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Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Nadine Carroll who wrote (77460)	2/25/2003 1:55:01 PM
From: paul_philp	Respond to of 281500

those who think it was a one-off are ignoring a great deal of intelligence information and police investigations. Arrests in New Zealand today ... heraldsun.news.com.au Cyanide threats - NZ on terror alert By Claire Harvey and Bruce Montgomery 26feb03 NEW Zealand is on high terrorism alert after Australian, British and US diplomats were sent cyanide-laced letters containing threats over war on Iraq. Police and health officials warned of possible attacks on public transport, food supplies and the America's Cup, now being raced in Auckland. John Howard is due to arrive in New Zealand on March 8 for talks with Prime Minister Helen Clark. The threatening letters, believed to be addressed to Australian high commissioner Robert Cotton and other mission chiefs, were intercepted by police at the Auckland Mail Centre on Friday after the New Zealand Herald alerted police about a similar letter sent to its newsroom. All the letters contained white powder, but the contents of only one envelope had been positively identified as cyanide, police assistant commissioner of counter-terrorism Jon White said. "We must all be vigilant," he said. "It's appropriate that we take it seriously, as we have evidence of the capability in terms of cyanide being found in one of the envelopes. "Cyanide is a very dangerous poison. It is a small quantity but one of our concerns is that any quantity is dangerous." Security was under review at the homes and offices of Australian diplomats, a spokesman for the Australian High Commission said. "All I can publicly say is that security is under regular review," he said, adding that the letter was not received at the high commission. "We are aware the letters have been intercepted, but the matter is in the hands of the police." It is believed Mr Cotton was told of the threat on Monday. Police are investigating links to a similar letter, also containing cyanide, received by the US embassy in December 2001 during the New Zealand Golf Open, threatening American golfer Tiger Woods and containing references to US support for Israel. Police still do not know who sent that letter, Mr White said. "There could be a link," he said. "There are some features of the letters which do invoke themes of similarity." Security surrounding the America's Cup has been upgraded from level one, the lowest on a one-to-five scale, to level two. Police are telling Aucklanders to be careful of where their food comes from and to check seals on pre-packaged food. Mr White said tourists in Auckland for the race should be extra vigilant. Cyanide was used in pest control, mining and jewellery manufacture in New Zealand, police said. Legislation introduced by the Clark Government last year after the Woods threat, but not yet passed by parliament, is intended to restrict access to poisons such as cyanide. Anyone seen Mqurica lately?

To: Nadine Carroll who wrote (77460)	2/25/2003 2:14:04 PM
From: Win Smith	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281500

I think there is a real divide in outlook between those who believed that September 11th showed a new, dangerous and permanent category of threat, and those who believe that September 11th was a one-off, which has caused America to go beserk in response. The false dichotomy is always a popular argumentative technique here. But there are many problems with the above formulation. For starters, bin Laden and al Qaeda didn't magically appear out of nowhere on 9/11 . The actual event could well end up being singular, I sort of doubt anybody is going to crash airliners into tall buildings in the US again. Then there's one of the many problems with the current war marketing campaign, the extremely dubious evidence that's been presented to show Iraq had anything to do with 9/11 or Al Qaeda or bin Laden. Unless, of course, you're of the school that believes bin Laden uses "infidel" as a term of endearment. Even if you want to broaden the problem to militant Islamism, you have the issue that most of the noxious mideast regimes, excepting Iran and most definitely including Iraq, have historically been pretty secular and repressive toward the Islamists, and despite lip service mostly remain so today. I certainly wouldn't claim the US is going berserk. But there are evidently people who have had a burning desire to go into Iraq for a long, long time. The fact that they've seized upon 9/11 as the ultimate justification for pursuing the object of their desire doesn't make the alleged 9/11 - Iraq connection any stronger.

To: Nadine Carroll who wrote (77460)	2/25/2003 2:23:25 PM
From: LindyBill	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 281500

though those who think it was a one-off are ignoring a great deal of intelligence information and police investigations. I think it is more, "If we ignore the local bully, he will leave us alone," and "I refuse to believe people hate us," and " Its all America's fault, if we would just be nice to the Muslims, they wouldn't do this"

To: Nadine Carroll who wrote (77460)	2/26/2003 2:39:00 AM
From: KLP	Respond to of 281500

Nadine...precisely right....And one just has to wonder why they are ignoring all of that intelligence information that has already been made public. I believe that that's just the tip of the iceberg too. Again, MANY people are simply ignoring what President Bush and the Congress said not too long after 9-11....We will root out terrorists WHEREVER they are.... I think most of us were just too complacent...USS Cole, US Embassies', WTC1, Marines Building with nearly 300 killed...etc etc etc. Were we just to remain complacent forever? And have our entire civilization come down? It's a matter of belief since neither side has enough hard evidence to absolutely know the right answer, though those who think it was a one-off are ignoring a great deal of intelligence information and police investigations.