ID :
190709
Thu, 06/23/2011 - 14:19
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/190709
The shortlink copeid
PM Gillard sticks to Afghan troop numbers
SYDNEY (AAP) - June 23 - Australia won't be rushing to follow the US lead in withdrawing troops from Afghanistan.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard said Australia now had about 1500 personnel in Afghanistan and advice from defence head Angus Houston was that this was an appropriate number for the mission.
Ms Gillard said the mission remained on course to transfer security responsibility to Afghan government forces in 2014.
Defence Minister Stephen Smith said the speech by US President Barack Obama confirmed that progress was being made in fighting the Taliban insurgency.
But Greens leader Bob Brown said the government should bring all troops home by Christmas.
In an address this week, Mr Obama confirmed the drawdown of troop numbers, promised 18 months ago when he launched the surge strategy to fight the escalating insurgency.
A total of 10,000 American troops will leave Afghanistan by the end of this year and more than 20,000 additional troops will leave by mid-2012. That will still leave some 70,000 US troops in Afghanistan,
Mr Obama said the tide of war was receding and the US could start this drawdown from a position of strength, having achieved substantial progress in the war against al-Qaeda and the Taliban.
Ms Gillard said she understood that many Australians would have listened to the president and might be wondering what that meant for Australia's mission.
"The advice that I have seen from the chief of the defence force ... as recently as this morning is that our current troop presence remains appropriate for our mission," she told parliament.
Ms Gillard said the American drawdown wasn't expected to have any significant implications for the joint US-Australian force in Oruzgan province.
"We are on course in Afghanistan," she said.
"It is hard work, it is dangerous work ... but we are on course and we will be staying that course."
Mr Smith said on the basis of discussions with the US, no adverse impacts were expected on the Australian operation in Oruzgan province.
"I don't have any concerns about ongoing access to or use of ... helicopters, artillery and the like are concerned," he told Sky News.
"From a military perspective they would be the last things you would seek to draw down."
Senator Brown said Australia would now have a proportionally bigger presence in Afghanistan than at the start of the US troop surge when Mr Obama became president.
"Why is this disproportionate burden in Afghanistan compared to the Bush-era allocation of troops?" he said.
"We should have our troops brought home. The majority of Australians want that.
"They've seen the Netherlands and now Canada withdrawing their troops from Afghanistan. Australia should do the same."
Prime Minister Julia Gillard said Australia now had about 1500 personnel in Afghanistan and advice from defence head Angus Houston was that this was an appropriate number for the mission.
Ms Gillard said the mission remained on course to transfer security responsibility to Afghan government forces in 2014.
Defence Minister Stephen Smith said the speech by US President Barack Obama confirmed that progress was being made in fighting the Taliban insurgency.
But Greens leader Bob Brown said the government should bring all troops home by Christmas.
In an address this week, Mr Obama confirmed the drawdown of troop numbers, promised 18 months ago when he launched the surge strategy to fight the escalating insurgency.
A total of 10,000 American troops will leave Afghanistan by the end of this year and more than 20,000 additional troops will leave by mid-2012. That will still leave some 70,000 US troops in Afghanistan,
Mr Obama said the tide of war was receding and the US could start this drawdown from a position of strength, having achieved substantial progress in the war against al-Qaeda and the Taliban.
Ms Gillard said she understood that many Australians would have listened to the president and might be wondering what that meant for Australia's mission.
"The advice that I have seen from the chief of the defence force ... as recently as this morning is that our current troop presence remains appropriate for our mission," she told parliament.
Ms Gillard said the American drawdown wasn't expected to have any significant implications for the joint US-Australian force in Oruzgan province.
"We are on course in Afghanistan," she said.
"It is hard work, it is dangerous work ... but we are on course and we will be staying that course."
Mr Smith said on the basis of discussions with the US, no adverse impacts were expected on the Australian operation in Oruzgan province.
"I don't have any concerns about ongoing access to or use of ... helicopters, artillery and the like are concerned," he told Sky News.
"From a military perspective they would be the last things you would seek to draw down."
Senator Brown said Australia would now have a proportionally bigger presence in Afghanistan than at the start of the US troop surge when Mr Obama became president.
"Why is this disproportionate burden in Afghanistan compared to the Bush-era allocation of troops?" he said.
"We should have our troops brought home. The majority of Australians want that.
"They've seen the Netherlands and now Canada withdrawing their troops from Afghanistan. Australia should do the same."
