Is this a message from the Universe? Australia is prepared for war with Iraq, but not prepared for fire on home soil. Canberra is still counting the cost of Saturday's devastating fires and preparing for another onslaught if conditions worsen during the week.Since Saturday's extreme conditions, it has been milder and cooler in Canberra. That has allowed authorities to more thoroughly assess the damage. Four deaths have now been confirmed and 368 houses have been destroyed.
The power authority says it may be a couple of days before electricity and gas supplies are fully restored and emergency work is under way to get the city's sewage treatment plant operating again.
Work is also continuing to build more fire breaks around Canberra, before an expected return to hot and windy conditions on Tuesday.
By Flying Embers 20 January 2003
SKIPPY:When are soldiers going to be deployed on the ground to fight the fires in a disaster on home soil? When is the infrastructure going to be provided to fight terror at home?
Related:
George Bush's other poodle
John Howard, Australia's PM, is the mouse that roars for America, whipping his country into war fever and paranoia about terrorism within.
