| Home > Central Asia >> Afghanistan | |
Rudd to boost Afghanistan war effort
The Australian - December 1, 2009
Brad Norington – Kevin Rudd has revealed that Australia will boost its war effort in Afghanistan by sending more police and civilian aid, following a meeting with Barack Obama at the White House today.
The Prime Minister said the US President accepted that Australia's commitment of 1550 soldiers in Afghanistan was adequate, after a 40 per cent increase in troop levels approved in April.
But Mr Rudd confirmed that the Government would increase the number of police trainers and civilian personnel, as part of an allied attempt to eventually hand back control to local authorities.
The decision by Mr Rudd to increase Australia's presence with non-military assistance could be an attempt to stave off a likely request for more troops.
Mr Obama will tomorrow announce an expected increase of 32,000 to 35,000 US troops, a significant military build-up after the Taliban has gained the upperhand in the eight-year conflict over the past 12 months.
The anticipated boost – above and beyond 68,000 US combat troops already deployed – follows a review of the military operation by the US and allied commander in Afghanistan, General Stanley McChrystal.
The Obama administration has put pressure on many of the 43 allied countries fighting in Afghanistan to boost their forces as well.
But Mr Rudd today deflected questions about whether or not Australia had also received a request, saying the President "fully accepts" Australia's current commitment.
The Prime Minister, who met Mr Obama in the Oval Office today on his return journey from the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Trinidad & Tobago, said the numbers of police and civilian personnel sent to Afghanistan was still to be considered.
He said he would take submissions on the matter when he returned home. "We're working through that at the moment with the national security committee of the cabinet, and we have requested work to be done by our agencies on that," Mr Rudd said. "It comes directly out of discussions I've had in the field recently with General McChrystal."
Personnel to train local Afghan police will be drawn from the ranks of the Australian Federal Police, while civilians to help with local construction work will come from AusAid, Australia's overseaas aid program.
The extra aid will go to Uruzgan province, where Australia shares responsibility with Dutch troops, and go to the country's capital, Kabul.
Mr Rudd said that an important part of the Afghanistan mission was to stabilise the country for a transfer of responsibility to the elected government.
There has been much speculation following a report in The Washington Post that Mr Rudd would face a request from Mr Obama for more troops when the pair met at the White House.
The Prime Minister also today discussed with Mr Obama the prospects of a deal on climate change at next month's UN summit in Copenhagen, and briefed the President on climate change discussions at the weekend CHOGM meeting, which placed emphasis on giving aid to poorer countries most vulnerable to the impact of global warming.
After the Oval Office meeting, Mr Rudd had separate talks with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner.
See also:
 |