Journal
1100 K Mon 17 Sep 2001
I have spent about two hours reading "The Australian" today. They did not print my letter. But the following articles suggest to me that there need to be changes in how the Australian Defence Force operates.
The front page story is "HAND OVER BIN LADEN"
.... Closeted with Vice-President Dick Cheney and senior security advisors at Camp David, Mr Bush was advised that sending in troops was the only option if he wanted to crush the al-Qa'ida terror network run by bin Laden from Afghanistan. ....
"My message is for everyone who wears the uniform to get ready," he said. ....
To the nation, he said: "You will be asked for your patience, for the conflict will not be short. You will be asked for resolve, for the conflict will not be easy. You will be asked for your strength, because the course to victory may be long."
Mr Bush is expected to approve an audacious strategy that includes strikes by special forces against targets across the Middle East and south Asia. ...
"It is absolutely not a question of if ground troops go in, it's a question of when," a senior official said. ...
Another story, on The Australian's other front page:
Cocos Island the new boatpeople front line by Ian Henderson
A new boatload of asylum-seekers, the fifth in three weeks, has reached Australian waters, this time mooring at the tiny Indian Ocean outpost of Cocos Island. ...
the Government is uncertain how and how quickly it can arrange for the latest asylum-seekers to be taken away for processing. ...
Already a significant proportion of the navy's resources are tied up in efforts either to repel boatpeople or to ship them out of Australia. ...
Ian Henderson has another story on page 6:
US asks for Anzac to stay in Gulf
The Australian Navy is poised to take part in US efforts to hit back at the terrorists. ....
the Governent has agreed to a US request for the frigate HMAS Anzac to dealy its return from the Persian Gulf by a week. ....
Copyright J.R. Lilburne, 17 September 2001.
Links to www.theaustralian.com.au
Cocos Island the new boatpeople front line
US asks for Anzac to stay in Gulf