I picked up the paper this morning and was so irate about the lead story regarding the ASIO raids on homes in Sydney and Perth that I fired off the below grumpiness to the Editor:
It seems ASIO has progressed in its intelligence gathering capabilities – they found someone who could speak Bhasa. Or more likely one of the more linguistically gifted members of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade helped them translate Jaya Fadly Basri’s newsletter. As a result of what appears to be a ‘church newsletter’, probably not dissimilar from one from an Anglican or Catholic Church advertising a white elephant sale, they’ve raided this man’s house? This is considered evidence in these troubled times? Or is it based on the fact he is a prominent local Muslim who has happened to have met Abu Bakar Bashir? I’ve been to lectures given by Irish Republicans wanting the British out of Northern Ireland. Does that make me a terrorist? Perhaps we can hold him without trial too? Or maybe rough him up some? That’d undoubtedly get George W in a congratulatory mood. We’d certainly be upholding America’s concept of democratic values. We are a free and democratic country. Don’t let us become what we oppose. Let us protect this country and the freedoms of its residents.
