Australia's newly re-elected government conceded for the first time Wednesday that its decision to participate in the Iraq conflict may have increased the terrorist threat to its national interests.
The admission, by Foreign Minister Alexander Downer, followed a warning by Australia's intelligence chief that the conflict had given Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda propaganda and recruitment opportunities and may have motivated terrorists in Australia.
Downer, who prior to the October 9 election maintained that there was no evidence to suggest involvement in Iraq increased the risk to Australia, said it was possible some sympathisers of extremist Islamist ideology in Australia could be motivated by Iraq.
"If there are people in Australia who believe in this sort of Taleban-style Wahabist extremist ideology and they see Iraq becoming a democracy then that may activate them and energise them," Downer said.
But he said that was not a reason to abandon Iraq in its quest to become a democracy.
The debate was revived by Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) director general Dennis Richardson just 24 hours after Australia sustained its first casualties in Iraq, three soldiers wounded in a Baghdad bomb attack.
He said Iraq might be "a motivator" for some people considering terrorist attacks in Australia.
"It has increased the threat against Australian interests in the Middle East," he added.
Prime Minister John Howard, a staunch ally of US President George Bush in the Iraq war, had previously argued that Australia was a terrorist target long before Iraq, citing examples such as the Bali bombings that claimed 202 lives, including 88 Australians, in October, 2002.
Comments
Comments are closed.