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Abbott talks to Obama but gets no 'specific' request for extra military help Abbott talks to Obama but gets no 'specific' request for extra military help
(35 minutes later)
The Australian prime minister, Tony Abbott, spoke by phone to the US president, Barack Obama, on Tuesday, but Washington has not yet articulated a “specific” request for Australia to intensify its current contribution in northern Iraq.The Australian prime minister, Tony Abbott, spoke by phone to the US president, Barack Obama, on Tuesday, but Washington has not yet articulated a “specific” request for Australia to intensify its current contribution in northern Iraq.
Obama is expected on Thursday to outline America’s overarching strategy to combat the strategic threat posed by Islamic State (Isis) militants in the Middle East – having used a recent Nato summit to establish a core coalition of partners, including Australia.Obama is expected on Thursday to outline America’s overarching strategy to combat the strategic threat posed by Islamic State (Isis) militants in the Middle East – having used a recent Nato summit to establish a core coalition of partners, including Australia.
Obama and Abbott spoke by phone on Tuesday, according to a spokesman for the Australian prime minister.Obama and Abbott spoke by phone on Tuesday, according to a spokesman for the Australian prime minister.
The two men agreed to “coordinate closely on efforts to address the continuing humanitarian crisis in Iraq and on the steps the international community needs to take to degrade and ultimately destroy Isis.”The two men agreed to “coordinate closely on efforts to address the continuing humanitarian crisis in Iraq and on the steps the international community needs to take to degrade and ultimately destroy Isis.”
The president welcomed Australia’s “strong” support but “did not make any specific request for additional Australian military assistance to that which the Australian defence force is currently providing to humanitarian and logistical operations.”The president welcomed Australia’s “strong” support but “did not make any specific request for additional Australian military assistance to that which the Australian defence force is currently providing to humanitarian and logistical operations.”
The Australian foreign minister, Julie Bishop, has argued the contribution of Arab League nations will be critical to addressing the Isis threat. Bishop told the ABC in a breakfast radio interview on Tuesday her expectation was that Arab states would join an American-led effort in northern Iraq, and that regional contribution would be “absolutely vital”.The Australian foreign minister, Julie Bishop, has argued the contribution of Arab League nations will be critical to addressing the Isis threat. Bishop told the ABC in a breakfast radio interview on Tuesday her expectation was that Arab states would join an American-led effort in northern Iraq, and that regional contribution would be “absolutely vital”.
The foreign minister said the Arab League contribution may not be military “but it could well be targeting the financial flow, the recruitment activity and the social media campaigns” of Isis and similar groups.The foreign minister said the Arab League contribution may not be military “but it could well be targeting the financial flow, the recruitment activity and the social media campaigns” of Isis and similar groups.
“The United States has called for many nations to come together to develop a plan to disrupt and degrade [Isis] and to contain its activities and to protect the innocent civilians that it’s targeting,” Bishop said.“The United States has called for many nations to come together to develop a plan to disrupt and degrade [Isis] and to contain its activities and to protect the innocent civilians that it’s targeting,” Bishop said.
“In defining the resources and assets that will be required, and determining a realistic set of goals, it’s important that many countries contribute to the effort. And my expectation is that the Arab states will join the effort.”“In defining the resources and assets that will be required, and determining a realistic set of goals, it’s important that many countries contribute to the effort. And my expectation is that the Arab states will join the effort.”
The Arab League, meeting in Cairo on Monday, passed a resolution agreeing to combat Islamic State extremism, but the resolution did not back explicit US military action.The Arab League, meeting in Cairo on Monday, passed a resolution agreeing to combat Islamic State extremism, but the resolution did not back explicit US military action.
Obama has been criticised at home and abroad for thus far failing to articulate a clear strategy for containing extremism in the Middle East.Obama has been criticised at home and abroad for thus far failing to articulate a clear strategy for containing extremism in the Middle East.
Abbott, who has been making it plain publicly for some weeks that Australia would contribute willingly to a military escalation as long as there was a clear mission, noted on Monday the US had not rushed into action.Abbott, who has been making it plain publicly for some weeks that Australia would contribute willingly to a military escalation as long as there was a clear mission, noted on Monday the US had not rushed into action.
In his phone conversation with Obama on Tuesday he “welcomed President Obama’s measured and careful response to events in Iraq and his efforts to marshal an effective international response to the threat posed by Isis.”In his phone conversation with Obama on Tuesday he “welcomed President Obama’s measured and careful response to events in Iraq and his efforts to marshal an effective international response to the threat posed by Isis.”
The Australian prime minister signalled on Monday that Australia’s eventual contribution to the US-led coalition may comprise military advice rather than a specific contribution to airstrikes.The Australian prime minister signalled on Monday that Australia’s eventual contribution to the US-led coalition may comprise military advice rather than a specific contribution to airstrikes.
Abbott remarked that Australia was continuing to talk with allies about “whether we should help with some air capability, whether we should help with some military advisers”.Abbott remarked that Australia was continuing to talk with allies about “whether we should help with some air capability, whether we should help with some military advisers”.
On Tuesday, Bishop said while Australia still did not have a specific request from Washington, she anticipated some countries would be asked to contribute in a technical capacity as part of an effort to strengthen the capability of the Iraqi security forces.On Tuesday, Bishop said while Australia still did not have a specific request from Washington, she anticipated some countries would be asked to contribute in a technical capacity as part of an effort to strengthen the capability of the Iraqi security forces.
“Ideally it would be best for the Iraqi security forces to defend the country against the murderous band of terrorists, but there is an anticipated role for some countries to provide trainers and advisers,” Bishop said. “Australia hasn’t had a specific request and so we will consider any requests when it’s received, weigh the risks and assess what role we can play.”“Ideally it would be best for the Iraqi security forces to defend the country against the murderous band of terrorists, but there is an anticipated role for some countries to provide trainers and advisers,” Bishop said. “Australia hasn’t had a specific request and so we will consider any requests when it’s received, weigh the risks and assess what role we can play.”
The foreign minister repeated Australia’s criteria for assessing the basis for contributing to the international effort. “First we need to see a clearly defined set of objectives developed. We need to determine the overall goal by which any success of the mission would be judged and assess what resources and assets would be necessary to achieve the objectives,” she said.The foreign minister repeated Australia’s criteria for assessing the basis for contributing to the international effort. “First we need to see a clearly defined set of objectives developed. We need to determine the overall goal by which any success of the mission would be judged and assess what resources and assets would be necessary to achieve the objectives,” she said.
“We’d also want to know a realistic timeframe for the effort and then we’d be in a position to determine the proportionate role for Australia.”“We’d also want to know a realistic timeframe for the effort and then we’d be in a position to determine the proportionate role for Australia.”
Meanwhile, international law expert Geoffrey Robertson, attending a summit in Brisbane, said Australia was morally obliged to help oust Isis in Iraq and Syria.Meanwhile, international law expert Geoffrey Robertson, attending a summit in Brisbane, said Australia was morally obliged to help oust Isis in Iraq and Syria.
Robertson, a QC who has served as president of the UN war crimes court in Sierra Leone, said there was an obligation to stop a group that executed people without trial.Robertson, a QC who has served as president of the UN war crimes court in Sierra Leone, said there was an obligation to stop a group that executed people without trial.
“That sets up a moral, imperative duty to intervene to protect innocent civilians,” he said on the sidelines of Griffith University’s Global Integrity Summit. “That sets up a moral, imperative duty to intervene to protect innocent civilians,” he told AAP on the sidelines of Griffith University’s Global Integrity Summit.
“With Islamic State, there must be an element of force in order to remove them, remove their threat.”“With Islamic State, there must be an element of force in order to remove them, remove their threat.”