The cleric accused of leading the Jemaah Islamiah (JI) group said the Australian Government should pull the nation's troops out of Iraq. Abu Bakar Bashir, who condemned the suicide bomb attack on the Australian embassy in Jakarta, described the invasion of Iraq as a mistake. In an interview on the SBS program Insight, Bashir also said Australia should not fight Islam. "John Howard is in deep trouble," he said. "He's connected to George Bush. I think America's invasion of Iraq is a mistake. If Australia defends America that is also a mistake. That's my opinion. So it would be better if Australian troops pulled out."
Bashir warned Australia not to follow the US in fighting against Islam. "Don't say you are fighting terrorists when you are really fighting Islam," he said. "We can see they are forcibly detaining Muslim activists because the police are paid by Australia and America." |