[aldo_14]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4754570.stm

Australia's "Jihad Jack", convicted of receiving funds from al-Qaeda, says Osama Bin Laden does not like being kissed but is happy to be hugged.

Joseph "Jack" Thomas, who met Bin Laden three times in Afghanistan, discussed the al-Qaeda leader's preferences in an interview broadcast after his trial.

Thomas, 32, also said his own love of beer had made his conversion to Islam, which bans alcohol, a dilemma.

Thomas is still to be sentenced but his lawyers say he plans to appeal.

An interview with Thomas was shown on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's Four Corners programme on Monday and other details have also been published in The Age.

"I never really thought I'd be a Muslim," he told ABC. "I'd say, 'Oh look, you know, I really love your religion but I really love my beer'."

Thomas was found guilty of accepting $3,500 (£2,000) and a plane ticket home from an al-Qaeda agent in Pakistan and possessing a false passport. He was cleared of intentionally providing resources for al-Qaeda.

The Melbourne court heard that Thomas had visited al-Qaeda camps in Afghanistan shortly before the 11 September attacks on the United States.

The father of three could face up to 25 years in jail when he is sentenced by the Supreme Court in the next few days.

Thomas said he once shook hands with Bin Laden at an al-Qaeda camp in Afghanistan.

Bin Laden was "very polite and humble and shy. He didn't like too many kisses... he didn't mind being hugged but kisses he didn't like and he just seemed to float... across the floor," Thomas told ABC.

Thomas said an al-Qaeda operative, Khaled Bin Attash, told him Bin Laden wanted a "white boy" to carry out terrorist attacks in Australia.

Thomas said Bin Attash told him there was $10,000 for anyone attempting a terrorist strike there.

But Thomas said he would never have accepted becoming a "sleeper" agent in Australia.

While accepting that he might be "naive and an idealist", Thomas added he would never have wanted to hurt innocent people, The Age quoted him as saying.

As a child Thomas was rejected as a ballet dancer for being too stocky and joined a punk band, The Lobotomy Scars.

He converted to Islam and changed his name by deed poll to Jihad before heading to Afghanistan in March 2001.

He saw no combat and was arrested by Pakistani authorities in January 2003.

[Rictor]

That's it, the world officially has no more use for The Onion.

[karajorma]

changed his name by deed poll to Jihad

I'll bet he only did that so that he could shout "The Jihad is coming" in menacing tones before entering the room

he just seemed to float... across the floor

Am I the only one worried by this revelation that Osama Bin Laden is in fact a Dalek sleeper agent?

[WMCoolmon]

'Oh look, you know, I really love your religion but I really love my beer'

Quoted for...well, just because it's ****ing excellent.

"Hmm...this religion offers everlasting life with eternal virgins...****, but no beer? Nevermind then."

[Gortef]

Hahaha, I kind of like that Thomas guy allready because of his quotes

[vyper]

Am I the only one worried by this revelation that Osama Bin Laden is in fact a Dalek sleeper agent?

Or possibly a Sith Lord. Ala, the Emperor.

[Taristin]

'Oh look, you know, I really love your religion but I really love my beer'

Quoted for...well, just because it's ****ing excellent.

"Hmm...this religion offers everlasting life with eternal virgins...****, but no beer? Nevermind then."

Spoken like a true Aussie. >..>