Committed: In a speech tonight Julia Gillard will reaffirm Australia’s military alliance with the US. Photo: Paul Harris
PRIME Minister Julia Gillard has pledged to forge even closer military ties with the United States, declaring Australians will never forget the ”dreadful day … which saddened and changed our world”.
In a speech at a candlelit ceremony in Canberra tonight, which relatives and friends of the 10 Australians killed in the attacks are expected to attend, Ms Gillard will reaffirm the military alliance with the US and the shared fight against terrorism.
”Australia and the United States have worked together for peace in the world for many years,” she will say.
”September 11 changed many things, but it could not change that. We will make decisions in the coming years to ensure our work in the world and the co-operation between our forces only grows in the future.”
Ms Gillard’s commitment to the West’s fight against terrorism follows an admission by British Prime Minister David Cameron on al-Jazeera television that the US and Britain lost some of their moral authority when they undertook certain measures in the wake of the attacks.
He said the establishment of the Guantanamo Bay detention camp was a mistake and with hindsight some of the decisions made by the two countries affected their moral superiority, which was vital to maintain when they were trying to make their case to the world.
Opposition Leader Tony Abbott said the terror attacks were ”etched in our memories” and the anniversary was an opportunity to ”reflect on heroism in the face of evil”.
”We will remember the near 3000 victims … who lost their lives. They were the innocent victims of a war waged by extremists who are committed to the destruction of the West.”
With AAP
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