Labor to pull out Iraq diggers

Team Infidel

Forum Spin Doctor
Media: News.com.au
Byline: n/a
Date: 01 October 2006

LABOR'S promise to pull Australian troops out of Iraq on its first day in
office is part of a wider solution to the problems of Islamist terrorism,
opposition international security spokesman Kevin Rudd has said.

Instead of offering direct military support, a Labor government would
provide training, logistics and aid to Iraq, Mr Rudd said today.

"One of the clear ways in which we can assist is by enhancing the border
security arrangements for the Iraqi government," he said on Channel 9.

"We think we can do that by providing advanced training programs through
Amman in Jordan to assist in helping Iraq plug the holes in their highly
porous borders."

Mr Rudd reiterated Labor's plan to leave security detachments in Iraq to
offer direct protection to Australian government officials.

A leaked US intelligence document which said the coalition forces were at
risk of losing their grip in Iraq, and therefore across the multiple fronts
of the so-called war on terror, was proof Australia needed to reassess its
commitment, he said.

"It's a powerful argument for getting the overall political, diplomatic and
security strategy for Iraq right.

"There are ways in which we can fight this current problem in Iraq, which
are different and better than that which is currently being done."

One of those ways was through humanitarian aid, including a Labor plan to
fund an oncology unit for Iraq, Mr Rudd said.

"We need to up hugely our level of economic and humanitarian assistance to
the Iraqi people," he said
 
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