Australian has 1400 troops deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Kevin Rudd has promised to bring them home - in consultation with our allies. In doing so Rudd has won the kudos of the anti-Bush, anti-war in Iraq pundits, while claiming to also protect our relations with our allies in the US and UK.
What the press has failed to seize on, and it is indicative that the honeymoon is still in bloom, is the fact that Rudd is really bringing just 500 troops home. This leaves almost two thirds of the current commitment in Iraq. While professing an ideological belief that we should withdraw our troops, his actions speak much louder than his words - 900 troops remain without a time line for withdrawal. Rudd heavily criticised Howard's lack of stated timeline (although stating a time for withdrawal worked so well for the US in Vietnam and Somalia!!) for withdrawal, while glossing over the fact that he has only announced a plan for Overwatch Battle Group West.
The Overwatch Battlegroup is supporting two provinces already under Iraqi control - being As Samawah and Dhi Qar. Australians provide training, civil-military liaison, engineering and medical support as well as a back up for Iraqi forces in the worst case scenario.
Rudd and Labor claim that a withdrawal would trigger more action by the Iraqi Government to look after its own problem. His policy however, withdraws the only Australian element that is providing invaluable support to provinces only recently handed over to full Iraqi control.
The most glaringly obvious fault in this plan has been shown in Rudd's avoidance of answering questions on what he believes will happen to Iraq should a full withdrawal occur. This is because he knows very well that whatever the level of human suffering Iraq currently has, what will follow a withdrawal will be one of the bloodiest civil wars the world has seen. The civil war would surely drag Iraq's neighbours into a destabilising catastrophe that has the potential to dramatically affect the Middle East, and the world. Terrorist extremists will emerge greatly strengthened, and the US will withdraw to an increasingly isolationist stance that will greatly increase instability in the international environment.
Rudd knows this - that why he can never answer the question when put to him - it clearly shows that he is willing to make poor security decisions to gain popular support. The hard decisions are better left to Howard, someone who doesn't shirk from an unpopular, but necessary decision.
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