Fed: Rudd insists Iraq withdrawal doesn't mean US will leave

AAP General News (Australia)
02-16-2007
Fed: Rudd insists Iraq withdrawal doesn't mean US will leave

SYDNEY, Feb 16 AAP - Federal Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd has accused the Howard government
of being dishonest in suggesting Labor's plan to withdraw troops from Iraq would lead
to the US abandoning the strife-torn country.

Mr Rudd has proposed a staged withdrawal of the 500 Australian combat troops in Iraq
based around the normal troop rotations every six months.

His plan has been attacked by key government ministers who have likened Labor's plan
to dumping a mate.

But Mr Rudd today said that when it comes to standing by your mates "we all know that
every now and then mates get it wrong".

"If those 500 combat forces come out on the basis of the staged withdrawal strategy,
the prime minister's argument is then 140,000 Americans then come out immediately. It
doesn't actually logically follow," Mr Rudd told the Seven Network.

"Four other American allies - Italy, Japan, other countries, Netherland and Spain -
have taken all their troops out.

"There has been no withdrawal of American forces."

Mr Rudd said Australia would look to provide other assistance to Iraq, including border
surveillance technology and keeping the 900 non-combat troops in the region.

He said that while he was a life-long supporter of the alliance with the US, Australia
had other responsibilities closer to home.

"You've got the Solomons going to hell in a hand basket, you've got problems in Tonga,
you've got problems in Fiji, who knows what is going to happen in Papua New Guinea," Mr
Rudd said.

But Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations Joe Hockey said Labor's talking
about a possible deadline for troop withdrawal was playing into the hands of the insurgents.

"We have to say that we will only leave when the job is done, we've got to support
our friends as well," Mr Hockey told the Seven Network.

"America are our mates, they've made huge sacrifices for us in the past, we have to
stand by America when they are in trouble as well, that is what mateship is about."

AAP nr/klw/cdh/sp

KEYWORD: IRAQ RUDD

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