Forest Jihad In Australia Fires? Is America Next?

Forest jihad by fire, is a distinct possibility in considering the rash of fires that are sweeping through Oz right now.

Firefighters and homeowners aren't the only ones keenly watching Australia's massive wildfires, responsible for killing at least 173 people in the southern part of the continent.

Terrorism experts suspect Muslim extremists are watching closely, too — and taking note of the devastation.

There are some who will say this is over the top. And while it hasn't been proven, it is not something that should be blown off. We know that authorities believe some of the fires are the work of arsonists. But they are stopping short of saying they suspect any of these blazes are the work of terrorist organizations:

While Australian authorities have revealed no evidence linking the wildfires to extremists, terrorism experts say the large death toll, the huge swath of destruction and the massive financial blow to the country are proving to Islamic terrorists that arson can be a highly effective — and simple — tool of holy war.

In November, an extremist Web site called on Muslims to launch a "forest jihad" in Australia, Europe, Russia and the United States. The posting, which quoted imprisoned Al Qaeda terrorist Mustafa Setmariam Nasar, said setting forest fires was legal under "eye-for-an-eye" Islamic law.

"Scholars have justified chopping down and burning the infidels' forests when they do the same to our lands," the posting read.

This should be a red hot tip for Americans and frankly, it should concern anyone that lives in an area that may suffer some level of drought conditions. Other larger scale options for terrorists have been thwarted or are not logistically possible at this time. But this one has a low overhead and endless potential targets, when dry conditions are so widespread. All they need is a couple gallons of gasoline, a lighter, some wind, and dry vegetation out in the middle of nowhere.

I am even more apprehensive after reading this little tidbit from the Federal Register:

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[Federal Register: February 4, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 22)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Page 6115]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr04fe09-106]



Presidential Documents




[[Page 6115]]


Presidential Determination No. 2009-15 of January 27,
2009


Unexpected Urgent Refugee and Migration Needs
Related To Gaza

Memorandum for the Secretary of State

By the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, including section
2(c)(1) of the Migration and Refugee Assistance Act of
1962 (the ``Act''), as amended (22 U.S.C. 2601), I
hereby determine, pursuant to section 2(c)(1) of the
Act, that it is important to the national interest to
furnish assistance under the Act in an amount not to
exceed $20.3 million from the United States Emergency
Refugee and Migration Assistance Fund for the purpose
of meeting unexpected and urgent refugee and migration
needs, including by contributions to international,
governmental, and nongovernmental organizations and
payment of administrative expenses of Bureau of
Population, Refugees, and Migration of the Department
of State, related to humanitarian needs of Palestinian
refugees and conflict victims in Gaza.

You are authorized and directed to publish this
memorandum in the Federal Register.


(Presidential Sig.)

THE WHITE HOUSE,

Washington, January 27, 2009

[FR Doc. E9-2488
Filed 2-3-09; 8:45 am]

Billing code 4710-10-P

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I don't know about you, but I think we are going to markedly increase our risk of attack if Palestinians can simply claim refugee status, to gain entry to live in the United States. Who knows whether this will bring in a wave of arsonists waiting for summer?