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Australia would consider joining US air strikes in Iraq, says Tony Abbott Australia would consider joining US air strikes in Iraq, says Tony Abbott
(about 4 hours later)
Australia has reaffirmed its willingness to consider joining US-led air strikes in Iraq or provision of military advisers, after Barack Obama vowed to enlist a “broad coalition of partners” to target Islamic State (Isis) militants.Australia has reaffirmed its willingness to consider joining US-led air strikes in Iraq or provision of military advisers, after Barack Obama vowed to enlist a “broad coalition of partners” to target Islamic State (Isis) militants.
The US president, in a widely anticipated address, outlined his strategy to “degrade and ultimately destroy the terrorist group”, highlighting the security threat to western nations posed by the return of citizens from fighting with militants in Iraq and Syria.The US president, in a widely anticipated address, outlined his strategy to “degrade and ultimately destroy the terrorist group”, highlighting the security threat to western nations posed by the return of citizens from fighting with militants in Iraq and Syria.
Tony Abbott said shortly before the president spoke on Thursday that Australia was yet to receive a specific request to provide military assistance, in the form of air capability and military advisers. The prime minister said Australia was ready to consider such actions. Late on Thursday, Tony Abbott confirmed he would visit New York in two weeks to take part in a high-level meeting of the UN Security Council convened by Obama to address the threat posed by foreign terrorist fighters.
The prime minister said it was “important for Australia and for the world” that Isis was defeated. “I fully support President Obama’s call for action and Australia will work with our international partners to combat this evil menace,” Abbott said.
Obama said the US would expand its existing campaign of air strikes against Isis targets in Iraq and would “not hesitate” to begin striking the group in neighbouring Syria. The US would send an additional 475 service members to Iraq to support Iraqi and Kurdish forces with training, intelligence and equipment, but they would not have a combat role.Obama said the US would expand its existing campaign of air strikes against Isis targets in Iraq and would “not hesitate” to begin striking the group in neighbouring Syria. The US would send an additional 475 service members to Iraq to support Iraqi and Kurdish forces with training, intelligence and equipment, but they would not have a combat role.
“This is our strategy, and in each of these four parts of our strategy, America will be joined by a broad coalition of partners,” Obama said in a televised address from the White House.“This is our strategy, and in each of these four parts of our strategy, America will be joined by a broad coalition of partners,” Obama said in a televised address from the White House.
Australia has previously indicated that it was prepared to consider using Super Hornets to participate in air strikes in Iraq. It has already helped deliver humanitarian air drops of supplies to people isolated by Isis and transported arms to Kurdish forces in northern Iraq.Australia has previously indicated that it was prepared to consider using Super Hornets to participate in air strikes in Iraq. It has already helped deliver humanitarian air drops of supplies to people isolated by Isis and transported arms to Kurdish forces in northern Iraq.
Abbott, who spoke to Obama by phone on Tuesday, said Australia and the US were “close allies and partners” and were talking about dealing “with the terrible humanitarian threat” of Isis.Abbott, who spoke to Obama by phone on Tuesday, said Australia and the US were “close allies and partners” and were talking about dealing “with the terrible humanitarian threat” of Isis.
“No specific request for further military assistance has yet been made,” the prime minister said in Tasmania on Thursday.“No specific request for further military assistance has yet been made,” the prime minister said in Tasmania on Thursday.
“A specific request for military assistance in the form of air capability, in the form of military advisers could come … but it hasn’t yet come and if it does come it will be dealt with in the normal way. There will be consideration by the national security committee, there will be consideration by the cabinet, and there will be consultation with the opposition.”“A specific request for military assistance in the form of air capability, in the form of military advisers could come … but it hasn’t yet come and if it does come it will be dealt with in the normal way. There will be consideration by the national security committee, there will be consideration by the cabinet, and there will be consultation with the opposition.”
Strategic policy experts said Abbott’s reference to air capability could include use of Australian Super Hornets in air strikes, but there were other options: command-and-control aircraft, air refuelling and further airlift operations.
The military advisory discussions could involve Australian special forces assisting the Iraqi army and Kurdish Peshmerga forces with training and logistical planning.
The opposition leader, Bill Shorten, said Australia’s efforts thus far had been “about the protection of innocent civilians”.The opposition leader, Bill Shorten, said Australia’s efforts thus far had been “about the protection of innocent civilians”.
“Secondly, we do believe that Isis has an insatiable appetite for violence, for using religion to justify extreme acts of behaviour, so we do think there is a clear problem to be dealt with in Iraq,” he said on Thursday. “In terms of whether or not further Australian defence personnel are engaged in supporting the humanitarian process, we will wait until the government formally advises us on this matter.”“Secondly, we do believe that Isis has an insatiable appetite for violence, for using religion to justify extreme acts of behaviour, so we do think there is a clear problem to be dealt with in Iraq,” he said on Thursday. “In terms of whether or not further Australian defence personnel are engaged in supporting the humanitarian process, we will wait until the government formally advises us on this matter.”
The Greens leader, Christine Milne, said the US-led engagement in Iraq and Syria could become a “multi-year horrendous quagmire with no end in sight nor any definition of what success would look like”.
Milne said Obama did not “talk about the risks associated with inflaming hatred of American imperialism and what that would mean in terms of actually attracting people to go and fight with Isis”.
“The key thing for Australians is to ask our prime minister not to follow blindly the US into another quagmire in Iraq and Syria,” Milne said, warning of the risk of mission creep.
The executive director of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, Peter Jennings, said the Australian government must “be very clear about what it’s committing to” and the planned timeframes and consider any further requests very carefully.
Jennings, who is a former deputy secretary for strategy in the Department of Defence, said Obama had outlined a coherent plan, but would find it difficult not to increase the number of US personnel deployed to Iraq.
Australia had good experience in training local forces in Afghanistan, he said.
James Brown, a military fellow at the Lowy Institute, said the US campaign in Iraq and Syria was likely to take years and “last beyond the Obama administration”. He said a “final request” would come after Australia had decided what it would contribute.
“My suggestion would be that we [Australia] focus more on contributing air power rather than advisers because it remains less risky for Australia and our air power assets haven’t been used in operations for the last decade,” Brown said. “They’re more capable of sustaining a multi-year campaign.”
Amid expectations that Australia could soon lift its terrorism alert level, Abbott underlined the domestic security threat posed by foreign fighters.Amid expectations that Australia could soon lift its terrorism alert level, Abbott underlined the domestic security threat posed by foreign fighters.
He said the Middle East conflicts were “reaching out to us in the form of people going from Australia to these conflicts and some of them at least coming back to our country”.He said the Middle East conflicts were “reaching out to us in the form of people going from Australia to these conflicts and some of them at least coming back to our country”.
Intelligence agencies believe about 60 Australians are fighting with terrorist groups in Iraq and Syria, about 100 Australians are supporting those organisations, and at least 20 people have returned home after participating in the conflicts.Intelligence agencies believe about 60 Australians are fighting with terrorist groups in Iraq and Syria, about 100 Australians are supporting those organisations, and at least 20 people have returned home after participating in the conflicts.
Two men who allegedly recruited and funded Australians to fight in Syria were charged with terrorism offences after police raids in Logan, south of Brisbane, on Wednesday.Two men who allegedly recruited and funded Australians to fight in Syria were charged with terrorism offences after police raids in Logan, south of Brisbane, on Wednesday.
David Irvine, the departing chief of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (Asio), said on Tuesday he was “actively considering” raising the nation’s terrorism alert level from medium.David Irvine, the departing chief of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (Asio), said on Tuesday he was “actively considering” raising the nation’s terrorism alert level from medium.
The attorney general, George Brandis, said such a step would likely lead to an expanded police presence at large public events, such as the looming football finals.The attorney general, George Brandis, said such a step would likely lead to an expanded police presence at large public events, such as the looming football finals.
Abbott said people should not think that politics was behind consideration of raising the terrorism threat level. He said such decisions were a matter for “the experts, particularly Asio”.Abbott said people should not think that politics was behind consideration of raising the terrorism threat level. He said such decisions were a matter for “the experts, particularly Asio”.
The government is preparing to present legislation to parliament in the next fortnight’s sitting to make it easier to detain and prosecute foreign fighters.The government is preparing to present legislation to parliament in the next fortnight’s sitting to make it easier to detain and prosecute foreign fighters.
Abbott confirmed on Thursday that $20m of the previously announced $630m counter-terrorism package would be provided to the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre to improve detection and disruption of terrorism financing.
In a new report the agency said the conflicts in Syria and Iraq currently presented “the most significant terrorism financing risks to Australia”, although Yemen and Somalia also posed risks. Lebanon, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan had been used as conduits for money destined for terrorist groups in Syria, the report said.