Posted on 02/21/2005 10:32:03 PM PST by West Coast Conservative
Australia is planning to send an additional 450 troops to Iraq, Prime Minister John Howard has said.
He said the new soldiers will provide security for Japanese engineers working in southern Iraq and support efforts towards rebuilding the country.
Australia already has about 950 troops stationed in and around Iraq.
Prime Minister Howard, a firm ally of US President George W Bush, said he knew the surprise announcement would "be unpopular with many" Australians.
The Australian soldiers will help replace troops from the Netherlands, who are due to withdraw 1,400 soldiers from southern Iraq after their government decided against renewing their mission.
-SNIP-
Mr Howard said his country will maintain troops in Iraq as long as they are needed.
"I believe this is the right decision. It will make a significant contribution to the coalition effort. It will make a significant contribution to the rebuilding of Iraq."
He acknowledged it would be an unpopular decision with many at home but said he was responding to requests from Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi of Japan and the British forces operating in southern Iraq.
"The Japanese element of this is quite crucial because Japan is a major regional partner of Australia," he said.
The latest deployment will include a cavalry squadron, an infantry company and a team to train local forces and will be ready to leave for Iraq in 10 weeks, Mr Howard said.
He said the two batches of troops would each be sent to Iraq for six months, totalling a one-year deployment.
About 2,000 Australian troops joined in the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq - a decision that sparked the biggest anti-war protests in the country since the Vietnam war.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.bbc.co.uk ...
We are grateful, as the Iraqi people should be, for the Prime Minister's support and that of his nation. They are doing the right thing.
I would only encourage the Prime Minister to reconsider selling that enriched uranium to China. Hopefully that sale will not materialize.
 Australia will send an additional 450 troops to Iraq (news - web sites) to provide security for Japanese engineers helping rebuild the country's south, Prime Minister John Howard said(AFP/Dean Treml) |
Thank you Australia!
Indeed - may He bless us all.
Interestingly enough, Australia also refused to join the Kyoto treaty. I guess the nuts don't all roll down.
He acknowledged it would be an unpopular decision with many at home but said he was responding to requests from Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi of Japan and the British forces operating in southern Iraq.
A man of true conviction and well deserved of honor!
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