'Race riots:' a second chance for police to prove themselves after Mcquarie Fields blunders.

After NSW police recently copped a hiding in the media over countless organizational blunders during the Macquarie Fields violence in February, they appear to be priding themselves on their preparedness for action in Cronulla and other suburbs affected by the recent 'race riots.' Media today has seemed to focus on the authorities organization and readiness for action with the announcement of special task force Seta earlier today.

Morris Iemma, who lead the promotional banter throught the day, was quoted in a number of sources stating:

They had the resources there ... the resources deployed with the riot equipment, the back-up, the dog squad, the mounted police, Polair, maritime police and up to 150 police and they performed outstandingly.

If this isnt a nifty piece of Piblic Relations then I don't know what is!

Listening to Tony Eastley's interview with Morris Iemma on ABC radio this morning, I couldn't help but wonder wether the police's performance was just ok, but was hyped up by Iemma, Scully and Moroney in a Public Relations manouvre aimed at getting rid of doubt still lingering after Macquarie Fields.

Dispite being questioned by Eastley over wider issues, Iemma still managed to finish almost every question with praise for the police, afew of these seemingly planned statements are as follows:

The police did an outstanding job yesterday, and have done an outstanding job into the night and the early hours of this morning.

police were down there in force, with numbers, as well as backup resources.

Despite all this praise, no doubt the official inquiry will highlight some gross error... surely it is only a matter of time. In the words of Elvis, I think what we need to change most minds is a little less conversation, a little more action.