PM confirms 13 dead, 220 missing and 113 in hospital

Davo, mate I have to say it, but the feeling really is mixed between 'we should support the US 100%...and...the US can farkin piss off" (you are an Australian, so you'll know what I mean when I say that shouldn't be taken too literally)

There is a feeling here that this is the reality we face ebcause we are aligned to the US. There is also a real resentment that John Howard has been so supportive. I mean to say, he could at least try not to bend over and cop one so obviously when he represents us abroad.

As you'd know, particularly here in Sydney...we are a very multi cultural city. We have plenty of muslims and people from the middle east. There is discomfort when we here the US lines of hate, when the one's here are fine mostly.

I guess this sort of thing is just the way of the world now...

I really don't even know my own feelings.

 

Davo

What I mean is the probaganda v the muslim world. It's a general hatred coming out of Washington, you'd have to be naive not to think so. (Especially given the total lack of criticism from the US towards the Israeli's, who are really just as much to blame for problems in that area.)

There's also the issue of US attrocities all around the world that we all are aware of here...and a lot of people feel uneasy about supporting blindly a country with that kind of track record.

 

Davo and a few others were wondering about the Aussie reaction, so I thought this might be of interest. It's from one of the leading news sites etc. Can't say I agree with some of the sentiments...

Your say: Bali bomb attacks
October 14, 2002
We asked NEWS.com.au readers for their thoughts and feelings on the Bali bomb attack. Here are some of your repsonses.

From: Lee
Comment: My heart goes out to the friends & family of the victims. This cowardly attack against innocent people just enjoying a popular holiday resort is beyond contempt. Maybe now our Government will cut ties with Indonesia, stop catering to this festering multitude of hate on our doorstep. Indonesia will do nothing or very little to assist Westerners hunt down Muslims for killing Infidels.

From: Jill
Comment: Having recently visited Bali for the first time, I found the people to be very happy, courteous and hard-working. It is not their wish to have this happen and we shouldn't hold them accountable. History has proven the majority of wars are started due to religious beliefs. Who has the right to say which "God" is the best one. I'm an atheist and I can't believe any religious believer would actually think this is their "God's" wishes. Religion is the main culprit in this terrorism war! If there is a God, where the heck is he?

From: John
Comment: I feel for the victims and their families in this difficult time and wish that those with members still missing receive news that is good. The cowards responsible have it coming. The bastards that caused this need to be severely punished. Gutless and terrible people such as these have no place in a world where they can indiscriminately cause misery and pain to innocent civilians.

From: Leung
Comment: You can call this an act of terror, but I call it an act of cowardice. This makes me sick!

From: Peter
Comment: I can't help feeling that this is the wake up call we all needed. To think that as Australians we are immune from terrorism is absurd. These people have one objective to eradicate the evil west and all its infidels and as such we are as much a target as anyone else whether we support Bush or not. If you value our way of life you must support the eradication of terrorism by all means necessary. These people are evil gutless barbarians. And to you followers of the so called peace loving Islam it's time you got off your butts and cleansed your mosques of these messengers of evil. I worked amongst your lot for many years and I know how influential bad Muslims can be and how they prey on others using threat tactics and scare-mongering. You know who these people are so for the sake of world peace do something about it and expose them. If you don't do this you have no right to live in our (western) country.

From: Stefan
Comment: My parents grew up and escaped the war in Europe in the 40s. They have stories that are no different to what happened in Bali. The world and Australia is no longer a peaceful place to be. Instead of freely and stupidly accepting every type of person, race and religion into this country and letting them practice anti-social and inhumane activities, we should make this a haven for people who respect our way of life and the freedoms we fought for and we should dictate what is or isn't acceptable.

From: Mary
Comment: Don't you think that if Australia was the target, that the bombs would have been carried out in Australia? Think guys think! Sad to see people jumping to conclusions here.

From: Tony Webber
Comment: This should put all Australians on full alert now. We should all now be more vigilant and on the lookout for any activity which looks to be out of the ordinary.

From: David Hunter
Comment: The horrific loss of life and limb in the Bali bombing has brought the terrorist threat to our own backyard. From the terrorist point of view it was an ideal way to 'get' at Australians. Bali has hundreds of thousands of Australian visitors every year and is in Indonesia where those terror groups are able to move about without much fear of being apprehended. The enclave in Bali at Kuta is predominantly populated by westerners on holiday and as it is also basically a Hindu society, Muslims are less likely to be involved. No need to try and get a bomb into Australia just use a nearby neighbour!

From: Tim
Comment: If Muslims want any credibility in Australia then they better start standing up to the extremists within their religion. Since 9/11 there has been a deafening silence from most Muslim leaders. How about a similar march against Jihad/Holy War as there was for the coming war against Iraq.

From: Keri
Comment: Being from New York, I completely understand your shock, pain, and anger. Take care of yourselves and each other. I'm so sorry.

From: Sean
Comment: Aaaah Bali, the island where Australians let their hair down, run amok, are loud, rude, conceited and obnoxious, having little or no consideration for the locals, their culture or religion except of course if the AUD$ is 3 to 1 and bintang (beer) is next to nothing. No wonder the Islamic extremists picked Kuta to kick Australia in the groin.

From: Bjorn
Comment: What a sad day. I fear that many, many more will die before the civilised world stands up to these animals. As an American, 9/11 was unspeakable, but this is very close. I feel the pain of our Australian friends. I have met so many wonderful Aussies in my travels, and they certainly do not deserve this!

From: Ky
Comment: What are we as Australian citizens going to do about this? Are we going to forget all about it over the coming weeks/months and act like it would never happen again? Or are we going to get off our arses and actually do something for our country, and our people? Join the reserves. Donate blood. Do something. Don't just sit there and sympathise, because one day it may be too late.

From: DB
Comment: Kill all the terrorists and let God sort it out.

From: Marc
Comment: This terrorist & fanatical attack of last Sunday in Bali against innocent human beings is horrible. Please, be assured all French citizens & Oceanian people are supporting Australian people & families. Sincere condolences & sympathies.

From: Logan
Comment: I'd like to convey the intense grief all Americans are feeling for the Australian victims of this terrible tragedy. Our hearts go out to you.

From: Brian
Comment: Absolutely a terrible act of terrorism. My thoughts go out to the families that have lost or are still searching for relatives and loved ones. I cannot describe in words the loss of our fellow Australians.

From: Christopher
Comment: The bombing in Bali was in my view predictable and if not Bali then westerners would have been targeted somewhere close to our soil if not here. We are as a nation complacent, poorly equipped to deal with terrorism and we just think it won't happen to us. Well it has and it will again. The answer it to educate ourselves as to why such strength of feeling exists against the western world and to discover what we have done to cause the resentment that culminates in these horrific acts.

From: Shane
Comment: The time for being passive is over. I think it will only take an all out assault covering the whole globe in many different countries with many different forces actively fighting together with one unified purpose. Destroy Religious Extremism.

From: Harry
Comment: Condolences to all the families and friends of the victims, and speedy recoveries for the injured. This sort of thing shouldn't happen. Let's forget about Iraq and find the terrorists that pose a threat now.

From: Shela
Comment: Howard, Bush and Blair, I stand in support of your mission to preserve freedom worldwide. Blaming will not solve this problem, action will. These terrorists are not going to simply go away, no matter how much people try to wish them away. There is a solution and terrorists do not negotiate. You figure it out!

From: Priya
Comment: Not only was this a cowardly attack on foreigners holidaying in Bali, it was also an attack on the poor Balinese, who are a Hindu community. Sorry but I am yet to be convinced that Islam is a religion that promotes peace and compassion.

From: Trent
Comment: Stuff going to war against Iraq. Don't get me wrong, I despise Saddam just as much as the next guy but in the wake of the Bali attack we should be more concerned with the bastards who killed our mates. We need to do what is in Australia's interests and to ensure our own security.

From: Theresa
Comment: What about the Balinese casualties. No mention of the local people anywhere. Westerners aren't the only ones suffering.


From: Nick
Comment: What happened in Bali was sad and tragic. It is a direct result of Australia's blind policy in supporting American propaganda, a policy based on stupidity and arrogance not on morals and logic. We should look after our own backyard and affairs and not get involved in foreign issues based on economic propaganda. The Australian government is to blame for what happened in Bali.

From: Paul
Comment: Who would have thought that our once Safe Island Home could encounter such a horrible event. It's now time to join together as a nation and defend our sons and daughters against the bastards who have taken away a way of life only found in Australia. Stand Tall, Be Brave Australia, our children are need our help.

From: Tom
Comment: When we humans have the capacity to disagree without being violent, then we can officially call ourselves human beings. What happened on 9/11 and Bali are examples of how far we are away from this. How many more lives must be lost before we realise that violence and terror leads to more of the same. Is this how we are to live? By blowing things up to get points of views across? If this is so then we have not evolved much since Neanderthals clubbed each other for food and shelter.

From: Jock
Comment: More proof of those loving, peaceful humble extremist Muslims at work. How long until Australia gets bombed?

From: Alex
Comment: This sad event highlights the importance of the war on terror.

From: Jo
Comment: Oh Anna, Do you mean that while our people are being murdered by extremists we should turn a blind eye & pretend it never happened? Do you also think that the people of East Timor incited the butchering that they were subjected to. Wake up - these people only understand terror & death. If you allow this to go on without retaliation - then you are defeated. It does not follow that if you walk away - the problem will go away. Usually it just gets worse. Take a look at Algeria, Chechnya, Philippines, Kashmir, Sri Lanka & the Middle East.

From: Charles
Comment: Terror can strike at any time, any place. It does not differentiate between religion, race, ethnicity or politics. There is no such thing as a safe place or haven. Bali was well regarded as the safest place to visit in Indonesia. Only with the breaking down of such stereotypes can we, as a united world, come close to helping eradicate the possibility of further terrorist activity.

From: Don
Comment: It is sad that so many people posting on this site want to simply roll over and play dead. Terrorists are serious. They want the Western world exterminated. Better to defend ourselves overseas rather than wait for the enemy to bring the war to us.

From: Anthony
Comment: People need to wake up and grow up. The world is a big, sometimes ugly place full of people that would like to exploit and kill you. Saying that Australia supporting the US is the cause of this atrocity may be correct, but since when was Australia a nation of wimps that rolls over for a bully?

From: Phill
Comment: I am absolutely shocked and appalled to what has happened in Bali. I cry when I see vision of the terrible damage and loss of life that this despicable act of terrorism has caused. Indonesia must rid itself of this terrorism cancer that lives within itself. Some tough decisions have to made in Indonesia or it only get worse. The United Nations must make a stance and take action against countries that assist terrorist organisations.

From: Peter
Comment: You cannot reason with animals like the ones who planned and executed such a gutless attack. Cowards of the highest order. What can we do with animals like this?

From: Elio
Comment: I am saddened by the deaths of our Australians overseas and also angry that Mr Howard keeps pushing the issue of war against Iraq. I'd like to ask Mr Howard if he would send his teenage sons overseas to fight a war that does not concern us. While the wars have been fought many times the technology and the destructive force for it can be applied only serves as a warning to us all that at a touch of a button whole nations can disappear with out a trace. I would strongly urge Mr Howard to have a rethink and look after our own back yard rather than anyone else's.

From: Paul
Comment: The terrorist group responsible for this cowardly attack have now given us a right to hunt them down. This group has lost any credibility or support.

From: Tina
Comment: We all have our views, some say it's because John Howard's relationship with the USA, some say it's because of our efforts in East Timor. Whatever the reason it has happened to us. Having travelled to Bali for the last 20 years I know the relationship the Balinese people have with us Aussies. Balinese are mainly Hindu so this has not only been tragic for the tourists but also for the Balinese people. They have no social security, this will effect the whole island and every man, women and child. The terrorists can crawl back to where they came from to plan their next act but for the people of Australia and Bali there is nothing but pain, grieving, rebuilding lives and and finally putting it behind us. All I can say is the terrorists cannot be allowed to get away with it. If we do nothing it will continue at least if we send our guys from Afghanistan to hunt them down I will feel better.

From: Brian
Comment: The Muslim world is resentful of the west, the US in particular as the largest of the western markets. This is all part of an organized scheme of some extremist organizations to damage the cooperation of the west. Comments from persons like Anna, suggesting that we turn our backs on the US in order to hide from the terror and save ourselves is absurd. That exactly what this attack was meant to do. As the attack on the French was meant to do the same with the French. We must move quickly and concertedly to remove the culprits from society.

From: Corey
Comment: J.I. has been threatening retribution (and this was re-iterated by Al Qaeda in 2001) due to Australia's intervention in East Timor. This has little to with Iraq, and more to do with payback for peceived wrongs of Australia's interference in Indonesian internal affairs, perceptions encouraged by flawed media and politicians within Indonesia. We were right then, and are right now - we were/are trying to protect human life, not wantonly and callously destroy it. To say Australia wasn't being targetted is to bury ones head in the sand. You couldn't let off a bomb in such a place without knowing that half the people around you were Australian.

From: Darren
Comment: Australia should ignore terrorism and terrorism will ignore Australia. To all the long hair, drug smoking, do gooder, lefty, pinko, tree hugger losers - how gay is that idea?

From: Judith
Comment: An attack specifically designed to target innocent civilians- cannot be justified UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE. These criminals must be hunted down and their fanatical organisations eliminated. You can't turn the other cheek to this type of attack.

From: Denis
Comment: The people that brought this upon us is the current goverment. Maybe if Howard and Downer were not the "yes men" of the Bush administration we might not have had to experience this type of tragedy.

From: Deidre
Comment: I can't believe that something like this can happen in a place like Bali. My family and I have been there twice in the past 12 months and absolutely loved it. The Balinese are such friendly people who treat visitors like royalty and we really do live like kings there. We were treated with respect and my children were adored. The culture of Bali is so different to ours and I can only imagine how hard it will be for the Balinese to rebuild from this. They are extremely poor and make do with so little but they are always so happy and willing to do for others. Even though this is so shocking I hope that tourists do not give up on this beautiful place and stay away.

From: Peter
Comment: Why should innocent Australians die as a result of oil politics. John Howard must share responsibility with both the terrorists.

From: John
Comment: Can I just say that in hindsight, Bali was an obvious target for terrorism. A western playground that totally defies the principles of Islam in an increasingly hardline Islamic country known to accommodate terrorist groups.

From: Rob
Comment: There is no excuse for terrorism. As the world knows, military force of itself is no solution to a political problem. How more pointless when the perpetrators will not even admit their actions or state their objectives? They will not enter the kingdom of heaven, both the Koran and the Bible are adamant on that.

From: William
Comment: Once again Osama's mates have shown their utter contempt for life. This has nothing to do with Iraq. It has everything to do with the extremists intolerance for people of other religions. Bali is a Hindu island, and remember the Buddhist statues in Afghanistan. They want to kill all non-muslims.

From: Geoff
Comment: This could spell the end of Bali as a popular, international tourist destination. Without tourism, the economy will collapse, and hospitality staff will become unemployed. Indonesia will have a huge incentive to discover and expose the perpetrators. It could be that the terrorist cell has sealed its own fate.

From: Craig
Comment: It was absolute cowardness.

From: SF
Comment: This is a terrible thing that has happened to Australian people. So do you still support Palestinians who blow themselves up in the nightclubs, cafes and shopping malls in Israel? Wake up Australias, we need to clean our world from terrorism!

From: Dam
Comment: These Islamic extremists need to be eradicated. They don't play by the rules and neither should we.

From: Ross
Comment: It is time for Muslim governments to clean up and open their societies. Their excuses of the past just will not stand up to scrutiny. If they do not take on this difficult task they will be judged as accomplices in terror and the innocent majority in these counties will suffer.

From: Ryan
Comment: God Bless Bali. I give the families of the loved ones who died my thoughts. Such a shame to see something like this happen all over again. What's next, but who knows? Will just have to wait. Send my thoughts to the victams.

From: Jill
Comment: Is this Indonesia's way of saying, "Keep your nose out of Timor"? Poor, beautiful, peaceful Bali - now its been tainted with terrorism. How tragic it all is.

From: Pam
Comment: Now perhaps all these "do gooders" will possibly realise what everyone is up against! There are just no words to describe the horror and revulsion I feel to think that another human being can even contemplate doing what has been done. It is beyond belief.

From: Neville
Comment: There is no war in Iraq. We have not committed to sending troops, yet we are still murdered. For even talking about our options?

From: Alan
Comment: First, we should black ban Bali. We should definitely assist USA in the fight against terrorism. Look how close it can get.

From: Craig
Comment: Our world is falling to pieces through terror.

From: Godfrey
Comment: All the muslim extremest / terrorist groups need to be eradicated from the world by a combined allied force using what ever means necessary, as soon as possible. It is an issue for all of us - every western nation that upholds the values of peace, freedom and individual self worth. They must not threaten our lives anymore.

From: Anna
Comment: In this sad day it seems the liability in our relationship with the USA has finally come to roost. I have no doubt that Australians were targeted specifically given the Sari Bar's well known reputation as an Australian drinking icon. (Howard's comments saying) this attack has nothing to do with Australia's loud mouth support of the USA in her imperialist aims in the Middle East are absurb. If we do act as a sensible nation with our own unique national interests, we shall survive. But if as Howard seems to want to do we follow America blindly... then we are doomed!!!

From: Ian
Comment: Find out who did it. Confirm that they did it. Set our boys from Afghanistan onto them!

From: Shaun
Comment: I feel that this is only going to create more tension between Australia & Indonesia. More increases in Boat people is a likely factor relating to this terrorist attack. More people will try to flee there country. My biggest fear is that an attack on our soil is more likely than we think. What do we do? Do we have to wait for an Australia city to be hit with a bomb blast! Hope not....

From: Joanne
Comment: It is a real wake up call to the world when places we think of as an "escape from society" pose threats to our very freedom and care free nature that us Aussies pride ourselves on. Perhaps Mr Howard should wake up and realise that we are also under very much a threat from extremists who want to engulf our free world with their strong hold barbaric beliefs.

From: Sarah
Comment: Perhaps the Australian government should concentrate on breaking up terrorist organisations such as the one which perpetrated this horror, instead of throwing themselves into an unprovoked war on Iraq at the behest of GW Bush & Co...