Kaк жe, здeсь дaвно зaявляют, что и Aвстрaлия собирaeтся "флaгом помaxaть". Один фрeгaт с дeжурствa в Пeрс. Зaливe нe вeрнули, и вот 150 СAСовцeв в тaнкeрax-трaнспортникax ждут (нe считaя тex, кто трeнировaлся совмeстно с соотв. aмeрикaнскими и бритaнскими подрaздeлeниями, и про которыx мeстныe влaсти говорят, что нe коммeнтируют, eсть ли они в рaйонe Aфгaнa ужe). В общeм - до 1000 чeловeк обeщaют, и грозятся, что рaссчитывaют нa зaтяжную войну.
Troops could go 'any time'
By MARK FORBES
CANBERRA
Wednesday 10 October 2001
The deployment of Australians into action against Afghanistan could be imminent, Prime Minister John Howard has signalled, stating that a request for Special Air Service troops could be received in less than 24 hours.
Mr Howard yesterday said he asked United States Vice-President Dick Cheney on Monday when Australian troops would be required and was told it would be "further down the track".
"As of now we have not received a request but that could change within the space of 24 hours or even less," he told ABC radio.
Air strikes to disable communications, terrorist targets and other installations were likely to continue for some time, he said.
"If they're very successful first up then that will bring forward the point at which, for example, you might use ground troops," Mr Howard said. "If they're not so successful or they take a longer period of time, that would put it back."
So far more than 1000 troops, including a 150-man SAS squadron, refuelling and reconnaissance aircraft, two frigates and a command ship, have been committed to the US-led coalition. Говорили о "Орионe" вродe бы, и "Commando" RAR.
Mr Howard denied that Australia's contribution was a political gesture rather than a military necessity. "It is not just a political gesture; certainly the public statement of support for the American position is important, but it has gone a step further than that and that has been acknowledged by President Bush when he made his statement yesterday."
Defence and intelligence officials also briefed Opposition Leader Kim Beazley for an hour yesterday, in keeping with parliamentary convention in an election campaign.
Meanwhile New South Wales Police Commissioner Peter Ryan has warned that the risk of domestic terrorism would escalate once Australian troops became involved.
The success of the ground attacks is likely to determine how soon Australian troops will be deployed.
Australian special forces could be deployed to Afghanistan within hours, according to Prime Minister John Howard. The reconnaissance squadron and support elements of the Perth-based Special Air Service regiment are on short notice to move.
They will be transported to the conflict zone on two RAAF Boeing 707 air-to-air refuelling aircraft.
Mr Howard said the timeframe for deployment would depend on the success of the US strikes.
Australian soldiers brief US military
By BRUCE WILSON in Islamabad
October 07, 2001
A GROUP of retired Australian army officers and NCOs, some of whom spent years in Afghanistan, are believed to have been briefing the US-led coalition aiming at capturing Osama bin Laden and overthrowing the Taliban.
The soldiers were evacuated from the Afghan capital Kabul last week with other UN personnel who were kicked out so the Taliban could loot food warehouses.
The Australians had been field security officers for UN bases in Afghanistan and were commanded by former lieutenant colonel Alan Brimelow, who served in the Australian armoured corps and is thought to have been in Afghanistan for six years.
Colonel Brimelow would not comment but UN sources said such ready-to-use intelligence from experienced soldiers will be invaluable.
The elite troops were there with the full approval of Russian Premier Vladimir Putin – a remarkable diplomatic turnaround.
Veterans tell of deadly SAS game
October 07, 2001
AUSTRALIA'S SAS troops will play a deadly game of hide and seek in Afghanistan.
The soldiers are expected to play a major reconnaissance role, tracking Taliban army movements in the lead-up to a bombing campaign.
Former SAS soldiers have told the Sunday Herald Sun the Australian troops would work in self-sufficient five-man teams.
"They can live out there for months," a veteran said. "They have trained for this work around the world."
He said the soldiers were likely to be disguised in traditional Arabic dress and would be working with the Northern Alliance, the guerillas trying to overthrow the Taliban.
"The SAS will observe Taliban troop movements, tank movements, fuel supplies, water supplies and the hottest areas for activity," he said.
"They will also be there when the bombings start to let the Allies know if they are hitting targets."
The former soldier said that if a prolonged mission inside Afghanistan was needed, the regiment would hide arms and food supplies.
The caches would be stowed in the mountains when they arrived and would be visited only once every few months for re-supply.
He said the SAS would work for weeks gathering intelligence on their enemy.
Information would be sent via a coded communication system to a satellite and on to a command base.
Under the coded system, detailed coded messages are written on a portable screen, similar to a computer screen and then sent in a single, one second burst that is impossible to detect.
The soldier said the SAS also would have the capacity to use bombing beacons to direct attacks.
The beacons, about the size of a cigarette pack, communicate co-ordinates to a plane, either directing a bomb to the beacon or to a position entered into the beacon's database.
One veteran said SAS teams might also have a role as "a killing team".
"If they find bin Laden they could well be instructed to kill him," he said.
"Taking him alive may lead to more attacks by his supporters in a bid to free him."
Самое-то прикольное в том, что США очевидно общаются только с Блэром и все действия идут с бритами, а об австралийцах и канадцах ни слова. Такое ощущение, что и канадцам и австралийцам хочется просто показать свою лояльность.
Да глупо это! В обеих странах - гигантские мусульманские общины, которые автоматически ставятся в положение - если и не париев, то каких-то не совсем "приличных родственников".
Вчера в Британской Колумбии уважаемые мусульмане сказали просто - "у нас там родня и если вы думаете, что вы будете бомбить моего брата, а я буду сидеть и смотреть, то вы делаете большую ошибку." Это было заявлено при газетах и тв, у одной из самых больших мечетей ванкувера..... :(
Вот так, блин, желание покататься на фрегатах в индийском океане превратится в п@#%юлей дома.
>A вот кaкaя прэлeсть про пeрсонaл ООН - aу, гдe ты, милaй (тожe aвстрaлиeц) Бaттлeр, которого турнул Сaддaм "низaщо" зa шпионaж.