Australia will not send more troops to Iraq, PM says

[Kellanved]

SYDNEY (AFP) - Prime Minister John Howard denied a report here that Australia is under pressure from the United States to consider a fresh contribution to coalition forces in Iraq (news - web sites).

The Australian newspaper reported that US officials were using informal channels to keep the issue of deploying more Australian troops on the bilateral agenda of Canberra and Washington.

But Howard told reporters during a visit to the Solomon Islands capital of Honiara that he was not aware of any requests by the United States, formal or otherwise, for more Australian troops in Iraq.

Australia had made it clear from the outset of the invasion that Australia would "not be in a position to contribute a large number of peacekeepers", he said.

...
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20030825/ts_afp/iraq_us_australia&cid=1503&ncid=1473

[dudeness]

1. its not peacekeepers they need johnnie

its combat troops because its still a war..makes me proud to be australian having such a strong leader ..piece of shit ..he is as guilty of war crimes as * and blair..

[foreigncorrespondent]

2. I am in agreement with you...

...I am so proud of that leader we have I simply want to go into a large croud of muslims holding my Aussie flag saying c'mon Aussie c'mon c'mon. </sarcasm>

[jamesinca]

3. Let them back out

Let Spain pull its troops
Let Japan pull its promised troops
Let Poland pull its troops
Let the Central American countries pull their troops
Let England pull its troops

Make this truly the unilateral war that Bush wanted. He refuses to let go of the control, so he is not getting the international help. Yet those that are there are being killed. It is not working for them now, it is time to take a different approach. As Wesley Clark said, the U.S. should work the Suni Triangle, and the rest of the country should be turned over to the international community.

[rooboy]

4. Howard is like Bush...

they know how to kill and destroy, but creating anything positive appears to be beyond them.

[Mari333]

5. Bring the US troops home NOW

this is bad news for any of us whose kids are there or might be sent..I expected it, tho..the soldiers from the US are sitting ducks now...
www.bringthemhomenow.com

I KNEW this would happen , and until the Chimp and his buddies BACK DOWN AND GIVE THIS ALL TO THE UN we are screwed....all of us, including the soldiers he threw into harms way. God, this is a nightmare.

[Flying_Pig]

6. You're right Mari....

In the heated politics of it all, and in our blinding rage at our corrupt an inept leaders, we cannot forget the troops we have there. They need our support. Having these other countries back out, is only going to increase the danger to our troops. Of course, we all know who's fault that is, but nonetheless, it is a terrible situation for our boys and girls....