Terrorist activity is not new to Australia’s shores. Forty years ago the Croatian Nazi-linked terror group, the Ustashi, were discovered with well-entrenched training camps in the state of Victoria. These days, Australia is more likely to be affected by terrorism having a very different ideological base to that of the Ustashi. Islamist extremists have penetrated Australia over recent years, threatening the “lucky country” with a level of violence more normally associated with the nations to its north.

This week, the terrorist spotlight was again on Victoria as hundreds of police conducted pre-dawn raids in the state capital of Melbourne, arresting a number of suspected terrorists with Somali-Islamist associations, allegedly engaged in a plot to conduct a suicide mission on one of Australia’s best-known military bases. According to Associated Press, police reported that “Some 400 officers from state and national security services took part in 19 raids on properties in Melbourne, Australia’s second-largest city, before dawn Tuesday, arresting four men and detaining several others for questioning” (August 4).

The Melbourne raid allegedly thwarted the second of two planned attacks exposed in the past few years by Australian authorities. As AP reported, “Seven men were imprisoned in the past year for involvement in a nascent plot to target thousands of spectators in an attack on major sporting events in Australia.”

The most publicized effect of Islamist terrorism on Australian nationals was the attack on a hotel in Bali, Indonesia, in 2002, in which 88 Australians were among the over 200 people killed.

Australia became a target of al Qaeda and associated terror groups due to its support of the United States and its allies in both the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Under the previous administration of Prime Minister John Howard, Australia was reputed to be America’s staunchest ally. This stance has since been modified under the present Rudd government, as is publicized in Australia’s latest white paper on defense. That paper indicates that Australia will no longer feel bound to support the U.S. in campaigns for which Australians see no direct benefit to their nation.

Fulfilling a campaign promise he made prior to his election as prime minister, Kevin Rudd withdrew Australia’s support of President Bush’s alliance against terror in Iraq by bringing home Australian combat troops from that theater a year ago. The remainder, an Australian training contingent, were withdrawn on July 31 this year.

However, Mr. Rudd, in a direct show of support to the Obama administration, has increased Australia’s contribution to the campaign in Afghanistan. Thus Australia is still a target for extremist Islamist elements intent on wreaking havoc on any perceived ally of America.

In better days there was such a crime against the state known as treason. The penalty for such a crime was death. Having taken Australian citizenship, suspected terrorists such as those currently under arrest in Melbourne would be, upon the evidence being proven, guilty of such a crime. Had we a leadership that would recognize this age-old crime for what it is and exact the penalty, there would be far fewer such cowardly beings lurking in our midst.

Our Creator had a straightforward way of dealing with immigrants in the land of ancient Israel. The abiding law of God was inexorable: “One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you” (Exodus 12:49). Immigrants were to be treated as normal Israelite citizenry on condition that they submitted to the laws, the culture and the religion of the nation.

Oh, for leaders who would have the power and the strength of character to demand such conditions for entry into the lands that so many of the deprived of poorer nations long for, the lands of the Anglo-Saxons! And oh, for leaders who would enforce the invitation to leave on those who wish us evil!

That may sound like a vain hope to any genuine seeker after truth. But believe it or not, such leaders are in the making right now!

Request your own copy, gratis, of our booklet The Wonderful World Tomorrow—What It Will Be Like for the revelation as to how such a leadership is in the very process of preparation to engage in a government that will soon truly bring peace and prosperity to all!