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Australia may increase its assistance to war-ravaged Iraq and Afghanistan but is unlikely to send more combat troops, Prime Minister John Howard announced.
His remarks came ahead of a visit this week by US Vice President Dick Cheney, who is expected to call on Canberra to consider beefing up its assistance to US forces fighting in the long-running conflicts.
The Australian prime minister, a staunch supporter of US President George W. Bush, said he did not expect Cheney to ask for more troops. But he said that extra military trainers could be provided for Iraq.
“As far as combat troops are concerned, I think the current level is appropriate and I don't expect Australia to be increasing that, and I don't expect a specific request from the vice president,” Howard said.
“I wouldn't at the margin rule out some additional trainers because trainers are very important in helping get the Iraqi army ready to do the job we all want it to be able to do,” he told Australia's Channel Nine.
Howard stressed that any increase in trainers would be modest. Australia has deployed about 1,400 troops to Iraq, and has about 30 army instructors training the army near Tallil, south of Baghdad.
“There is a case for a few more trainers because they're doing a very good job getting the Iraqi army ready and that's what everybody wants,” Howard said.
He also said he would keep the military commitment to Afghanistan, where some 550 Australian soldiers are deployed, under review.
“The situation in Afghanistan is not easy. We would like to see a greater commitment in the southern part of the country from a number of the non-NATO countries.”
Howard, who earlier this month attacked US presidential hopeful Barack Obama over his proposal to bring US forces home from Iraq, repeated his view that the US-led coalition should not abandon the country.
“I do not want to see a precipitate coalition withdrawal because that would plunge the country into much greater bloodshed,” he said.
“It would embolden the terrorists, it would be an enormous humiliation for the United States and it would damage Australia's security interests, particularly against terrorists in this part of the world.”
