from the land down under that is currently experiencing epic forest and brush fires that have claimed the lives of many Australians already.

Question: Do Australians still enjoy the right to keep and bear? Here in Texas, preventing arson is one of the legal justifications for use of lethal force. Hopefully, you guys down under can put a stop to this bullhockey.. Hearts and prayers are with you. Let us know if you need ammo.


Islam group urges forest fire jihad
Josh Gordon
September 7, 2008
AUSTRALIA has been singled out as a target for "forest jihad" by a group of Islamic extremists urging Muslims to deliberately light bushfires as a weapon of terror.

US intelligence channels earlier this year identified a website calling on Muslims in Australia, the US, Europe and Russia to "start forest fires", claiming "scholars have justified chopping down and burning the infidels' forests when they do the same to our lands".

The website, posted by a group called the Al-Ikhlas Islamic Network, argues in Arabic that lighting fires is an effective form of terrorism justified in Islamic law under the "eye for an eye" doctrine.

The posting — which instructs jihadis to remember "forest jihad" in summer months — says fires cause economic damage and pollution, tie up security agencies and can take months to extinguish so that "this terror will haunt them for an extended period of time".

"Imagine if, after all the losses caused by such an event, a jihadist organisation were to claim responsibility for the forest fires," the website says. "You can hardly begin to imagine the level of fear that would take hold of people in the United States, in Europe, in Russia and in Australia."

With the nation heading into another hot, dry summer, Australian intelligence agencies are treating the possibility that bushfires could be used as a weapon of terrorism as a serious concern.

Attorney-General Robert McClelland said the Federal Government remained "vigilant against such threats", warning that anyone caught lighting a fire as a weapon of terror would feel the wrath of anti-terror laws.

"Any information that suggests a threat to Australia's interests is investigated by relevant agencies as appropriate," Mr McClelland said.

Adam Dolnik, director of research at the University of Wollongong's Centre for Transnational Crime Prevention, said that bushfires (unlike suicide bombing) were generally not considered a glorious type of attack by jihadis, in keeping with a recent decline in the sophistication of terrorist operations.

"With attacks like bushfires, yes, it would be easy. It would be very damaging and we do see a decreasing sophistication as a part of terrorist attacks," Dr Dolnik said.

"In recent years, there have been quite a few attacks averted and it has become more and more difficult for groups to do something effective."

Dr Dolnik said he had observed an increase in traffic on jihadi websites calling for a simplification of terrorist attacks because the more complex operations had been failing. But starting bushfires was still often regarded as less effective than other operations because governments could easily deny terrorism as the cause.

The internet posting by the little-known group claimed the idea of forest fires had been attributed to imprisoned Al Qaeda leader Abu Musab Al-Suri. It said Al-Suri had urged terrorists to use sulphuric acid and petrol to start forest fires.

http://www.theage.com.au/national/islam-group-urges-forest-fire-jihad-20080906-4b53.html?page=-1

Is there any real physical evidence pointing to the origin of these fires?

Don't know.. people are still dying and fighting them.. but Australian officials strongly suspect arson in many of these fires.. and now we find out islamic terror groups are calling for forest jihad??

I don't believe in coincidences.

We know they are proud to claim terror when they do it so they would be claiming responsibility if this was the case.

Gee...forest fires have been started here in the U.S. by people.

One of the most destructive recent fires started in CA was started by a firefighter.

Here in Michigan a huge forest/dune fire was started by kids drinking beer and playing with fireworks.

Islamic terrorist are not lurking behind ever tree.

Then there is always the possibility that the website is bogus. Someone posting it to take advantage of anti-Islamic feelings along the deaths and losses of the people in Australia.

After all propaganda is a powerful tool.

I do believe in coincidences.

I am also not foolish enough to bite on every hook. Health skepticism has served me well in past.

Oh, I also believe in the power of Mother Nature.

From an Oct 2007 article on Southern California fires.

* 16 active fires from Los Angeles County to the Mexican border.

* At least one being treated as arson
http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSN26326110

That's one of 16 fires in an area where setting a fire intended to do damage, disrupt the lives and economy and possibly kill people would be relatively easy.

Now, given the tinderbox that is Southern California, if terrorists were going to attack an enemy with fire wouldn't that area be much more target rich than the areas in Australia now burning?

Seems fishy to me.

California wildfire typically take place in the late summer through early fall before the mountain snows come.

Besides, All the thing says is that there's apparently a terror group out there urging "jihadis" to set wildfires in the summer month in Australia and other parts of the world.

and in a completely unrelated story, some 850 wildfires rage across Australia with a death toll well over hundred.

Meanwhile,