FED: Hill thanks troops for line in sand

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FED: Hill thanks troops for line in sand

By Rod McGuirk

CANBERRA, April 25 AAP - Defence Minister Robert Hill personally congratulated modernAnzacs in the Persian Gulf today for drawing a line in the sand on weapons of mass destruction.

Senator Hill and Australian Defence Chief General Peter Cosgrove joined hundreds ofsailors, soldiers and air personnel who saw the Anzac Day sun rise from the deck of HMASKanimbla.

Senator Hill told the assembled troops that by defeating Iraqi President Saddam Hussein,they had put other despots on notice.

"You have drawn a line in the sand on the issue of weapons of mass destruction," SenatorHill said in a prepared speech.

"Others of the like of Saddam Hussein, who hold weapons of mass destruction as a toolto strategic advantage, will know that the civilised communities will no longer toleratesuch threats."

The Australians who fought with British and American coalition partners had also removedan immediate threat to Australia of President Hussein's arsenal.

"In the same way as we could not isolate ourselves from the threat of global terrorism,neither could we quarantine Australia and Australians from threats associated with weaponsof mass destruction," Senator Hill said.

"You and your coalition colleagues have been mightily successful. You have removedthe immediate threat."

Australians in the Gulf observed a largely traditional Anzac Day although Islamic lawcurtailed the beer and betting on two-up for many.

General Cosgrove, who is touring the Gulf with Senator Hill to congratulate troops,said this Anzac Day would share the same significance for him as the one he spent fightingin the jungles of Vietnam.

"We were out in the jungle doing our job, but even there, in the very early morning,we passed around amongst the soldiers, gave them a shake and said 'it's Anzac Day'," GeneralCosgrove told ABC radio.

"Even there at war, we remembered all those who had gone before us and it's a privilegeto be able to do so under those sorts of circumstances."

RAAF Flight-Lieutenant Christine Bradley said the Anzac Day she commemorated with Britishand American allies at an air base somewhere in the Middle East was like no other.

"I've done a lot of Anzac marches and they're always very moving and very proud events,remembering those who have gone before us," the 31-year-old from Melbourne told AAP byphone.

"Now we're here and actually part of it, it'll have a special significance and allthe Anzac Days from now on will always remind me of the time we were here."

AAP rmg/ldj/jlw b

KEYWORD: ANZAC GULF NIGHTLEAD