It's Happening - Aussie Troops to fight Terrorism
From abc.net.au
Howard prepares nation for casualties
Australia will send 1,550 military personnel including 150 crack SAS troops to join the US-led campaign against terrorism in mid-November.
Prime Minister John Howard has announced a much larger commitment than originally offered, saying some could leave within a week or two, but the exact departure date would be confirmed soon.
He also warned that the Special Air Services (SAS) commandos could expect to be in the thick of battle, and possibly in hand-to-hand combat, with Afghanistan's Taliban fighters.
His announcement followed a call from US President George W Bush overnight.
Australia's commitment to the campaign had also been upgraded to include four F/A-18 jet strike fighters and two long-range P3 Orion reconnaissance aircraft on top of the two 707 refuelling aircraft originally pledged.
Three frigates and an amphibious command ship would also be sent to join a multinational interception force.
Australian troops will join the US-led multinational force now building as air strikes which started on October 7 continue against Afghanistan in retaliation for the September 11 terrorist onslaught in the United States.
Apart from US and British special forces believed to be involved in reconnaissance operations, ground forces have not yet been sent into the country.
Opposition leader Kim Beazley says the sailors, soldiers and air force personnel have the support of all Australians.
Mr Beazley says he has been briefed on the details of the military campaign and the Opposition fully supports Australia's involvement.
"This is a bipartisan commitment to a most important operation and a most significant effort by an allied coalition that is very broadly-based," he said.
Risk
Mr Howard admitted the risk of casualties was high and warned the campaign would be far more dangerous than the Australian-led UN military operation in East Timor two years ago.
"Whenever you go into battle there is always the risk of casualties," he said.
"It is a very dangerous operation, particularly any operation involving special forces on the ground.
"It will not be an easy operation, they just won't be involved in search and rescue, they will be in the thick of it," he said.
"It will be quite dangerous, unprecedented for many of our people.
"I think the danger, particularly for those who might go on ground, will be very high, much higher than in East Timor."
Mr Howard said there was nothing token about the contribution, adding: "This is a very significant, important contribution being made by Australia and it should be seen as much by the Australian people."
Australian originally committed around 1,000 military personnel, including the SAS troops, to the campaign when the deployment was announced by Howard on October 4.
Bush grateful
He said during his conversation with President Bush, they had both reflected "rather sombrely" on just how much the world had changed.
Bush, he said, was "very grateful" for Australia's commitment and indebted to Australia because of the spontaneity of its response and willingness to join the fight against terrorism.
Opposition Labor leader Kim Beazley said Labor stood "shoulder to shoulder" with the US President and British Prime Minister Tony Blair in fighting the scourge of terrorism.
"This is an appropriate commitment of Australian forces and it is a significant one," he said.
Democrats
The Democrats leader, Natasha Stott Despoja, says no more troops should be committed without Parliament debating the move.
"I urge that the Parliament be reconvened at the first opportunity after the election," she said.
"Our advice is that it could occur as early a fortnight after the election is over.
"At this moment ladies and gentlemen the Canadian Parliament at this very moment are debating their commitment of troops, I'm sorry that we're not doing the same."
Greens
Greens Senator Bob Brown has criticised John Howard's military commitment to the United States-led fight against terrorism, saying conscription will be next on the Prime Minister's list.
Mr Brown says Australia's commitment should be under the leadership of the United Nations and the objective should be to bring the terrorists to justice in a world criminal court.
He says Australians need to be warned that Mr Howard will put conscription on the agenda if he wins government for another term.
"Prime Minister Howard has voted for conscription consistently in the 60s and 70s," he said.
"It will be a matter for his consideration and if this hostility worsens he will be bringing in conscription in the next period of government."
Expert opinion
A strategic studies expert is concerned that Australia may have over-committed itself, given the potential for trouble in Indonesia, and the nation's existing regional responsibilities.
Dr John Bruni, from the University of Adelaide, says Australia's relatively small armed forces are already fulfilling ongoing security commitments to East Timor, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Bougainville.
He says Australia's major allies are going to be too preoccupied in Afghanistan to be of much assistance if there is trouble in the region.
"If there is going to be any kind of strategic spillover, it is going to affect even moderate Muslim countries like Indonesia, and if it happens to affect Indonesia in a negative sense, what can we do to defend our interests in Papua New Guinea and East Timor... we have got forces on the ground in East Timor currently as part of an UN effort there," he said.
What does everyone think? I am fully behind them and I hope for the safe return of all those involved.
TL
[ 17 October 2001: Message edited by: Transition Layer ]