Beazley demands Government reveal Iraq strategy

Mr Kim Beazley,leader of Australias'
Opposition Socialist Labor Party (ALP)

PM must say how many troops: ALP

February 23, 2005
http://dailytelegraph.news.com.au/story.jsp?sectionid=1258&storyid=2711767

PRIME Minister John Howard must make clear to the Australian people exactly how many more troops would be sent to Iraq and for how long, Opposition Leader Kim Beazley said today.

Mr Howard yesterday committed to sending an additional 450 troops to Iraq and has since refused to rule out the possibility of more being deployed.

Today, Mr Beazley said the Australian people were entitled to know the true scenario.
"I've got some questions for John Howard - how many troops, for how long and what is your exit strategy?," Mr Beazley said in Perth.

"No more wriggle room on this Mr Howard.
"You said in your press conference yesterday that there might be more (troops sent) and that you could not say how long ... that is not good enough.
"We now know on things like interest rates, and on this, that when you seek wriggle room it could mean anything at all.

"Australian people are entitled to know how long, how many and what's your exit strategy."
Mr Beazley said he believed the request for additional troops from the Japanese government was more complex than immediately met the eye.

"They would have asked for protection," he said.
"It would be most unlike the Japanese to come direct and simply ask Australians to support them.
"Their security is a matter of concern and something that would have to be dealt with by the coalition partners, as would be the issues related to training the Iraqis."
He said Mr Howard should have stuck to his original position which was to support the initial effort in Iraq, and then return the focus to our own region.
"The point we have reached in Iraq is a point that does not require their (Australian troops') presence any further," Mr Beazley said.

The Labor leader said Mr Howard had displayed the warm heart necessary in a political leader, but was yet to display the clear eye and hard mind required to determine what was in Australia's national interest.
If Iraq asked, the Opposition would say it would continue to support the protection of oil terminals in the Persian Gulf.
"But we cannot tell the circumstances that may emerge over the course of the next few years in the region immediately around us which may require deployment of Australian troops," Mr Beazley said.
"We know if it does, there won't be a 28 nation coalition come in behind us - there will be just us."
While condemning the deployment to Iraq, Mr Beazley said he did not believe Australian troops would die as a result.
"I sincerely believe that body bags won't start coming home because I believe the Australian troops are very good at looking after themselves and others."
AAP