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Read on Twitter - 2 gunmen, 13 hostages.

I wonder how many people that thought "Four Lions" was funny still think so.

Sonofabitch has hostages up against the windows with their hands up, using them as shields.

Reports of package, at opera house.
unconfirmed as of yet

The media had better keep their fething traps shut about what the Police are doing. Don't want the fethers inside to have a running commentary on a Police assault.

I thought this was why you guys didn't exterminate the drop bears. Do you not train them like K-9 units?

Relapse wrote:
I wonder how many people that thought "Four Lions" was funny still think so.

It's a dark comedy. It doesn't really have anything to do with this.

So our PM's main concern during this crisis is people should buck up and and go to work (as long as you're not in a locked down area).

Australia is open for business, just walk around the terrorists to get your coffee.

Awesome PM.

 Hordini wrote:

Relapse wrote:
I wonder how many people that thought "Four Lions" was funny still think so.

It's a dark comedy. It doesn't really have anything to do with this.

I'm thinking about the part at the end where hostages in the restaurant were taken. I wonder how many, if any , comparisons crop up.

Way to (intentionally) misinterpret what he said Loki.

He's obviously saying that we shouldn't let these sorts of things hamper our way of life.

 H.B.M.C. wrote:
Way to (intentionally) misinterpret what he said Loki.

He's obviously saying that we shouldn't let these sorts of things hamper our way of life.

Yes, I know. But the cynicism in me is strong.

Praying for a safe outcome in Sydney.

Is Islam compatible with the West?

Perhaps a question for after this siege. Hopefully no innocents have to die today.

It's just very bizarre that they are waiting so long. Normally they'd just want to kill people. Perhaps they are going to demand the release of those guys arrested in September(?).

Best of luck to all who are involved that are innocent. I thought guns were illegal in AU?

Hopefully the police lubed their guns with bacon grease, send them to hell.

 -Loki- wrote:

 H.B.M.C. wrote:
Way to (intentionally) misinterpret what he said Loki.

He's obviously saying that we shouldn't let these sorts of things hamper our way of life.

Yes, I know. But the cynicism in me is strong.

I think you've got your cynicism wired up backwards. I'm much more worried about the government seeing an opportunity to write up some new and draconian laws than about Abbott telling people not to panic.

 Medium of Death wrote:
Is Islam compatible with the West?

Although it's neither a fair nor useful question, thousands of peaceful western Muslims point to yes. You'll never be able to stop all of the extremists, of any stripe.

Any news on what those four "packages" are???

 Medium of Death wrote:
Is Islam compatible with the West?.

Yes.

The problem isn't Islam. The problem is crazy people.

Islam is just the excuse used by some crazy people.

 Hordini wrote:

 Medium of Death wrote:
Is Islam compatible with the West?

Although it's neither a fair nor useful question, thousands of peaceful western Muslims point to yes. You'll never be able to stop all of the extremists, of any stripe.

Here is how I see it. They are like any other people, there are just as many sheep in their "society" and just as many wolves as we would have in our own western civilization.

I think you asked the wrong question whether Islam is compatible with the west. You should be asking is Sharia law compatible with the west. The answer is certainly not. The good Muslims will mind their business and obey the law of the land. The bad mooselimbs will try and do as they please by enforcing their archaic laws upon those who want nothing to do with it.

When that day comes, and call it paranoia if you will, I'll be ready to litter the streets with their corpses.

I don't know. Culturally it is very different.

It's not easily integrable. That''s why we are seeing a lot of young people from our countries going over to fight.

Police chief says motivation of gunman "still not determined"

 VorpalBunny74 wrote:
Police chief says motivation of gunman "still not determined"

Have they had contact yet?

 VorpalBunny74 wrote:
Police chief says motivation of gunman "still not determined"

No one wants to jump the gun here, and you don't release information you don't have.



Anyway, off to the doctors.

 Medium of Death wrote:
I don't know. Culturally it is very different.

It's not easily integrable. That''s why we are seeing a lot of young people from our countries going over to fight.

That's not true at all. There are plenty of well-integrated Muslims. In any immigrant population you will have some people who don't integrate well. It's not like Muslims are some giant unified culture either. A Muslim from Saudi Arabia, a Muslim from Turkey, and a Muslim from eastern Europe are all likely to have some significant cultural differences.

I need to meet an Australian woman... that accent is so sexy.... *drool*

err... I mean.... I'm really sorry to hear about this guys, but I suppose y'all put a target on yourselves the moment you decided to help us out in the 'stan. So thank you, and here's hoping they move in on the gunmen and take em out without any friendly loss of life.

 whembly wrote:

 VorpalBunny74 wrote:
Police chief says motivation of gunman "still not determined"

Have they had contact yet?

The police say they haven't been able to deal directly, but I'm not sure I believe that. They might be saying it for security reasons though.

 H.B.M.C. wrote:
Anyway, off to the doctors.

Good luck!

 Hordini wrote:

 Medium of Death wrote:
I don't know. Culturally it is very different.

It's not easily integrable. That''s why we are seeing a lot of young people from our countries going over to fight.

That's not true at all. There are plenty of well-integrated Muslims. In any immigrant population you will have some people who don't integrate well. It's not like Muslims are some giant unified culture either. A Muslim from Saudi Arabia, a Muslim from Turkey, and a Muslim from eastern Europe are all likely to have some significant cultural differences.

Their culture says nothing about their religion, they are two separate things. One may influence the other, but they are still different.

There are lots of different sects and sub-sects within the Islam faith. Same thing as Christianity.

 VorpalBunny74 wrote:

 whembly wrote:

 VorpalBunny74 wrote:
Police chief says motivation of gunman "still not determined"

Have they had contact yet?

The police say they haven't been able to deal directly, but I'm not sure I believe that. They might be saying it for security reasons though.

2GB claims to have been in contact with a hostage at the request of the gunmen. The idea of Alan Jones in contact with them isn't particularly comforting.

I thought Australia was Gun free. So now terrorists can get guns but law abiding citizens cannot?

Fireraven wrote:
I thought Australia was Gun free. So now terrorists can get guns but law abiding citizens cannot?

You say that likes it's confusing. It shouldn't be a surprise that people with no concern for the law have illegal things, while those who follow the law do not.