Afghanistan
As the ALP always termed Afghanistan as the Good War to distinguish it from Iraq,which, for some unfathomable reason (to me anyway) they classify as the Bad War, one could expect them to support and maybe even raise our troop levels. But I’m starting to think that is an unsafe expectation.
Joel Fitzgibbon, our new Defence Minister is busy making demands of NATO that on the face of it will be unmet. Australia isn’t a member of NATO, it only has observer status and whereas the article quotes Fitzgibbon being a tough guy it’s is all about public consumption in Australia.
Look how smart we are and look how stupid the Libs were. We are telling NATO how to run things while John Howard just sent the troops in to do the job. I can just see all the NATO nations and HQ Senior staff rushing to do Australia’s bidding. Listen to the brilliance of new guys Rudd and Fitzgibbon….they have the answers we have been looking for…it’s OK, the war is won
I’m also a bit concerned that it foretells the ALP reducing our commitment but time will tell.
For those interested I have included a list of contributors and relevant strengths as at 6 Feb 08
United States – 15,000
United Kingdom – 7,800
Germany – 3,200
Italy – 2,800
Canada – 2500
Netherlands – 1,650
France – 1,515
Poland – 1,100
Australia – 1,070
Denmark – 780
Spain – 740
Turkey – 675
Romania – 535
Norway – 495
Bulgaria – 420
Belgium – 370
Sweden – 345
Lithuania – 260
Hungary – 230
Croatia – 190
Portugal – 160
Greece – 150
Albania – 140
Czech Republic – 135
Eastonia – 135
Republic of Macedonia – 130
New Zealand – 115
Finland – 105
and Austria, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iceland, Ireland, Jordan, Luxemburg, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia and Switzerland with less than 100 troops
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If I remember correctly,they were promising last year, before getting into office that they would increase our troop presence in Afghanistan once they did the drawdown in Iraq. Just another piece of Labor bullshit. Get ready for lots more.
Kev – your list tells the sorry story of NATO’s decline.
I note disproportional heavy casualties have been taken by the yanks, brits and canuks – they, like our people, are in the fight not just sitting in Kabul doing paperwork.
If some of the countries further down the list ponied up a battalion rather than a company and put them in the line terry talliban wouldn’t be so ‘resurgent’ as the media claims.
Dear Jon
Have had to put up with Howard’s bullshit for 11 years.
Just be patient !
Peter,
Yes patience is needed – the ALP have announce a white paper and that will, if they are true to form, have a bottom line of Continental Defence. It has been the ALPs doctrine for as long as I remember. First define our role as continental defence and then all cuts or re assignment are justified.
Under Howard our defence and national creditability skyrocketed; under the last ALP government we were pared to the bone with battalions having one company strengths with the generals just in holding patterns waiting for Keating to be kicked out.
If Rudd is any better then well and good but it not apparent yet.
Have patience Peter and let’s see how things pan out.