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| Southeast Asia | |
| US to share Hambali information | |
| 2003-08-17 | |
Prime Minister John Howard says Australian security agencies are getting full cooperation from the United States over alleged terrorist mastermind Hambali. United States President George W Bush has pledged to share information from the US-led interrogation with Indonesia. Mr Howard has described Hambali as the main link between Al Qaeda and JI and credited his capture to the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). In telephone conversations with Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri, Mr Bush exulted over what he called a victory in the war on terrorism, White House spokesman Scott McClellan said. Washington has announced Hambali, the suspected mastermind of the Bali bombings, is in US custody at a secret location. Hambali, a known ally of Osama bin Laden, is wanted in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines - nations which all greeted news of his arrest with relief and elation. Indonesian officials said they wanted US officials to grant them access to question Hambali over his role in blasts in seven Indonesian cities, in an effort to prevent further terrorist attacks.
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| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |
| #6 --I have nothing to back this up with, but Bush at this APEC thing feels like we are trolling for fire. I hope that we have all bases covered for this one.-- As you know AP, The Constitution already covers it. Think that would be the kick in the stomach America needs to get serious about this? Hmmm, Condi said she doesn't want to run for office, but what if she were appointed VP? |
| Posted by: Anonymous 2003-8-18 12:35:53 AM |
| #5 The extent of our information sharing with Malaysia: "We've determined that Hambali is a member of homo sapiens, if only by birth, and have yet to determin its gender. We suspect it's a neuter of some sort, because no one has been able to detect any genitalia." |
| Posted by: Robert Crawford 2003-8-17 10:17:57 PM |
| #4 There are 2.6 million Muslims in Thailand, mostly next to the border with Malaysia. There is unfortunately, plenty of room for Muslims bent on disruption to hide. Note also that Thai Muslims are more or less ethnically indistinguishable from Thais, meaning that local Muslim terrorists will be difficult to spot. The Thai government is finally cracking down, only because even a failed assassination attempt on Bush will be a real black eye. A successful attempt will really piss off the US public (not to mention the government) at Thailand. Foreign investment will sink below even the currently dismal levels triggered by the Thai leader's autarkic economic policies. |
| Posted by: Zhang Fei 2003-8-17 2:46:24 PM |
| #3 I have nothing to back this up with, but Bush at this APEC thing feels like we are trolling for fire. I hope that we have all bases covered for this one. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2003-8-17 1:56:42 PM |
| #2 yep, the USA are really going great guns at the moment! International co-operation is what it's all about! Pardon me, Indonesia for my comment further down. Malaysia can suck on my hairy balls (though I have none) because everyone else in Asia is co-operating!!! Yep, .com, I reckon they will try a backup plan for Bush in Thailand. The infrastructure has taken a serious hit but some of the pawns might take it upon themselves to bignote and try to complete the mission. It only takes one to give it a serious try. Of course, they won't get him (i surely hope) but this RPG thing gives me the willies. They may try to fire things at airlines if htey can get any in up from the south or through burma or something |
| Posted by: Anon1 2003-8-17 5:39:37 AM |
| #1 Aussies? Check. Indonesia? Check. Singapore? Sure thing. Phillipines? Certainly. Malaysia? Who? Way to go CIA! I was waiting to hear who had done the legwork. I know the Thais cooperated 100% - they are starting to feel the pain in their Southern province - bordering Malaysia. I've seen the APEC banners and trade-show stuff even up here in Chiang Mai - they have a city park area set up with booths and such and they had a little soiree` for the APEC Reps here a few days ago and set off about 10 minutes of fireworks - a pretty good show! I'll bet the gig in Bangkok will be big - and the security amazing, at least in numbers. Anyone else think there will still be a serious attempt to knock off Bush, despite Hambali being taken out? I certainly do. He's such a "fat" target to the jihadis, and not outside of the US and in their back yard very often. In fact, a last-minute jury-rigged attempt might be more dangerous as it negates some of our best advantages, such as time-consuming analysis and data gathering - old fashioned legwork and number crunching. Maybe not very relevant or effective against a makeshift attack. I think it's something to worry about. |
| Posted by: .com 2003-8-17 5:23:49 AM |