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Diggers staying in Iraq: Downer
Posted September 11, 2007 08:39:00
Updated September 11, 2007 09:19:00
Staying put: An Australian soldier trains one of his Iraqi counterparts (ADF)
Video: Scenes from the hearing addressed by General David Petraeus. (Reuters) Audio: Top general recommends US troop cuts in Iraq (AM) Audio: Govt defends Aust troop deployment in Iraq (AM) Related Story: Petraeus signals Iraq troop reductions Related Story: Iraqis unimpressed with US Congress hearing Foreign Affairs Minister Alexander Downer says Australian troops will stay in Iraq for the forseeable future, after top American commander David Petraeus said 30,000 US troops could be home by the middle of next year.
General Petraeus told a crucial hearing of the House of Representatives Armed Services and Foreign Affairs committees in Washington that the current US troop 'surge' has now largely met its objectives.
He recommended that the pullout begin with a contingent of US Marines later this month, and then gradually continue until nearly all of the 30,000 extra 'surge' troops go home.
But he warned that a "premature" drawdown of US troops from Iraq would be "devastating" and said a further decision on force numbers could not be made until next March.
Speaking in the wake of Gen Petraeus's testimony this morning, Mr Downer said Australian troops were likely to remain in Iraq for the foreseeable future.
"Troop numbers and withdrawals should be conditions based, not time based," he warned.
"General Petraeus makes the point that premature withdrawal from Iraq would just be completely disastrous, and the last thing we should do."
His stance was immediately savaged by Opposition foreign affairs spokesman Robert McClelland.
"Not only do we have to fit it in with the United States' plans, we also have to fit it in with the plans of the United Kingdom, which is commencing a phased withdrawal," he said.
"It seems that everyone is focusing on a plan or a program for withdrawal of their troops, except the Australian Government."
Defence Minister Brendan Nelson says Gen Petraeus's report shows that military progress is being made, although political progress in forming a democratic government is more "patchy".
Doctor Nelson told Sky News that Labor's plans to withdraw troops would be a disaster.
"We know what failure's going to look like, but it's probably less certain in terms of what progress would look like in the longer term," he said.
"What Mr Rudd has said is that they'll have a drawdown of Australian combat troops.
"In fact late last year, on the advice of the Chief of Army and Chief of Defence, I increased those numbers in the battle group."
[ 本帖最后由 kaku32 于 11-9-2007 14:38 编辑 ] |
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发表于 10-9-2007 12:18:02
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