Alleged Terror Leader Bashir Warns Australia Against Pre-emptive Strike

SYDNEY, Australia � The alleged spiritual leader of the Islamic group blamed for the Bali bombings warned Australia would be "destroyed instantly" if it launched pre-emptive strikes against overseas terrorist targets
www.foxnews.com...

While I think John Howard should have perhaps kept his comments within the government, Australia has every right to attack an imminent identified threat overseas once they have determined that there is no other option.

Bashir's comments basically just firm his suspected position as a terrorist - making a threat to "destroy" a country cannot be mistaken for an intellectual comment on another nation's foreign policy - if anyone was unsure earlier, he IS one of the bad guys.

I can understand some unease by South East Asian contries at the possiblity of suffering from Australian military excursions, however the hype that has blown up is totally (and as expected) out of proportion.

None of these nations have anything to fear from Australia if they take it upon themselves to ensure terrorists are prohibited from operating from their countries, and the existing ones are stamped out - or is that why the reaction was so strong - because they fear they are unable to do this?

[Edited on 15-12-2002 by Snappahead]