More Australian Troops to Iraq

[Bravus]

What John Howard said before the election (only a few months ago):

"I can definitely say we won't be adding hundreds. I can definitely say we're not going to have a capacity to put more regular soldiers on the ground. We just don't have that and I've made that clear to the Americans and the British all along."

What John Howard did over the weekend: Sent an extra 450 Australian troops.

Is it any wonder people are disillusioned with politics and politicians?

[Dr. Shane]

He may have made it clear to the Americans and Brittish but forgot to tell the Japanesse. They are the ones that asked for the additional troops.

[bevin]

He has taken a lesson out of George W Bush's book.

Lie to get elected.

/Bevin

[Nan]

I heard the Defence Minister being interviewed this morning and he inferred the request for more troops came via the British. Now would I be cynical to think he would only say that to lessen the impression that J Howard is just saying Yessir to GWB????

[Nan]

Obviously the decision was made after lots of consultation:

From the Sydney Morning Herald:

Army shocked at PM's Iraq order

February 23, 2005 - 2:16PM

A lot of work to do to get troops ready ... .Major General Ken Gillespie.

The leader of Australia's land forces says Prime Minister John Howard's decision to double the number of troops in Iraq came as a shock.

And Opposition Leader Kim Beazley said Mr Howard must make clear to the Australian people exactly how many more troops would be sent to Iraq and for how long.

Major General Ken Gillespie said the federal government's announcement yesterday had come as a shock.

"This is not something that people were expecting," he said in Sydney today. "We are going to be incredibly busy in order to get these people ready to deploy.

"We have got quite a lot of work on our hands over the next 10 weeks to get the troops properly prepared to make sure they have everything they need to survive the environment that we are going to put them in into and that they understand the issues associated with working in that part of the world."

Mr Howard yesterday committed to sending an additional 450 troops to Iraq and has since refused to rule out the possibility of more being deployed.

[Dr. Shane]

I heard on the radio here that Howard was asked to send the troops by Japan. I guess Brittan asked too. My question is this: Can't the Japanese troops defend themselves?

Mr Howard says Britain and Japan requested additional Australian soldiers