Posted on 10/31/2006 5:21:53 PM PST by naturalman1975
THE Australian Defence Force (ADF) was making "sensible" preparations to ensure the safety of Australians on Fiji if there was a military coup, defence head Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston said today.
Air Chief Marshal Houston said the situation remained quiet and there was no suggestion any of the estimated 7000 Australians now in Fiji faced any threat.
But, Air Chief Marshal Houston said, the ADF remained concerned about the situation and would play its part if called upon.
“Essentially, we are doing sensible contingency planning and we haven't had any requests (to intervene) at this point,” he told a Senate estimates committee.
“Our preparations are focused on, obviously, the safety of Australians in the regions and we are doing some planning to support those sorts of possibilities.
“I am very comfortable that we have sufficient resources to go and do whatever is necessary to look after the safety of Australians in Fiji.”
(Excerpt) Read more at news.com.au ...
When I think of those 'Defence of Australia' people who kept saying all through the 1980s and 1990s that the modern and future world didn't require Australia to have a Defence Force that could project power beyond our own maritime boundaries, I think God that we managed to limit the damage they did.
Couldn't get out of there fast enough.
What on earth are they fighting about in Fiji?
No idea, but you've gotta like a name like 'Angus.'
Glad he's on our side.
FIJI?
Not sure of the details, but it is ethnic strife between the polynesian native Fijians and the East Indian immigrants. It has been ongoing since the late '80s.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.