“Different reasons are given for the Bali terrorist attacks.”
The only reason for Islamic terrorist attacks is simple – hatred: hatred of anything non-Islamic. Potted histories of Muslims relocating to Indonesia are all very interesting, but there is still only one reason for terrorism – hatred.
I agree with Irfun Yusuf that those who care about Islam should be at the forefront of fighting terror. But they are not, even though they have had plenty of time and opportunity to do so. It is up to the West to deal with the situation. The ‘moderate’ Muslims in Australia are too busy preying on single mothers and others low in the pecking order – converting them to Islam – to care too much about what is going on far away from the safety they enjoy here. And if some of you characters looking for ‘debate’ about Muslims don’t watch out, you will all find yourselves facing the East with your backsides in the air.
And, anyone who accepts that Abu Bakir Bashir doesn’t believe in bombing is pretty naïve or just plain stupid. He has, in the last couple of days, advocated the use of nuclear weapons

Irf

Thank you for your article.

You end it by saying something along the lines of - those at the forefront of Islam should fight the terrorists.

Where are these people Irf? I heard Kaiser Trad (not sure about spelling) on the John Laws Morning Show. I thought he was supposed to be a leader. He was most unconvincing. His voice did not reveal any compassion for any of the victims of the latest Bali bombings. Indeed, getting any commitment out of him was like drawing teeth.

G'day BOAZ_David! You don't sound very happy on your holiday? I guess you must be getting some first hand knowledge about the aftermath of terrorism. Take care mate.

Cheers
Kay

Kay... thnx for the sympathy:) its not holiday, right now its 10.00pm and I just arrived at the airport, but 30 minutes ago I was on the Bedok Reservior in a boat that they are trying to power by electric motor, using my speed controls. Everyone from the Managing director to the coolie of the company were there giving their tuppence worth. I'm as sweaty as a stuck pig :) do NOT hug me now... be warned :)

Leigh is getting passionate there.. rightly so to a degree, there is such a thing as Good muslim/bad Muslim, Irf is a goody it seems, but let that not lull us into a false sense of security and lack of vigilance.

Well, lets all examine such issues as this one in the broader perspective, and also in terms of the fundamentals of their faith.

The Indigineous Balinese are Hindu and have been overpowered by an aggressive Islam.It all sounds a bit ominous for the rest of the free thinking open minded scientific and religious world.

Leigh

I don't think anyone is taken in by Bashir's "Press Release". The fact the he laments the deaths of one group over another group is bizarre but typical of religeous fanatics. The fact that he's permitted to issue a defacto Press Release is disgusting.

I think basically the bombings are part of a campaign to create tension within Indonesia, scaring moderate Indonesians towards the (misplaced) "comfort zone" of radical Islam.

If JI (and other radical organisations are banned) this can only be enforced by government repression - an excellent breeding ground for young dissident groups who can then take up Islamic radicalism.

So I think an Indonesian government crackdown on JI (and others) would probably make things worse.

In any case I don't think Downer (despite his proposed visit to Indonesia) seriously expects such a crackdown will be launched. What does matter to the Indonesias is what the US wants. If the US wanted a change in policy it would pressure Indonesia towards this privately rather than publicly.

Note that Indonesia's President (former General) Yudhoyono appears to have closer ties to the US than Australia. For example: he's lived several years in the US - starting with the Airborne School and US Army Rangers education in 1976 to US Army's Infantry Officer Advanced Course in 1982 and 1984 to US Command and General Staff College, in 1991. He also gained an MA in business management from Webster University, Missouri, in 1991. All this must have made an impression. http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Susilo_Bambang_Yudhoyono

He's more their man. If they talk he'll listen.

No, Irfan, the target was men, women and children, preferably infidels - but any other victims are fine, too.

I see you are still in denial abouyt your religion. As I said before, radical Muslims kill, while moderates, like Irfan, make excuses.

Check out http://www.thefirstpost.co.uk/index.php?menuID=2&subID=46
to see what your fellow Muslim Abu Bakar Bashir, leader of Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), thinks of us non-Muslims: He says peace is impossible and "If they want to have peace, they have to accept to be governed by Islam."

It will be a cold day in hell before I follow a torturer like your 'dear' prophet. Irf, remember that I gave you references and links to passages from your own hadiths telling of the despicable torture practiced by Mohammud and asking you to condemn the man. Nada. Silence. You would not condemn him; you ignored me.

See, folks, that says a lot about Irfan Yusuf, the "moderate", "compassionate" Muslim that likes to write about how Islam is misunderstood. If you really care about Islam, why don't you call your friends in the mosque together and say: You know, folks, we consider the prophet to be the most noble person and great example, yet he was a torturer, murderer, wife-beater, slaver, etc... What about this? How can this be? Are these accounts lies or are we blind?

Now that would be honest dialogue.

Sufism may be a "soft' version of Islam, but what we see around the world is the 'pure' hard Islam of the days of Mohammed making a comeback, backed by modern conditions, immigration, technology and petro-dollars. Make no mistake, the terror will continue because it is in the heart and soul of the 'pure' Islam. And as long as there is terror, there will be people like Irf saying "oh, no, that is not the real Islam" even while standing on the broken bodies of its victims.

Kactuz