Although I don't know much about Australian history I've always had the sense that she has been a resolute and brave ally of Western values,interests and security whose soldiers have,all too often,answered the call to protect those values.And have done so with exceptional skill and courage.
However,as already mentioned,she has recently elected a leftist government.And I'm sure that you know that among the hallmarks of Western leftist thought is a desire to be *world* citizens and to support the peoples of the world against the hegemony and tyranny of the United States War Machine.So,IMO,a unilateral pullout from Afghanistan would be fully in keeping with these ideals.
Australia was involved with the Boer War, WW1, WW2, Korean, Vietnam, Timor and the wars in the Mideast. Australia, to my knowledge never ever planned a quick withdrawal leaving her allies such as Britain, Canada, NATO in the lurch. That is very un-Australian. I hope this report is not true, because of what it implies. If true, I hope, it is the reason you give. My take, if this story is true, the new tack by the Obama Administration (According to NPR, Obama put Carville in charge of influencing the A-stan elections with the #1 goal to force a runoff from the August elections) will cause a civil war in A-stan. Democrats, as our recent history has proven (Florida, Minnesota and ACORN) only know how to destabilize elections. It is now apparant that Obama/Carville have succeed in destabilizing the elections in A-stan and now do not want to increase the number of Troopers to organize a secure and safe election for later this year. I think Australia’s take on this situation is that A-stan is becoming a lit “powder keg”.