-Qaeda figures with links to the September 11 attackers have engaged in regular communication with two Australian Islamic leaders, according to documents and telephone intercepts tendered in an international terrorist case.

Last night, the Australian Federal Police confirmed that Bilal Khazal, a leader of the Lakemba-based Islamic Youth Movement (IYM), and Melbourne spiritual leader Sheik Mohammed Omran were "persons of interest" - and were among 65 active counter-terrorism cases under investigation in Australia.

Documents and telephone intercepts tendered in an international terrorist case show the two men have links to Spain's top extremist suspect, Abu Dahdah.

Only last month, it was claimed a 2002 CIA report identified Mr Khazal, a former Qantas baggage handler, as an al-Qaeda operative. He has repeatedly denied any terrorist links, but last night would not be drawn on any contact with Abu Dahdah.

The Spanish court papers suggest Mr Khazal and Sheik Omran have been called separately on several occasions by Abu Dahdah, whose real name is Imad Eddin Barakat Yarkas.

The Australian adds:

Speaking on the ABC yesterday, Sheikh Omran, who arrived in Australia from Jordan 18 years ago, denied any knowledge of Abu Dahdah. This was despite the documents tendered in the Spanish court listing a phone number linked to him.

Also tendered was evidence of repeated phone calls to a landline and mobile phone number linked to Mr Khazal, a hardline Muslim figure based in Sydney's southwest.

Posted by Tim Blair at September 4, 2003 03:43 AM
Comments

And what's really horrifying is thatthey were operating out of Australia and Spain, two key members of the CoW.

Posted by: Elitism For The People at September 4, 2003 at 03:58 AM

I kept thinking maybe the authorities should tender their heads on a platter.

Posted by: Rick T. at September 4, 2003 at 04:29 AM

Maybe the rest of Oz's Muslims will smarten up and do like their British brethren: Ask these people to leave.

Posted by: Aaron at September 4, 2003 at 05:17 AM

A woman finds her husband in bed with another woman.

He keeps denying anyone is there.

After an hour of this his wife says , 'but I can see her'

"Well, honey are you going to believe me or your lying eyes?"

Posted by: hfsc_peace at September 4, 2003 at 06:53 AM

Dear Mr Blair as Big Hawk keeps saying, it really is time you set an example for the rest of us Gen Xers and assorted Baby Boomers by leading us all as one big group down to the Pitt Street ADF recruiting office today where you can show us cowardly appeasers what a big brave man you really are.

We just won't be safe until you personally are all dressed in green and a regular private in Dad's Army.

You even get to salute the GG and pay homage to the Queen in your oath to a foreign power, but even better every time you take a crap our Dear Great Leader will be there to lend a hand.

Come on Mr Blair, you say you are a Christian so why can't you say you are a soldier as well and put us all to shame.

Posted by: White Bread at September 4, 2003 at 08:38 AM

Wow, were these guys really linked? I'm shocked.

What's the current minimum sentence for linking? I wonder if cut-and-paste Tim has done any time for indiscriminate linking?

Who are you linked to Tim?

Posted by: Miranda Divide at September 4, 2003 at 09:27 AM

Tim,

I think it's wrong of you to post as Big Hawk and White Bread just to get some extra laughs.

I mean if they WERE real people and had the courage of their convictions they would be working in volunteer positions with human rights groups in say Iran, or North Korea, or Cuba....

Maybe they could join a non-Shia group to provide ushers and guides at Najaf? Or act as advisers in new business start ups in Zimbabwe?

Posted by: PB at September 4, 2003 at 09:52 AM

Khazal is quoted as saying that Osama is a good man - and that the US and other bers of the CoA are evil.

What on earth are moonbats like this doing in Australia ? The regard the enemies of Australia as friends, and the true friends as Australia's enemies.

Where is the outcry from all the so-called moderate Muslims ?

Posted by: JohninLondon at September 4, 2003 at 10:00 AM

Here's another surprise, from the ABC:

Habib family 'shocked' over terror contact claim
The family of an Australian man being held at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba says he only had superficial contact with a Dutch national who has since faced charges of being a terrorist.

In late 2000 Mamdouh Habib helped Murat Ofkeli recover a passport and airline ticket which had been stolen in Sydney's west.

Two years later both were in detention and accused of being terrorists.

Mr Ofkeli was one of 12 men charged in Holland with recruiting for Al Qaeda.

He was acquitted in June this year but the Dutch prosecutor will appeal the decision.

Posted by: Evil Pundit at September 4, 2003 at 11:30 AM

Drive them into the sea!

Oops - sorry. That was meant for the Joooooos.

ASIO, AFP, anyone? Perhaps its time to test the new ASIO Bill. Has it been proclaimed or whatever to make it law yet?

Posted by: Razor at September 4, 2003 at 12:43 PM

I wouldn't trust anything that the biased ABC says. Not at least until they're privatised and they put Tim back on the airwaves.

And JohninLondon, why would all the "so-called moderate Muslims" bother with an "outcry" here on Tim's backwater blogmire?

Only anti-muslim shit-stirrers and their dutiful trolls to be found here.

Posted by: Miranda Divide at September 4, 2003 at 01:12 PM

I know how to punish these two fine upstanding aussie muslims. Cancel their sickness benefits.

Posted by: LABOR LOLITA PIMP at September 4, 2003 at 01:23 PM

White Bread writes: "Come on Mr Blair, you say you are a Christian ... "

I do?

Posted by: tim at September 4, 2003 at 01:33 PM

With advice from friends like Miranda, the "moderate Muslims" of the world can happily stick their heads in the sand, oblivious to the damage done to their religion by extremists.

Posted by: Steve Edwards at September 4, 2003 at 02:05 PM

All this will soon be irrelevant.

America is obviously busily undermining islam by using all their oil as fast as possible (a kind of SUV-led strategy).

Soon there will be no more oil in the middle east and thus no more money to fund endless jihads, martyrs, flying school lessons etc etc - HEY PRESTO - DEMOCRACY WILL BREAK OUT IN THE MIDDLE EAST!

In this light, Iraq is beta-mode for the plan which will be fully implemented as soon as the last oil shipment leaves the Gulf.

So if you care about freedom and democracy, but a gas-guzzler! You know you want to.

The Elephant

Posted by: The_GOP_Elephant at September 4, 2003 at 02:17 PM

Elephant: Like your idea, can I borrow your SUV for a few months ? If you've got a boat, I'll take it as well.

Thx

Posted by: Mike at September 4, 2003 at 02:30 PM

Its a pity that I'm not in charge of Australia. I would deport (or strip of citizenship) every Muslim who raised the slightest suspicion.

Supporting bin Laden would be enough to get you permanently deported in my Australia. He is an enemy of Australia - ergo, anyone who supports his deranged rantings is an enemy too.

Posted by: dee at September 4, 2003 at 04:13 PM

To Miranda Divide:

If the 'moderate Muslims' are not to be found on Tims blog, perhaps you can enlighten us? Where are all these moderates who abhor terrorism to be found?

Where are the organisations of Muslims who are against terrorism being carried out in their name? Of course, they HAVE organised to demonstrate to the world that not all Muslims are violent bigotted barbarians --- havent they?

So far I have not heard one public unqualified condemnation of Islamic terrorism by any Muslim living in Australia - I have heard weak comments like, 'Of course we don't approve BUT- ---'

Since you appear to be a pro-Muslim troll yourself, I'm sure you can shed some light on this mystery.

Posted by: dee at September 4, 2003 at 04:22 PM

So countless Muslim terrorists are an imminent threat to... Australia? Ok... and they are going to do what exactly? Blow up Ayer's Rock? Recruit? Suicide kangaroos? Anthrax dispersing platypusses?

Posted by: Peta Piper at September 4, 2003 at 05:44 PM

but Jews, but the Crusades ...

Posted by: Jihadi Jihad at September 4, 2003 at 05:52 PM

Peta Piper - 12 October, 2002, Bali. Go reem your arse with barbed wire you puss dripping tunnel c!!!ed whore. Nuff said.

Posted by: Razor at September 4, 2003 at 06:46 PM

The longer Australia gives a home to extremists, the more likely there will be terrorist atrocities within Australia. Simply on a basis of probabilities. It isn't rocket science. Crazies do crazy things. People who hate us and what we stand for will carry their hate to extremes. They are a ticking bomb - and should be sent back where they came from. The first duty of a state is to protect its citizens - not to play along with PC games.

Posted by: JohninLondon at September 4, 2003 at 08:02 PM

peta piper! your post was RAD! i almost creamed the jeans laughing!!! Best go and shave your armpits now you dumb frog surrender monkey!

Posted by: labor lolita pimp at September 4, 2003 at 09:37 PM

Nice one Razor. I see you've mastered Sophomoric Scatological Humourless Cursing for Dummies 101.

That bombing WAS numbingly terrible.

But to get back to what's relevant dullRazor, wasn't the Bali bombing located in oh...I dunno, say maybe... BALI!?!?! As opposed to Australia...

And wasn't it carried out Razortouseonyourownwrists by a native >Balinese/Indonesian

Come to think of it, didn't the Australian government have ANY hint of intelligence post 9/11 to suggest that perhaps Bali was not a terribly safe place to travel for vacation purposes?

Posted by: Peta Piper at September 4, 2003 at 10:02 PM

the bali bombing was carried out by MUSLIMS.. NOT native balinese who are hindu. And what's your point anyway frenchy ho?

Posted by: labor pimp at September 4, 2003 at 10:18 PM

I had a doner kebab in Erskineville that would count as biological terrorism.

Posted by: Habib Bickford at September 4, 2003 at 10:56 PM

See the filth Tim you unleash in your backwater blogmire?

Any comments on some of the comments here Tim?

Will you be cutting and pasting "Go reem your arse with barbed wire you puss dripping tunnel c!!!ed whore." into next week's column of that very mainstream publictaion the Bulletin?

Or just the quotes from dear old Uncle Milk.

As that great Australian Paul Keating once let loose across the chamber: "You fraud, you specious unspeakable fraud!"

Posted by: Miranda Divide at September 5, 2003 at 12:37 AM

People are more or less free to comment here however they like, "Miranda". Even you.

That said, Razor is pushing it. First warning, sir!

Posted by: tim at September 5, 2003 at 01:11 AM

I am NOT a christian. I'm a proud Pagan.

And my religion requires me to harrass and even sunder the vile infidels who do not admit the overweening greatness of Our Lord Kreegah!

Prepare to die!

Posted by: mojo at September 5, 2003 at 04:46 AM

I apologise to both Peta and Tim and any others who probably were offended. Your warning is noted and accepted.

I make no excuse for it, I have personal reasons for being blinded by rage.

Yours aye

Razor (yes it truly is me posting - don't know how to prove it - but it is.)

Posted by: Razor at September 5, 2003 at 11:13 AM

Of course, it is all coincidence:

Here's the sort of "proof" being quoted.

A man knows a man who knows a man who is being detained without trial because there is no evidence he is involved in terrorism except that he was close friends with someone who was. And he's a Muslim.

A man knows a man whose religious tapes were found in the home of a terrorist. And he's a Muslim. A man is friends with a man who was acquitted of a terrorism charge. And he's a Muslim.

It is hysterical, paranoid McCarthyism. Can't everyone else see that this is deja vu Saddam Hussein's WMDs?

Everything that any loony can think of that might be true is being treated as if it is. And nearly all of it isn't.

Anyone can make a mistake, but it takes a fool to keep repeating the same one.

Gordon Drennan, Ultimo, September 4.

Posted by: Andjam at September 5, 2003 at 03:16 PM