U.S. bombing of NT: President Bush sent letter of protest.

U.S. would not allow foreign planes to fly in and drop bombs on its territory !

The Environment Centre of the Northern Territory (ECNT) is today emailing a letter of protest to President Bush, via the US embassy in Canberra, over the announcement on Friday afternoon that US bombers will be flying over Australia and dropping live bombs on an area of savanna woodland near the town of Katherine in the Northern Territory.

ECNT spokesperson Peter Robertson said, “The letter informs the US President – who may not be aware - that the area proposed for bombing is not some remote, people-free region, but is in fact surrounded by working cattle stations, Aboriginal lands and communities, national parks and popular recreational destinations.

“We inform the US President, who is a strong supporter of democracy, that no consultation with the Northern Territory community was entered into by the Australian or US governments in making this announcement.

“We point out to the President that the US would never allow a foreign power, even a supposedly friendly one, to fly bombers over the US and drop live bombs on US soil, so the US should not take advantage of a weak and unprincipled government in Canberra to use the NT as a bomb target.

“We conclude by asking the President to withdraw this proposed bombing operation and convey his change of policy to the Australian government. No doubt Mr Howard and Defence Minister Robert Hill will be only too pleased to comply with this new US policy of not bombing Australia and putting at risk the people and environment of the Northern Territory.

“Our letter will be cc’d to John Howard and Robert Hill.”

The Environment Centre and other Darwin groups will be holding a protest against the bombing on Friday.

Further comment: Peter Robertson 8981 1984 / 0409 089 020