Australia Backs Preemptive Hits on Terrorists
Prime Minister John Howard said Sunday that he was prepared to act against terrorists in neighboring countries and suggested that the U.N. Charter be changed to allow nations to launch preemptive strikes against terrorists planning to attack them.
His remarks drew condemnation from Asian governments.
In October, a terrorist bombing on Indonesia’s resort island of Bali killed 191 people, almost half of them Australians.
“If you believe that somebody was going to launch an attack on your country ... and you had a capacity to stop it and there was no alternative ... then of course you would have to use it,” he told local television.
Asked whether that meant taking preemptive action against terrorists in a neighboring country, he said: “Oh yes. I think any Australian prime minister would.”
Indonesian legislator Alvin Lie called Howard’s statement “very dangerous” and said he “should learn to control himself.”
Thai government spokesman Ratthakit Manathat said: “Nobody does anything like this. Each country has its own sovereignty; that must be protected.”
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
