Bali was Australia’s 911, but the Aussies have not been deterred by terrorist cowardice — neither in the micro nor macro sense.

Today, the survivors and family members who lost loved ones bravely ignored warnings of another terrorist attack to remember the 202 innocents killed in Bali in 2002. They:

…gathered at the site of the attacks on Wednesday to remember the 202 people killed and to send a defiant message to the al-Qaeda linked terrorists who allegedly carried them out. …

Among those attending was Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer, whose nation lost 88 citizens in the bombings. Four Australians were also among the victims in this month’s blasts. …

But it is important to take a determined stance against terrorists, he said, noting that Australia has been working with Indonesian law enforcement agencies to hunt down the perpetrators of violence.

Many of those present brushed off warnings by foreign governments that tourists should stay away from Indonesia because more terrorist attacks were likely, and said that this month’s strikes made them more determined to come.

In the big picture, Australians dashed the hopes of the terrorists and their sympathizers by re-electing John Howard’s Liberal-National coalition late last year. While Howard supported the Iraq war and defiantly keeps his troops in Iraq, his opponent Mark Latham had promised to bring the troops home. Australians liked Howard.

Howard handily won a fourth consecutive term as Prime Minister. His coalition took 46.7% of the vote, with Latham’s Labor Party trailing at 37.6%. Turnout was an amazing 94.69%.

It will be up to the Anglosphere — Britain, the U.S., Australia, India, Israel, Singapore — to maintain the lead in the war on terror. Thank G#d Australia can be penciled into the right column.