Australia commits troops to war with Iraq

[Memnoch]

Prime Minister John Howard today declared that Cabinet had decided to commit Australian troops already deployed in the Gulf to war with Iraq.

``The government has authorised the chief of the Australian Defence Force, General (Peter) Cosgrove, to place the Australian forces already deployed in the Gulf region as part of any US-led coalition operation that may take place in the future, directed in accordance with existing authority under UN resolutions to disarm Iraq,'' he said in a statement to the press.

``The government strongly believes that the decision it has taken is right, it is legal, it is directed towards the protection of the Australian national interest and I ask the Australian community to support it," he said.

Earlier, President George W Bush asked Mr Howard to commit Australian troops to a war with Iraq.

Mr Howard told ABC radio he had received a phone call from President Bush shortly after 6am. He would call a Cabinet meeting this morning and announce its decision on the US request as soon as possible.

Mr Howard said if troops were committed they would fight under Australian command and with separate rules of engagement.

He said if Cabinet decided to commit troops, the forces could be assured they would be doing legally and with the proper equipment to protect them against chemical and biological attack.

[Charean]

That is good news... the more overwhelming force, hopefully the shorter the engagement.

I heard that Mexico may be supporting the US/Spain/UK/Australia effort soon. They didn't want the world to think that they were US lapdogs. We will see.

I just hope it is done quickly with fewest casualties possible.

[Memnoch]

The Australian people will support their troops as they always have - but this is not a popular decision here. The national feeling is much like that of the UK.

[Charean]

Understood.

I support the troops very much. I may not support the decision, but I do hope for the least amount of injuries and casualties as possible. The boys and girls over there are so young - 18 to 25 for the most part - it is hard for us to remember that they are not veterans by a long shot.

[wellard]

One aspect of John Howard’s speech which is worthy of note was *to paraphrase*


Let those who are against the war vent their feelings against the government and himself as leader and NOT to take it out on the military. He did not want a repeat of the Vietnam war where returning soldiers were abused and shunned.

This is a good point and I hope those out there who disagree with what is happening follow his advice.

*note* This is my first war post so go easy on me [img]graemlins/heee.gif[/img]

[Charean]

After Desert Storm, the troops were greeted back enthusiastically. However, there are still a lot of Gulf War Syndrom victims among them. Too bad our government chose not to deal with that. But at least we treated them better than the Vietnam vets.

There is progress. Only time will tell if it gets better.

For your first post over here, Wellard, it was a thoughtful one. [img]smile.gif[/img]
(All I do is ask a lot of questions.)

[Thoran]

I for one am glad to see the Aussies on board. While Gallipoli is one of my favorite war films, I certainly wish opposite luck this time for the gang from down under. [img]smile.gif[/img]

[Ar-Cunin]

Denmark has also aggreed to send naval forces to the gulf - a corvette and a (conventional) submarime (good for operation in shallow water) - but not special forces at previously planned.