Legally, US President Bill Clinton, who is planning to attend the Olympics, would have to obtain permission from Prime Minister John Howard before deploying US forces on Australian soil. We should be prepared to act together, but if United States' interests or people are threatened, the world's policeman will go it alone. Last week a Turkish immigrant worker from Sydney's west was arrested and charged with threatening to destroy planes carrying athletes from the US, France, Britain and Israel to the Olympics. The week before, Australian intelligence agencies suddenly informed the media that they had identified groups linked to Saudi millionaire Osama bin Laden as a threat to the Games. Both stories were afforded front-page treatment.
Closer scrutiny suggests a twofold agenda.
In the first place, the security operation is designed to silence those planning to protest during the Games. The WSWS invites your comments. Please send e-mail .