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| Down Under |
| Muslim Advisory Group wants Hezbollah taken off terrorist list |
| 2006-08-02 |
| The Muslim Community Reference Group is considering writing to Prime Minister John Howard asking the Government to reconsider its listing of the militant arm of Hezbollah as a terrorist organisation. The group is meeting tomorrow and will decide whether to put the demand to Mr Howard. But any call for the government to change its position on Hezbollah, which has been engaged in open warfare with Israel for the past three weeks, would appear to be futile. Mr Howard made it clear today the government had no intention of removing the militant arm of Hezbollah from its official list of terrorist organisations. "No chance, full stop. No chance at all (of removing Hezbollah from the list)," Mr Howard said. Attorney-General Philip Ruddock said the decision to ban Hezbollah, which was first listed in 2003, had not been made lightly. "They're not decisions which are political," he said. However, the Government would be willing to consider new information which may cause it to reassess the listing. "Obviously we look at these issues from time to time to see whether circumstances change," Mr Ruddock said. "I'm not aware of any information that would suggest we should reconsider proscription of the military wing of Hezbollah." But Ameer Ali, chairman of the Muslim advisory group set up last year in the wake of the London terrorist bombings, says Hezbollah should not be lumped in with groups like al-Qaeda. "They should not condemn Hezbollah as a terrorist group," he said. "I don't think they should judge that they are simply a terrorist organisation like al-Qaeda. "It is part of Lebanese politics." On its national security website, the Government says that Australian Security Intelligence Organisation believes Hezbollah's military wing is continuing to prepare, plan and foster the commission of acts involving threats to human life and serious damage to property. "Such acts include those made with the intention of advancing a political, religious or ideological cause and with the intention of coercing or influencing by intimidation, US, Israeli and other Western governments." Dr Ali believes the government's assessment of Hezbollah is clouded by the US and Israel. "We are of the opinion that the Australian government does not have an independent foreign policy with regard to the Middle East," he said to ABC Radio. "We go along with whatever the Americans say and the Americans go along with whatever the Israeli lobby says." |
| Posted by:ryuge |
| #10 They are definitely on the Coal from Santa list. |
| Posted by: 3dc 2006-08-02 22:58 |
| #9 We've got them on the list We've got them on the list And they'll none of them be missed They'll...none...of...them...be...missed |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2006-08-02 22:54 |
| #8 As I tell my 2 year old daughter when she says she wants something in that bratty 2-year old tone: "Well, daddy wants a Ferrari, but we all can't get what we want, now can we?" |
| Posted by: BA 2006-08-02 22:02 |
| #7 maybe when they are all dead, but until such a time I don't think so. Adding to the list seems apropo I'd start with the membership of cair as the newest arrival. |
| Posted by: SCpatriot 2006-08-02 17:57 |
| #6 Muslim Advisory Group wants Hezbollah taken off terrorist list And in other late breaking news; Fox Demands Keys to Henhouse |
| Posted by: Zenster 2006-08-02 17:55 |
| #5 How do you say, "H*** no!!!" in both farsi and arabic? |
| Posted by: anymouse 2006-08-02 14:27 |
| #4 Of course they do, which is why they should be added to the list. |
| Posted by: imoyaro 2006-08-02 12:03 |
| #3 Blair should respond by putting the Muslim Community Reference Group ON the list. |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2006-08-02 08:26 |
| #2 As soon as they are destroyed, they can be removed from the "list." |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2006-08-02 07:43 |
| #1 People in hell want Ice Water. Terrorist are terrorists. If 'muslims' don't like it they are free to join them in the countries terrorts orgs are not considered terrorist in. Those are mostly third world cesspits or first world nations which are soon to become cesspits themselves. |
| Posted by: Sock Puppet of Doom 2006-08-02 07:24 |