Fed: al-Qaeda fighter not a former 3RAR soldier - Cosgrove

AAP General News (Australia)
12-21-2001
Fed: al-Qaeda fighter not a former 3RAR soldier - Cosgrove

CANBERRA, Dec 21 AAP - A former Australian soldier linked to Osama bin Laden's terrorist
network al-Qaeda served in East Timor but was not a member of the elite 3RAR, Army Chief
General Peter Cosgrove said today.

ABC radio reported today the 25-year-old man, believed to be from Queensland's Sunshine
Coast, served with the 3rd Battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment but General Cosgrove
denied the reports.

"I think there's speculation he was in 3RAR and that's not the case, that's not the
case," he told reporters.

However, General Cosgrove confirmed the man had served in East Timor.

"He served in East Timor and I'm hoping now that the suggestion that I've heard that
somehow he was affected by that, I'm hoping that's not the case and if it is ... my heart
goes out to his parents," he said.

"I think there's a bit more to be found out yet.

"As far as I'm aware we don't very much information on what this individual may or
may not have been doing."

Defence Minister Robert Hill said the 25-year-old had left the army because he was
suffering depression.

Senator Hill yesterday revealed the Caucasian man entered Afghanistan on August 8.

He was brought to the government's attention when his parents contacted the Department
of Foreign Affairs and Trade worried about his welfare.

"We acknowledge that one of the people who's been mentioned in relation in working
for the Taliban in East Timor was a soldier and was discharged and we understand he may
be involved with working for the Taliban," General Cosgrove said.

He said he was sad rather than embarrassed to learn an Australian soldier had defected
to terrorist ranks.

"I think if it turns out to be true it will be sad," General Cosgrove said.

"But when people leave the military, as when they leave any other walk of life, they're
free agents."

He said the army would help the government with any information on the man's previous background.

General Cosgrove said the government had not approached the army about supplying peacekeeping
troops to Afghanistan as part of a British-led force but admitted Australia's capabilities
to do so could be stretched.

"I guess the issue is at the moment we're pretty busy and we're also holding down a
very big operational commitment in many parts of the globe," he said.

"The military is not a bottomless well and we've got to make sure the operations we're
executing in the national interest now continue to be conducted effectively.

"It could be that we don't make a contribution to the stabilisation force in Afghanistan,
but that's yet to be finally decided by government."

AAP sm/daw/cjh/de

KEYWORD: TERROR AUST COSGROVE

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