Fed: Defence assessment reasonable to make, says Cosgrove

AAP General News (Australia)
02-20-2000
Fed: Defence assessment reasonable to make, says Cosgrove

CANBERRA, Feb 20 AAP - A fresh assessment of Defence was a reasonable move for any
new leader, Interfet commander Major-General Peter Cosgrove said today.

On Friday, Defence secretary Allan Hawke slammed the department he inherited 100 days
ago, saying it lacked credibility and direction, was too inwardly focused, and faced financial
crisis.

In a candid assessment of the organisation, Dr Hawke said many defence personnel lacked
confidence in their senior leaders.

General Cosgrove has responded by saying Dr Hawke should be encouraged to make such assessments.

"It's reasonable for the new leadership of the department to have a very good look
... and I for one would be prepared to look very carefully at any advice we're given by
the new secretary because ... that's his job," he told the Nine network.

"He ought to be encouraged to look very carefully at the whole Defence operation."

But former Army chief General John Sanderson attacked politicians, accusing them of
serious weakness in defence strategy.

While Dr Hawke praised Australia's military operation in East Timor, General Sanderson
said it was one thing to enforce peace on a "confused rabble", like Timor militias, but
quite another to take on a well-armed force.

General Cosgrove said he did not see General Sanderson's comments as a put-down - but
pointed out that a bullet was lethal, whoever fired it.

"General Sanderson is a very respected and eminent soldier and I would always listen
very carefully to the sorts of things that he might argue," he said.

"I suppose it doesn't matter much to a soldier who's being shot at whether it's by
a well-organised enemy or a member of a confused rabble.

"The bullet still travels at the same velocity, 3,300 feet per second, and if it aims
correctly it still kills you. None of my soldiers have ever lost sight of that."

General Cosgrove said he had enjoyed total support over East Timor.

"I've had nothing but the highest quality support from the leadership of the Australian
Defence organisation and indeed from the government ... and I've also felt that support
from the public and the media," he said.

"I don't think there's been a recent military operation which has had as much support."

AAP fh/pjs/arb/de

KEYWORD: DEFENCE COSGROVE

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