Queensland police are closely reviewing security arrangements for Anzac
Day services around the state.
The review comes after ex-servicemen's groups cancelled two military
marches in Brisbane in the past week because of concerns about anti-war
protests.
National Servicemen's Association of Australia spokesman Allan Callaghan
says many members are opting not to march this year for fear of protests.
"If anybody has a difference about the war, as the PM says take it
up with the Government... don't take it up with war veterans," he
said.
"I cannot think of anything that would generate any more hostility
than an attack on Anzac Day... imagine an old digger like say the late
Eric Abrahams or Ted Smout hit by a paint bomb or a
flower."
Foreign Minister Alexander Downer has told Channel Nine any attempt to
disrupt Anzac day commemorations would backfire on the anti-war
movement.
"From the protesters point of view, ultimately it is entirely
counter productive, it just turns the public more and more against the
attitudes and the positions of the protesters," he said.
"So you know a protester who is politically cunning will organise a
peaceful pleasant protest, not an aggressive protest, particularly that
would do something like disrupt Anzac Day which has such totemic
significance for Australians."
http://www.abc.net.au/news/justin/nat/newsnat-30mar2003-67.htm
Australian Defence Minister Robert Hill says the United States failed to
anticipate the extent to which Iraq would fight an unconventional
war.
He says Iraq's use of suicide bombers is another challenge for the
coalition forces, who are trying to cope with surrenders which turn into
attacks and soldiers pretending to be civilians.
He says the widespread use of such tactics has surprised the US-led
forces.
"They underestimated the role of the militias within the smaller
cites and towns," he said.
"Basically the militias are there to control the civil society but
they clearly are part of the defence plan and they've fought hard and
they've certainly resulted in some delays of progress."
Meanwhile, Senator Hill says the Government has not decided to send HMAS
Sydney to join the war in Iraq, even though its crew may be
preparing to leave soon.
A newspaper report today says the Sydney will leave for the Middle
East on April 7.
But Senator Hill has told Channel Seven it is not a firm date.
"They may well have been told to be ready in that timetable but we
haven't decided to rotate the ships," he said.
"But that is the most likely rotation because the ships they're
replacing have now been in the gulf for many months."
