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Rudd to remove troops from Iraq next year
22nd August 2007, 14:15 WST

A federal Labor government would remove Australian combat forces from Iraq in the middle of next year, Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd says.

Mr Rudd reiterated Labor’s position today following reports a Democrat US president would want Australian troops to remain in Iraq as long as possible.

“When it comes to Australia’s combat forces in Iraq, as I have said on many occasions before, if we form the next government of Australia - and let’s just say there is an election in October - by that stage we will be halfway through, I think, of deployment of that combat force,” Mr Rudd told reporters in Adelaide.

“It would go through to its conclusion, which normally lasts for a six-month rotation, through to the end of the year.

“I notice the government has already indicated there will be a further rotation of six months.

“We have said, and I have said this to Vice President (Dick) Cheney in the United States and to the US ambassador, that at the conclusion of that second rotation in mid-08, our combat force comes out and would not be replaced.

“Beyond that, we will look at other forms of security assistance for the Iraqis not involving any deployment of a combat force.” .. AAP

And .. Dennis Shanahan | August 31, 2007

BRENDAN Nelson has warned Dutch MPs that a decision to remove their troops from southern Afghanistan could lead to the withdrawal of Australia's military personnel based alongside the Dutch in Oruzgan province.

The Defence Minister met 12 Dutch parliamentarians in the Afghanistan capital of Kabul this week after meeting President Hamid Karzai and Australian commanders.

The Dutch parliament is considering withdrawing the country's troops from Oruzgan province following a series of combat deaths and rising public concern in The Netherlands about the wisdom of the fight against theTaliban.

The Australian engineers and special forces - part of a 970-strong Australian contingent in Afghanistan - have had increased contact with Taliban fighters in recent weeks, with small arms fire being directed at police checkpoints being built by Australian soldiers to protect local Afghani police.

The checkpoints are being used to control traffic around the Oruzgan town of Tarin Kowt and to monitor movements by Taliban insurgents.

Apart from the small arms fire near the Camp Holland base at Tarin Kowt, Australian soldiers on patrol have made contact more frequently with Taliban fighters in the nearby mountains and hills.

Two weeks ago, Australian forces had a decisive victory against local Taliban forces with a US air strike killing 18 Taliban leaders, including one of their most senior commanders in Afghanistan.

The Dutch forces provide vital helicopter air cover for the Australian troops working and patrolling around Tarin Kowt, and Australian commanders fear they would not be able to operate without it.

The Dutch parliamentary committee members met Dr Nelson and the Chief of Defence Forces, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, at Kabul Airport.

Dr Nelson told The Australian that the Dutch MPs were informed that Australia was against any decision to reduce the Dutch presence in the region.

"We are not in a position to increase our numbers in Afghanistan and we won't and can't take the lead position in Tarin Kowt," the minister told the MPs. "There are Australian soldiers who owe their lives to the Dutch Apache helicopters and they play a critical role.

"The consequences of a Dutch withdrawal, if we can't find another partner, is that we would be far too exposed to continue."

The Dutch have 2200 troops at the Camp Holland base at Tarin Kowt and have suffered the deaths of six soldiers, including one on the day the parliamentary delegation was visiting Kabul to assess the situation in Afghanistan.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22337294-2702,00.html