Australian Government Warning: leave Iraq

The Advertiser ^ | July 25 2002 | Chloe Adams

[knighthawk]

THE Federal Government has warned Australians in Iraq to leave the country as soon as possible.

A spokeswoman for Foreign Affairs and Trade also urged Australians to avoid visiting Iraq as the US prepares to widen its war on terrorism to the region. The official warning comes just weeks after the Australian Government indicated it would support a US-led attack on Iraq.

The warning came as Trade Minister Mark Vaile said Iraq's threat to halve Australian wheat imports may be partly due to good domestic production forecasts. Australia, on the other hand, was heading rapidly towards a drought that would cut wheat and other crop production, he said.

Iraq has threatened to halve imports of Australian wheat in protest against the Government's support of possible US military strikes against Iraq.

Prime Minister John Howard repeated the Government's stand, saying Iraq's threats would not dictate Australian foreign policy.

"We can't really allow ourselves to be told what our foreign policy might be in the future as a condition of people taking our exports," he said on radio yesterday.

[knighthawk]

Ping

[Centurion2000]

Here it comes.

[mhking]

Red Alert! Shields Up!

[BlackJack]

yeppa

[Atsilvquodi]

Yada yada yada.

Nobody should have to be TOLD to leave Iraq - or told not to go there.

This is posturing.

[Thane_Banquo]

We roll in a September.

Is the date symbolically chosen as a payback for Iraqi involvement in the 9/11 attacks?

[HELLRAISER II]

Iraq said it will half it's import of Wheat products from Austrailia, wake up Mcfly Iraqi's won't be eating anything but sand if & when America starts kicking their @ss. Soon my friends, very soon.

[cynicom]

Posturing??? I doubt that very much.

[Atsilvquodi]

" I doubt that very much."

LOL...

[Species8472]

I cannot think of a better way to remember 9-11 than with nuclear fireworks over Baghdad.

[SunStar]

Nobody should have to be TOLD to leave Iraq - or told not to go there.

If they might be bombed by their own nation, I'd say a warning is appropriate.

[SunStar]

I think we'll roll in August.

[Sabertooth]

Saddam on the front burner.

[madvlad]

Yaaaaa, Aug 2!

bwahahahahahahahahahahaah

Mad Vlad

[SunStar]

August 8th is the earliest new moon, right?

[knak]

I wonder which country will be next to say this?

[phasma proeliator]

" Nobody should have to be TOLD to leave Iraq - or told not to go there.
If they might be bombed by their own nation, I'd say a warning is appropriate.

Oh give me a break....
are YOU that stupid?

[SunStar]

Instead of flinging an insult, why not present your point of view instead?

Did the U.S. warn its citizens in India when the threat of war was imminent? Did the U.S. warn its citizens in Afghanistan and Pakistan in a similar fashion? Yes, and yes. So, tell me why you think I am stupid...

[phasma proeliator]

I didn't say you ARE stupid....

I ASKED if you are that stupid.
what is the point of this public announcement?

do you really think that there are Australian citizens in Iraq that don't already KNOW that it's a dangerous place to be?

My point is:
Public statements like this are nothing more than political tactics.

I don't know you - so for me to comment on what you ARE or ARE NOT would be neither fair nor logical.