Politicians lecture on national security

Discussing prevention efforts and security measures during
natural disasters and potential nuclear attacks, former California
Gov. Pete Wilson and former governor of the Australian state New
South Wales Robert Carr engaged in a lecture luncheon Friday as
part of the annual Australian American Leadership Dialogue.

The AALD, created in 1992, aims to strengthen the relationship
between Australia and the United States through forums, bringing
political leaders together to tackle issues ranging from homeland
security to strategies for creating free and fair model
societies.

Igniting the discussion at UCLA’s Bradley International
Hall were issues pertaining to the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina,
in terms of devising national plans for other potential crises like
a nuclear attack.

“There couldn’t be a more serious attack ““
people are seeing it as a possibility,” Carr said. “It
reinforces the importance to counter-terrorism and the myriad ways
in which we deal with that.”

The luncheon was one of the many events taking place as part of
Australia Week in Los Angeles, also known as “G’Day
LA.”

Spearheaded by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and
Trade, Austrade, Qantas Airways and Tourism Australia,
“G’Day LA” is a seven-day celebration of
Australian culture, art and commerce which strives to promote and
strengthen Australian-American ties.

Other events included an Australian designer fashion show, an
Australian Rules Football match and a live stage performance by
Steve Irwin, commonly known as the “Crocodile
Hunter.”

Drawing ties between Hurricane Katrina and other disasters such
as the Northridge earthquake of 1994 as a means to prepare for what
the two governors called a “Western Hiroshima,” Wilson
and Carr agreed that all western cities need a comprehensive
evacuation plan in addition to efficient consequence-management
methods.

But some audience members found the comparison between Hurricane
Katrina and Hiroshima faulty.

“(It’s) an invalid comparison ““ it’s
disrespectful and inappropriate to victims of both
disasters,” said Russell Neches, a graduate student in
physics, adding that the events of Hiroshima were completely
different from any kind of natural disaster.

Though national disasters are not often foreseeable, the former
governors stressed the importance of actually exercising potential
evacuation plans at a local level with those that will be
involved.

“There needs to be a clear allocation of responsibilities
and (to) go through the exercise, “˜what if, what
if,'” Wilson said during the lecture. “You have
to anticipate the worst-case scenario and plan for it.”

Wilson and Carr also emphasized that the dissemination of
information to the public in a time of national disaster or attack
is essential, adding that there is new cell phone technology
available which will enable emergency messages to appear on a cell
phone screen.

“The public has to be able to rely upon what it hears from
the media. That point can’t be underscored (enough),”
Wilson said.

In partnership with UCLA’s Media Center, members of the
AALD and UCLA Professor Tom Plate, director of the center, agreed
that UCLA ““ a center for education and leadership ““ was
the perfect fit for this event.

“It’s good for foreign leaders to see this
gem,” said Plate, whose center brings political experts to
campus to interact with students.

“It’s good for students to see the people making the
decisions,” he said.

About a dozen students attended the lecture. Some were pleased
with the presentation, while others disagreed with the
speakers’ ideas.

“(It was) very interesting and a good opportunity,”
said Jin Sung, a fourth-year communication studies student.
“This is my first time seeing people of power
face-to-face.”

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