Minister's comments spark debate Australia 's Afghanistan presence
Updated
A flurry of speculation about Australia's intentions in Afghanistan has been played down by Canberra, after comments by defence minister John Faulkner were headlined as signalling plans for an early pullout.
Senator Faulkner's remarks that he'd like Australia to fulfil its commitments in Afghanistan in as short a time as possible are being scrutinised closely, particularly as pullout dates for key allies loom, and NATO countries resist doing more.
Presenter: Linda Mottram
Speakers: John Faulkner, Australian Defence Minister; Angus Houston, Chief of the Australian Defence Force; Kevin Rudd, Australian Prime Minister
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MOTTRAM: There's an immediate challenge for foreign forces in Afghanistan in the short two weeks before the country's run-off Presidential vote, a challenge that will directly involve the extra 120 Australian infantry sent especially for the election process. Australia's Defence minister John Faulkner.
FAULKNER: There is the security issue and our 120 combat troops will be critically important for that. This will be a very challenging process.
MOTTRAM: More broadly though, John Faulkner is clear on what he doesn't want for the 15-hundred-and-fifty Australia's troops in the country.
FAULKNER: I don't want to see Australian troops in Afghanistan a day longer than is necessary.
MOTTRAM: There's been no change publicly to the earlier estimate by the Chief of Australia's Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, on how long it might take to complete Australia's core task. That involves training a brigade of the Afghan National Army to take over security tasks from Australia in Oruzgan province and the time frame Angus Houston has said is three to five years.
But the defence minister has fuelled speculation that Australia's looking for an early way out.
FAULKNER: I will remain actively engaged with defence in ensuring that we look at at all times the best way that we can meet the objective that we've set in relation to our mission in Oruzgan province.
MOTTRAM: Air Chief Marshal Houston says in part Australia is thinking about the views of the top US military official in Afghanistan, General Stanley McChrystal.
HOUSTON: What he has come up with as you've seen in the media is that we've got to do better, things haven't been going as well as they might and there's a need to embrace a full counter-insurgency strategy. There needs to be more emphasis on protecting the people, there needs to be more emphasis on getting out amongst the people, there needs to be more emphasis on working very closely with the Afghan national security forces, both the army and the police. And I think one of the big things that he's very focussed on is increasing the rate of Afghan training so that we end up with a larger Afghan national security force.
MOTTRAM: And Angus Houston says fulfilling those requirements depends significantly on what General McChrystal gets from his President, Barack Obama, who's shaping a new strategy looking for more decisive progress in the eight year war.
HOUSTON: If its resourced fully, it probably shortens the time frame. If the number of troops remain about where they are now, it will take a longer time.
MOTTRAM: Another issue is that the Dutch are committed to pulling out of their lead role in Southern Afghanistan next year, while the Canadians, who've been reeling under a death toll of 131, are resisting pressure to revise a departure date of the start of 2011.
Australia's Prime Minister has told Parliament nothing in Australia's position has changed, that Australia's in Afghanistan for the long haul, and critically that its as much about Australia's key alliance as about Afghanistan.
RUDD: This government is at one with the government of the United States in bringing about the realisation of that mission statement in the province for which we are responsible.
