Posted on 07/04/2003 8:29:36 AM PDT by knighthawk
LABOR has accused John Howard of suffering from "post-Iraq war Francophobia", calling on the Government to accept a French offer to join an Australian-led multinational intervention force in the Solomon Islands.
The attack from Opposition foreign affairs spokesman Kevin Rudd came as the Solomons Islands cabinet yesterday approved the terms of the Australian-led deployment, paving the way for the formal request to be made to Canberra this weekend.
Mr Rudd's attack follows first the Prime Minister and then Foreign Minister Alexander Downer offering a lukewarm response to French overtures to provide military and police support to the mission.
"It's time for John Howard to get over his post-Iraq war Francophobia," Mr Rudd said.
"He should act in Australia's national and regional interest in the Pacific and talk to the French about how they can materially assist the effort to restore law and order in the Solomon Islands." The decision by the cabinet of Solomons Prime Minister Allan Kamekeza reverses plans for parliament to formally approve the request, after concerns that MPs could be subject to intimidation ahead of next week's sitting.
Mr Downer on Thursday welcomed a French offer of support but expressed concern that its less-than-perfect record as a colonial power in New Caledonia made accepting military support a "slightly sensitive" issue.
But it is understood the Government is interested in securing financial and logistic support from the French, with the cost of the intervention expected to cost Australia up to $300 million a year.
Relations between France and Australia cooled after Mr Howard's strong support for a US-led war in Iraq and staunch French opposition to it. A spokesman for Mr Downer would only say yesterday that discussions with French officials over the form of its contribution were continuing.
Military sources suggested that working with the French military in the Solomon Islands could pose difficulties because they had a different command system and structure from Australian forces.
At least one French Foreign Ministry official has conceded that putting troops on the ground was sensitive because it could incite protests from pro-independence fighters in the French territory of New Caledonia.
Sir Allan requested Australian intervention last month as increasing lawlessness and banditry gripped the nation.
A group of 16 Pacific nations this week backed a force of 2000 police and military to be dispatched within weeks.
It was also unclear whether Japan would make a contribution to the force last night – but if it does it will almost certainly be in the form of monetary or other support rather than military or police.
1) their cooking,
2) their lack of hygiene, and
3) their lack of loyalty/gratefulness.
Maybe add in their crappy cars too.
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