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When is a Terrorist not a Terrorist?

Wednesday 2 July 2008 | 13:57 AEDT
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Last week, Nelson Mandela was officially a terrorist.  Today he isn't.  Despite the fact that his party, the African National Congress, has been in government in South Africa for 14 years, Mandela had remained on the United States' Terror Watch List, as had his party, since the 1980s.

But finally, the US government has removed them from this hall of infamy.

I find this an interesting development for two reasons. First, it demonstrates pretty well how ridiculous the whole Terror Watch List really is. For starters, it's way too long. For a while now, the American Civil Liberties Union has been estimating that the List should contain about 1 million names right about now. They've even put a counter on their website for the purpose. And as they point out, there are some weird names on that List, like the 9/11 hijackers who - in case you hadn't figured it out - are dead. Have a close look. You'll probably find yourself there.

The number of names on the List is slightly misleading because it would also include aliases. So 1 million names could mean about 250,000 people. But even so, it's getting to such bloated proportions that it's becoming all but useless.

But the second reason this news is interesting, is that it reminds us that it was not so long ago that conventional wisdom was pretty happy to declare that Mandela actually was a terrorist. Margaret Thatcher thought so. So did Ronald Reagan - who was president when Mandela was put on the Terror Watch List. So did Dick Cheney who voted against changing the listing in 1986. After all, Mandela founded and led the ANC's armed wing, and launched bombing campaigns on government and military targets. During the '80s, his organisation was involved in guerilla wars in which civilians were killed. In fact, Mandela's arrest was only possible because of co-operation from the CIA who clearly felt they were helping to apprehend a terrorist.

How things change!

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Added 28 Nov 2008 0:11 AEST

Belinda from Brisbane


I would just like to say after watching Salam Cafe I realise just how racist and blind some Australians are towards muslims. I have many muslim friends and have found none of them to be the hatred filled terrorists we are shown on tv. I wish people would learn about Islam and go meet a muslim person and their families and learn for themselves that they are human beings with feelings and should not all be put in the one stereotype due to some extremists.

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Added 11 Aug 2008 22:53 AEST

Zoe G from Tas


I Have to just say that as an Aussie who has lived and worked in Saudi Arabia and who is engaged to a Saudi male your show makes me so nostalic for my love, for the country, the people and the culture. I watched andrew denton tonight, and Waleed made some wonderful points re: the perception of muslims in Australia and the general misconceptions about what Islam is, and what it is not. I will say now thank you for fighting for muslim people in Aus, your show truely raises my spirits. xxx

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Added 11 Aug 2008 22:48 AEST

ad from vic


How does one make it onto a terror watch list anyway? Surely a passionately held belief isn't enough otherwise it would have to be far longer than 1million names long. Who decides and based on what evidence. What's the difference between a 'just' war and 'terrorism'?

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Added 06 Aug 2008 22:22 AEST

cardinal dotdline from Islamic Republic of Coburg


It's great how when Uighur separatists commit a terrorist attack they're Muslims, but when Tibetan separatists commit a terrorist attack they're just Tibetans, not Buddhists. Same way the war in Sudan was Christian (and animist) v. Muslim in the south, but somehow Arab v. "Black African" in Darfur. Fact is, they're all ethnic conflicts first and foremost. Religion is an afterthought.

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Added 05 Aug 2008 18:33 AEST

C from J


theres always exceptions i agree but two exceptions pluss still looks like a small minority. i didnt think youd print the post actually.i guess some/most muslims can take criticsm but the radical/violent minority sure make a p.r. defence very hard for you .the western media come down hard on any extremists look at the hard time they give the exclusive bretheren and they havnt killed anyone in the name of god. this has got to be the last goodbye goodbye.

 

WA says: I think the point is that those who resort to political violence are very much the small minority, not the other way around.

 


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Added 04 Aug 2008 21:35 AEST

c from j


muslim terrorists in china, bejing olympics. 16 dead. muslim terrorists everywhere there are muslims. it looks like where there are muslims there are terrorists. wow its not new, but its consistant.muslim terrorists everywhere there are muslims.. lucky we have no muslims in camden hey wazz they may blow up the camden show to make a point. hey wazz if there was an olimpics for terrorism muslims would win hands down. thats all theyd win. what about that dead syrian minister, its about time hey.

 

WA says: Sri Lanka?  Rwanda?  As I recall, these are (or were) zones of heightened conflict where Muslims are about the only non-violent group.


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Added 21 Jul 2008 15:57 AEST

Ali G from Melb


Re: j u said in ur last comment dat if der were less Jews born less prob now in Oz or sth like dat nd da prob is caused by Muslims. Fair enough. if its like. how about we all go back, dont send u ppl oil! hahahah. ur life will be crap man. dont try to say dat again. becoz we depend on each other. ur an ...... grow up seriouly such a cheap comment.

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Added 19 Jul 2008 14:10 AEST

XDfunny from canberra


g. Everything is treated with a light-hearted touch. We recognize that it's all in fun. If a comic takes a pratfall so hard that we fear he's actually hurt, it ceases to be funny.

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Added 15 Jul 2008 19:22 AEST

j from c


ali from melb i agree wit u 100% re jewish probs. de jews benefit wile us has to pay de price. best dey was left in europe some were.could hasbeen less muslims hear.less probs for oz.

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Added 15 Jul 2008 19:13 AEST

j from c


comm'on wazz, you've got to give those muslim terrorists some credit for innovation.suicide bombings perfected,road side bombs,home made rockets. why are you taking the credit away from them.its not just a case of donkey see donkey do. mr. you can vote then refresh and vote again. etc thats where i get all my support from.

 

WA says: Not really. The Tamil Tigers are significanly advanced in their suicide bombing technology, and many of the road side bombs being used in Iraq and Afghanistan are actually quite old technology.

 

 


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Added 14 Jul 2008 14:27 AEST

Mr. from NSW


Mr. If that is true then I have been 'voting' incorrectly which is very dire indeed...

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Added 11 Jul 2008 10:57 AEST

Ali G from Melbourne


RE: j Because of their (Jews) those days some Muslims of today r so sore at dem dat has result all in violence. If dey hadnt had their days, today some Muslims wouldnt have their day. Most violence accuring is due to dat cause. nd abt u said Muslimz innovation, I think u should visit Guantanamo Bay or something like dat. It will make u better understand whoz innovations r better!

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Added 10 Jul 2008 21:25 AEST

ralph bertran from Thirlmere


offcourse you are agreeing with the original comment.mr.you i wouldnt take wassas one liners too seriously, would you. sorry i hope you werent offended too much.wazz.

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Added 10 Jul 2008 21:14 AEST

j from c


gee ali if you didnt talk so bad people would understand what you are saying. you are repeating what i said about jewish terrorism.they are terrorists in they're own day. but muslim terrorists take the cake for brutality and viscosness.the only innovation that muslims have shown is how to kill people. innocent or not.

 

WA says: Actually, Muslim terrorist groups haven't been terribly innovative at all in their killing techniques.  They've borrowed most of them from non-Muslim terrorist groups.


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Added 10 Jul 2008 19:34 AEST

Ali G from Melbourne


Abt my comment

I am surprised who disagreed with my comments. Da comments I write are true, actually very true. You guys(who disagreed) can cross check on da internet. But dont be to0 stupid to disagree. actually very stupid, unrealistic. U guys just suck.

 

WA says: More internet scholarship!


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Added 10 Jul 2008 17:42 AEST

AteKhairo from Job Network


Letz c!

Why do we have a system where people have different status before the law. People are categarised in different groups ranging from most superior to the least one. I will explain with an example to what I mean. When there is a kind of crime being commited by a non-muslim (european). The news goes: A man killed another man... However when it comes to a muslim bloke commiting the same crime. The news goes: A muslim allegedly killed a person at... I don't no y this double standard. Do u know??

 

WA says: That's an issue of media coverage, not of unequal status before the law.


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Added 10 Jul 2008 11:36 AEST

Mr. from NSW


Mr.

I'm confused - when I click on 'I agree' or 'I disagree' am I agreeing/disagreeing with the person who made the comment or am I dis/agreeing with your reply to the comment!? very important question I know...

 

WA says: You know, I've wondered the same thing!  For the sake of establishing a convention, let's say you're agreeing with the orginal comment, not my reply.


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Added 09 Jul 2008 13:48 AEST

Ali G from Melbourne


hemm... As we all no dat King David Hotel dat was bombed in 1946 by Ignun(Jewish terrorists) who dressed as Arabs 2 show dat Muslims did da bombin. it was conducted under da leadership of Manikinbekan who at dat time was known as terrorist no.1 by da British gov. later on became da Prime Minister of Israel nd later gets a noble prize for peace. imagine a person who has killed thousands of ppl gets noble prize nd becomes prime minister. how ugly? wat do u call dat???? terrorist or terrorism?

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Added 08 Jul 2008 21:00 AEST

Ali G from Melbourne


omg Chris

Hey Chris! have ya opened da history books ever? hahaha. neva mind. U see this is da problem of non-muslims dat dey dont know anything about Muslims nd say stuff like u did. Well ever heard of Jabar ibn Hayan. hez known as father of Chemistry. Anyway. You probably got da image of Muslims from Osama bin laden but he doesnt represent all of da Muslims nd if u think he attacked twin-towers. better watch 9/11 an inside job on youtube or other sites nd der r other documentaries as well. watch dem.

 

WA says: I'm not sure ignorance is best fought with conspiracy theories.


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Added 07 Jul 2008 21:02 AEST

Sally from Sydney


I love Salam Cafe Keep up the good work. Everyone is talking about it & its really funny..... But Someting I don't like is Susan's Tongue ring...................... Please Sister your Educated and smart Take it off. I still like you but not the tongue ring.


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