Archival Rescue 8 ~ Iraq

Australia to send new taskforce to Iraq
February 22, 2005 - 3:58PM, AAP, Sydney Morning Herald

Australia will send another 450 troops to Iraq to provide security for Japanese military engineers in the southern province of Al Muthanna.

Prime Minister John Howard said the troops would deploy in 10 weeks' time and stay for six months, followed by a second six-month rotation.

Mr Howard said he knew the decision, triggered by the Netherlands' decision to withdraw 1,400 troops from the task of rebuilding Iraq, would be unpopular and admitted that lives could be lost.

But he said Al Muthanna was one of the safer parts of Iraq and was far less dangerous than areas around Baghdad and further north.

"It's remained relatively benign," he told reporters today.

"It's a lot better and this is a much safer part of Iraq than the Sunni triangle."

Australia already has some 900 personnel in the Middle East, including about 400 inside Iraq, engaged in a variety of roles including training Iraq forces and providing security.

The new deployment will more than double Australian boots on the ground.

Mr Howard said the deployment, drawn mainly from the Darwin-based 1st Brigade, would comprise a headquarters element, cavalry squadron, infantry company, training team plus 40 Australian light armoured vehicles, known as ASLAVs.

Key elements are likely to be drawn from the 2 Cavalry Regiment and the Army's 5/7 Battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment (5/7 RAR).

Soldiers from both have served recently with the Australian security detachment in Baghdad and have valuable experience of operations inside Iraq.

The province remains under overall British responsibility and the Australian group will need to draw on British logistic support.

Mr Howard said their job would be to assist Japanese forces engaged in the rebuilding process, such as constructing new roads and schools.

The taskforce will also help train Iraqi security forces.

Mr Howard said the rebuilding process was even more essential now, following the elections in Iraq last month.

"The government believes that Iraq is very much at a tilting point and it's very important that the opportunity of democracy, not only in Iraq, but also in other parts of the Middle East, be seized and consolidated," he told reporters.

Australia's fresh contribution to Iraq was triggered by the Netherlands' decision last November to withdraw its forces.

Mr Howard said the new contribution had been requested by the Japanese government, which indicated it could not stay without adequate protection.

"There have been discussions between the Australian government, the British government - bearing in mind the United Kingdom forces have overall security responsibility for the Al Muthanna province - and the Japanese government over recent weeks," Mr Howard said.

"The prime minister of Japan, Junichiro Koizumi, telephoned me last Friday night and amongst other things invited and requested this Australian contribution.

"Likewise the British prime minister Mr Blair telephoned me in Auckland yesterday morning to confirm the request that had previously been conveyed by both Jack Straw to Alexander Downer and Geoffrey Hoon to Robert Hill, the defence minister."

Mr Howard said the decision could cost at least $250 million to $300 million a year.

AAP