Australia elevates terrorism threat level

Assad, Moscow and Tehran condemn Obama's plan for air strikes against Isis Claims that strikes would violate sovereignty, as Syrian rebels welcome move and other Arab states offer 'appropriate' support • A tale of two speeches: emboldened Obama moves from dove to hawk • Illegal? Irrational? Irrelevant? Obama's Isis address falls down on every front Ian Black, Middle East editor, and Dan Roberts in Washington theguardian.com, Friday 12 September 2014 05.01 AEST Jump to comments (693) John Kerry attnded a meeting of Arab states to seek support for Obama's plan for air strikes against John Kerry attnded a meeting of Arab states to seek support for Obama's plan for air strikes against Isis. Photograph: Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images The Syrian government and its close allies in Moscow and Tehran warned Barack Obama that an offensive against Islamic State (Isis) within Syria would violate international law yesterday, hours after the US president announced that he was authorising an open-ended campaign of air strikes against militants on both sides of the border with Iraq. Syrian opposition groups welcomed Obama's announcement and called for heavy weapons to fight the "terror" of Isis and Bashar al-Assad. Saudi Arabia and nine other Arab states pledged to back the US plan "as appropriate". Hadi al-Bahra, head of the western-backed Syrian National Coalition, said the group "stands ready and willing to partner with the international community not only to defeat Isis but also rid the Syrian people of the tyranny of the Assad regime". In Reyhanli, on the Turkish-Syrian border, a spokesman for the Free Syrian Army (FSA) said that moderate anti-Assad forces urgently needed anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles. But long-standing international divisions over Syria were starkly highlighed in the hours after the speech. Iran's foreign ministry said that "the so-called international coalition to fight the Isil [Islamic State] group ... is shrouded in serious ambiguities and there are severe misgivings about its determination to sincerely fight the root causes of terrorism." Russia said it would not support any military action without a UN resolution authorising it. "The US president has spoken directly about the possibility of strikes by the US armed forces against Isil positions in Syria without the consent of the legitimate government," said a spokesman. "This step, in the absence of a UN security council decision, would be an act of aggression, a gross violation of international law." China said that the world should fight terror but that national sovereignty must be respected. In Damascus, the Assad government warned against US raids. "Any action of any kind without the consent of the Syrian government would be an attack on Syria," said the national reconciliation minister, Ali Haidar. Analysts believe, however, that Assad would be likely to ignore strikes on Isis targets – and even seek to quietly cooperate with western efforts. In a meeting with Staffan de Mistura, the new UN envoy for Syria, Assad stressed his commitment to fight "terrorism" but he made no mention of the US president's speech on Wednesday night. "As long as air strikes only hit Isis they will be condemned as a violation of international law but won't be dealt with as aggression that requires retaliation," Jihad Makdissi, a former Syrian diplomat, told the Guardian. Obama used a long-heralded address on the eve of the 13th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks to lay out his response to the appearance of an aggressive jihadi insurgency in the heart of the Arab world. US polls show growing support for military action since Isis fighters captured large areas of northern Iraq and eastern Syria and beheaded two American citizens in the past month. He compared the campaign to those waged against al-Qaida in Yemen and Somalia, where US drones, cruise missiles and special operations raids have battered local affiliates without, however, notably improving the stability of either country or dealing decisive blows. Obama's new strategy won swift if vague support from America's Arab allies, with Saudi Arabia agreeing to train Syrian rebel fighters. John Kerry, the US secretary state, held talks in the port city of Jeddah with ministers from Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt and six Gulf states. After the meeting, participants said they had agreed "as appropriate" to "many aspects" of the military campaign against Isis, to stop the flow of funds and fighters and help rebuild communities "brutalised" by the group. Support was also expressed for the new, more inclusive Baghdad government – seen as vital to persuade Iraq's disaffected Sunnis not to support Isis. MPs in Jordan, warned, however, that they would not tolerate any participation in US action. "We welcome this new strategy," said Hoshyar Zebari, a Kurdish politician and one of Iraq's newly appointed deputy prime ministers. "There is an urgent need for action. People cannot sit on the fence. This is a mortal threat to everybody." There was confusion over Britain's role after Philip Hammond, the foreign secretary, said the UK would not take part in air strikes. But Downing Street quickly announced that UK participation had not been ruled out. Germany said it would not participate. Both countries have sent weapons and ammuniction to the Iraqi Kurds – part of the overall anti-Isis strategy. The Pentagon is currently working on identifying suitable targets in Syria, according to White House officials. The US will also deploy a further 475 troops to Iraq, where they are expected to help identify targets. US officials said that Kerry would be seeking to pressure Kuwait and Qatar to stop their citizens financing al-Qaida and Isis. The Saudis, stung by accusations of support for the jihadis, have already worked to crack down on funding and announced the arrest of scores of alleged terrorist sympathisers in recent weeks. Obama said the air strikes were a necessary counter-terrorism measure to prevent the group from becoming a future threat to the US and therefore did not require fresh congressional approval. But he is expected to receive overwhelming congressional support for separate authorisation to provide military support to rival Syrian rebels like the FSA, a vote that some Republicans fear could help boost Democratic chances in this November's midterm elections by providing political support for his tough new foreign policy. ========= Jillani says US drawdown from Kabul ‘ill-timed’ By Zahid Gishkori Published: September 12, 2014 Share this article Print this page Email . Jalil Abbas Jilani. PHOTO: EXPRESS WASHINGTON: A top Pakistani diplomat in Washington has questioned the timing of the US drawdown plan from Afghanistan, citing compelling risks to Kabul’s stability in the wake of a large pullout of foreign troops. Ambassador to the United States Jalil Abbas Jilani also warned that the drawdown from Afghanistan would have serious repercussions on Pakistan. “The only concern Pakistan has is, ‘Why is the US drawdown from Afghanistan coming now when the situation is not fully settled there?,’” said Ambassador Jilani in an interview with The Express Tribune. “The major responsibility to ensure peace and stability on [the Pak-Afghan] border will rest on Pakistan.” Already, Pakistan has had to increase the number of forces on the Afghan border, according to Jilani, who will be getting superannuation in February next year. “For us it’s a surge for our armed forces whose role in the fight against militants has already been praised by the Obama administration,” he said. “Though it’s a decision jointly taken by Washington and Kabul, the move to withdraw forces is clearly the sovereign right of the US,” added Jilani, the 22nd senior diplomat to hold this office in America. He expressed the hope that once the new government takes over in Kabul, certain positive developments will emerge in Afghanistan. India-Russia deal to supply arms to Afghan military On the recent India-Russia deal to supply arms to Afghan troops, Ambassador Jilani said, Pakistan is concerned about this latest development. Of course, he said, Pakistan’s preference would remain extremely important to maintain the degree of balance. Pak-US relationships We’ve had also good discussion and robust nuclear dialogue with American officials recently, Jilani said. Islamabad held satisfactory discussion on defence arrangements with Washington in recent months. Premier Sharif has also articulated his vision of a peaceful South Asia immediately after he swept to power last year. Look at the development since then, he said, it is kind of an overture towards better relationships in the last several months. It’s an extremely important step for peace and economic stability. Both are reciprocal. I must say there is greater degree of appreciation in America as well. Jilani, who belongs to a family of bureaucrats, said Pakistan’s relationship with America is on a positive trajectory. Strategic dialogue has already been revived and there is some very good progress on the working groups on the economy, trade, energy, counter-terrorism authority and nuclear proliferation. US President Obama has special connections with Pakistan and I’ve seen personally since my arrival here. In Pakistan, I think, our people should also be aware of our cooperation with America and the same applies to the United States. What we need, he says, is for both countries to develop a positive narrative of each other. Our people should also be aware of good cooperation, he said. Pak-Iran gas pipeline project On Pak-Iran gas pipeline project, the ambassador says, “there is absolutely no doubt we will pursue this project.” The US, with other five countries, is engaged in dialogue with Iran on this issue and we hope that the dialogue will bring some positive outcome, he said. Once we reach this point, I’m sure the sanctions will be lifted and we will be very happy to pursue this project, he added. US support for energy crisis “Work on Dasu Dam has been started after we got tremendous amount of support from the World Bank,” Ambassador Jilani said. “Now, we are working on Diamer-Bhasha Dam and Americans are committed to supporting us. In October, we are pinning hopes that the upcoming investors conference will provide an opportunity to gain support on this project. The project will be formally presented before investors,” he added. North Waziristan operation The US side is aware of our commitment through military operations in Swat, North Waziristan and South Waziristan to get rid of extremism and militancy, Jilani said. On action against Taliban (associated with Haqqani Network), the Ambassador was of the view that there is no discrimination when it comes to killing Taliban. Obama’s visit to Pakistan Ambassador Jilani says high-level interactions have already taken place between top officials of the two states to pencil in President Obama’s visit to Pakistan. During his stay in US, Premier Sharif had also invited President Obama. “We hope Obama’s visit will be materialised soon.” Published in The Express Tribune, September 12th, 2014. ========== Australia elevates terrorism threat level By ROD McGUIRK — Sep. 12, 2014 12:21 AM EDT You are here Home » Australia » Florida teen dies after being shocked by police Obama tapes 'Funny or Die' interview CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — The Australian government on Friday elevated it terrorism threat level to the second-highest warning in response to the domestic threat posed by Islamic State movement supporters. Prime Minister Tony Abbott announced the increase from "medium" to "high" on a four-tier scale on the advice of the Australian Security Intelligence Organization. The domestic spy agency's Director-General David Irvine warned this week that the terrorist threat level had been rising in Australia over the past year, due in part to Australians joining Islamic State to fight in Syria and Iraq. "I want to stress that this does not mean that a terror attack is imminent," Abbott told reporters. "We have no specific intelligence of particular plots." "What we do have is intelligence that there are people with the intent and the capability to mount attacks." It is the first time that the threat level has been elevated above medium since the scale was introduced in 2003.