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ept. 19, Online/AP

The Islamic State (IS) plot to carry out random beheadings in Sydney, alleged by police, is a simple and barbaric scheme that has shaken Australians. But terrorism experts on Friday questioned whether the ruthless movement had the capacity or inclination to sustain a terror campaign so far from the Middle East.

Police said they thwarted a plot to carry out beheadings in Australia by IS group supporters when they raided more than a dozen properties across Sydney on Thursday. Two of the 15 suspects detained by police were charged in court on Thursday, officials said. Nine others were freed before the day was over.

Some terrorism experts saw the plot as a potential shift in the IS'€™ focus from creating an Islamic caliphate in the Middle East. Others, including Professor of international relations and security studies at Murdoch University, Samuel Makinda, said it is more likely a symptom of policy confusion within a disparate group.

Your comments:

The civilized world is being forced to take up arms to defend these rights and liberties only because the liberal and so-called moderate Muslims, who are either too cowardly or in agreement, refuse to rein in and stand up against their extremists who threaten all of us.

Brien

Does Australian policy now reflect the seditious subservience of Australia to the US?  I can'€™t remember the referendum ceding Australia to the US.

Olmet

Who should be concerned if Australian people are disturbed by IS terrorism things? The US? Absolutely not! We need to focus on our own affairs. Our domestic issues require more concern: all citizens'€™ education, health services, infrastructure development, etc. '€” even our own IS issue!

If we see suspicious activity about IS in our country, immediately report it to local police. Even report it to nearest army base in each city. This article is about the word '€œrubbish'€. Stop wasting time with this rubbish article.

Cedeer

Some of the terrorists are attempting to pose as refugees and enter via Indonesia.  A senior figure in IS, Mohammed Ali Baryalei, who ordered beheadings in Australia, was an Afghan refugee granted Australian citizenship.

The large number of tourists in Indonesia also attracts those who think they can target infidels for a video on social media. Any incident could damage the tourist industry, drive away foreign investment and give rise to social disharmony as the blame game sets in.

We have never had a threat like we now face. The new legislation targets the potential threat and in no way interferes with the lives of ordinary Australians.

Jagera

The government puts forward a case that the situation is such that it proposes new laws.

If the new laws are not yet in place and the threat is genuine and detected and those participants are caught and held, why would we need new and tighter laws that further reduce freedoms and increase the powers of government?

Where is the failure to justify new laws? What is the significance of the timing, if any, in the raids and the introduction of new and thus far not proven to be needed laws?

These new laws include extending the sunset clause. One wonders.

There is much more out there to find and, for those with minds inquiring enough, to seek and separate fact from theory or straight out fabrication and coming from both sides of the argument. One thing for sure though, the far right in this nation is taking advantage of the fear.

They are already after the raids carrying out actions against the innocents and if it continues there is a fair chance that it may evolve into more trouble for the whole of society.

With IS in mind, rather than society, then I would turn to other words by saying it is better to err on the side of caution. Certainly anyone considering carrying out actions such as those alleged need attention. The risk for this nation is to find the balance and ensure that caution lies in maintaining as much as possible the freedoms we enjoy.

Anything less will cause us to become like those we oppose and guess what, they win.

Noone