Bruce in West Oz
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<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>The Courier Mail
US warship to guard Olympics
14 Dec 99
THE United States will station an aircraft carrier off the Australian coast to deter terrorist attacks during next year's Sydney Olympic Games.
The carrier, probably the USS Abraham Lincoln, will be equipped to respond to any terrorists using helicopters and the elite Navy Seals.
Normally, it would require a call from President Bill Clinton to Prime Minister John Howard before US forces would be deployed on Australian soil.
"The reality is the US will act alone if necessary," a senior Australian Government source said yesterday.
"We should be prepared to act together, but if United States interests or people are threatened, the world's policeman [sic] will go it alone."
The carrier will cruise in international waters about 300km east of Sydney with a
supporting battle fleet including a destroyer and submarine.
The force will include specialist units trained in anti-biological and chemical warfare and have on-board hospitals to deal with any victims of the new generation of terror weapons.
Another senior Government source said the potent US deployment did not reflect badly on Australia.
"The Yanks do not trust anyone to look after their people at a major international event such as the Olympic Games."
The Abraham Lincoln would be barred from Sydney Harbour during the Games, as have all foreign navy ships because of the expected congestion.
US officials and Israeli security personnel will be the only two nationalities
permitted to carry guns on to Australian soil during the Games.
US officials have refused to comment on whether the navy will send a forward presence to Australia for the Games.
But US naval sources confirmed that the Abraham Lincoln -- one of the world's largest aircraft carriers -- was scheduled to be in the region during the Olympics.
The Lincoln is nuclear-powered and carries more than 6000 personnel.
It is understood accommodation already has been booked for Mr Clinton and his entourage in Sydney, adding another dimension for security planners.
Australia's lack of readiness for a biological or chemical attack is believed to be a crucial factor in the US deployment.
According to Government sources, the big weakness in Australian security planning is dealing with the new, highly portable weapons of mass destruction. A single test tube of anthrax could cause thousands of casualties.
It is understood that with the backing of the Spanish Government, the US had warships based off the Spanish coast during the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games.
FBI observers already in Sydney will be joined by military liaison officers early
next year.
Australian Defence Force director-general of military support for the Sydney Olympics, Brigadier Adrian D'Hage, said he would make no comment on specific naval movements.
"I won't give any details of what arrangements may or may not have been made other than to say that we meet on a very regular basis," he said. "Those co-operative discussions will continue right up to the Games because obviously the security of the US Olympic team is one we give special attention to because of the US place in the world."[/quote]
B
US warship to guard Olympics
14 Dec 99
THE United States will station an aircraft carrier off the Australian coast to deter terrorist attacks during next year's Sydney Olympic Games.
The carrier, probably the USS Abraham Lincoln, will be equipped to respond to any terrorists using helicopters and the elite Navy Seals.
Normally, it would require a call from President Bill Clinton to Prime Minister John Howard before US forces would be deployed on Australian soil.
"The reality is the US will act alone if necessary," a senior Australian Government source said yesterday.
"We should be prepared to act together, but if United States interests or people are threatened, the world's policeman [sic] will go it alone."
The carrier will cruise in international waters about 300km east of Sydney with a
supporting battle fleet including a destroyer and submarine.
The force will include specialist units trained in anti-biological and chemical warfare and have on-board hospitals to deal with any victims of the new generation of terror weapons.
Another senior Government source said the potent US deployment did not reflect badly on Australia.
"The Yanks do not trust anyone to look after their people at a major international event such as the Olympic Games."
The Abraham Lincoln would be barred from Sydney Harbour during the Games, as have all foreign navy ships because of the expected congestion.
US officials and Israeli security personnel will be the only two nationalities
permitted to carry guns on to Australian soil during the Games.
US officials have refused to comment on whether the navy will send a forward presence to Australia for the Games.
But US naval sources confirmed that the Abraham Lincoln -- one of the world's largest aircraft carriers -- was scheduled to be in the region during the Olympics.
The Lincoln is nuclear-powered and carries more than 6000 personnel.
It is understood accommodation already has been booked for Mr Clinton and his entourage in Sydney, adding another dimension for security planners.
Australia's lack of readiness for a biological or chemical attack is believed to be a crucial factor in the US deployment.
According to Government sources, the big weakness in Australian security planning is dealing with the new, highly portable weapons of mass destruction. A single test tube of anthrax could cause thousands of casualties.
It is understood that with the backing of the Spanish Government, the US had warships based off the Spanish coast during the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games.
FBI observers already in Sydney will be joined by military liaison officers early
next year.
Australian Defence Force director-general of military support for the Sydney Olympics, Brigadier Adrian D'Hage, said he would make no comment on specific naval movements.
"I won't give any details of what arrangements may or may not have been made other than to say that we meet on a very regular basis," he said. "Those co-operative discussions will continue right up to the Games because obviously the security of the US Olympic team is one we give special attention to because of the US place in the world."[/quote]
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