Main National Threat = Islamism

The EU including England think it has the answer-NOT!

Islamist terror main national threat, says Howard
Mark Dodd
July 05, 2007

ISLAMIST terror will remain one of the main national security challenges to Australia and its allies, globally and across Southeast Asia, John Howard said in a key policy speech today.

Recent thwarted attacks in London and Glasgow underlined the threat - with a possible connection to Australia, Mr Howard told the Australian Strategic Policy Institute in Canberra.

"Bombings through throughout the Islamic world - whether in Indonesia, Afghanistan, Iraq or this week's deadly bombing in Yemen - remind us that all communities that stand for moderation and tolerance are at risk," Mr Howard said.

"It is equally clear that appeasing terrorists - and allowing them to dictate the policy choices our nation make - does not offer protection,'' he said.

Australia and other Western nations needed to support moderate Islamic governments, leaders and communities including Indonesia's President Bambang Yudhoyono - a key that would ultimately deny terrorists their strategic objective, the prime minister told a 300-strong audience of defence and national security experts.

Globalisation would continue to facilitate not only terrorism but other forms of transnational crime. It could also spur a resurgence of protectionism and increased rivalry over globally traded resources particularly oil, Mr Howard said.

He pledged his government would continue to work towards improving good governance in an area stretching from East Timor to Fiji dubbed "the arc of instability".

Relations with Australia's near neighbours notably Indonesia, Japan, India, Singapore, Philippines and Malaysia would also continue to be strengthened.

He challenged federal Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd to uphold current defence spending providing for $51 billion of new acquisitions over the next 10 years.

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USS Kitty Hawk arrives in Sydney Harbour
THE US Navy aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk has arrived in Sydney Harbour.The super carrier, accompanied by four other US navy ships, will berth at the Garden Island naval base and remain in Sydney until Tuesday. The ships had been part of the joint Australian-US military exercise Talisman Sabre in Queensland.

Anti-war protesters were waiting to greet the ships as they arrived. Meanwhile, acting NSW Premier John Watkins has extended a warm welcome to the Kitty Hawk's 5,000 "cashed-up'' sailors. "We hope they have a great stay while they are here until next Tuesday,'' Mr Watkins told reporters. The Kitty Hawk is no stranger to Sydney, having berthed here before in 2005 and 2001.

Party hard American's!