Terrorist attack inevitable on Australian soil: former defense chief

Australia's former defense chief Peter Cosgrove said Monday that a terrorist attack would inevitably happen on Australia's soil while terrorism was a long- term threat to Australia.

He said Australia must be prepared for such a threat.

"I don't think we can possibly point to an event or a date. All we can do is be prepared to have this raised level of vigilance and response ready for any terrorist who decides to try us on," Cosgrove told Australia's Southern Cross radio.

"I believe that, inevitably, we will see a terrorist act on Australian soil," he said.

"We are much readier than we were, but you can never protect all the vulnerable parts of our society," he added.

Meanwhile, Cosgrove said compulsory national service could not be ruled out in protecting Australia, but it should be introduced only in cases of dire defence emergency.

"It's one of those things which has a very wide social impact," he said.

Australia is the only one in the core countries among the U.S.- led coalition forces in Iraq which has not experienced a terrorist attack on home soil.

Source: Xinhua