Rudd ups civilian effort in Afghanistan

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is doubling Australia's civilian commitment in Afghanistan
to assist with diplomacy, aid and policing efforts.
It will bring the number of civilians working there to 50.
Mr Rudd made the announcement on Saturday at Canberra's Australian National
University, where he spoke about the importance of Australia's efforts in
Afghanistan.
He used it as an opportunity to take a potshot at Opposition Leader Tony Abbott, who
has pledged to send more troops given the withdrawal of Dutch soldiers later this
year.
"Such a decision would require the further deployment of an additional 1000 or more
troops to Afghanistan," Mr Rudd told the gathering.
"To be clear: such a deployment would cost the Australian taxpayer a further $1
billion per year."
Mr Rudd said, on the other hand, Australian troops would not stay in the Middle East
for "one day longer than's necessary".
The new diplomats and aid assistance staff will be based in Kabul, Kandahar and
Tarin Kowt, working with locals to improve services.
The extra police officers are to be sent to Tarin Kowt, where they will help train
and mentor colleagues in the Afghan forces.
The push is part of a wider civilian response effort the government is setting up in
response to overseas disasters and conflict zones.
It has set up an civilian core office within AusAid, which will send skilled
Australians abroad to share their knowledge.
The program is slated to begin by mid-this year, becoming fully operational by 2011.