Australia out of Afghanistan in '3 to 4' years: defence chief

THE STANS

Australia has about 1,550 troops stationed in the country, mostly in Uruzgan, and Houston said "major attacks effected in western countries" would likely follow any hasty withdrawal.

Plight of US soldier in Afghanistan 'heartbreaking': Obama
President Barack Obama is "evaluating what our options are" in response to the capture of a US soldier in Afghanistan, whose plight the US leader described in an interview broadcast Tuesday as "heartbreaking." Asked by NBC television about his response to a videotape showing emotional footage of 23-year-old US soldier Bowe Bergdahl, who is being held by the Taliban, Obama said: "It's always heartbreaking. "Our young men and women who are serving in our armed forces do such an extraordinary job; put themselves in harm's way each and every day -- especially those who are deployed in Afghanistan and in Iraq," the president said. "Seeing something like this, it makes you think about families. It makes you think about the young man. We are hopeful that it will have a good ending. And we are doing everything we can" to secure his release, said Obama, adding that he was unable to reveal more information about those efforts. In the interview taped Monday but broadcast Tuesday, Obama also expressed gratitude for "what these young men and women are doing on behalf of our safety, and our security." The president said that he has not yet spoken to Bergdahl's family "simply because we want to make sure that, before we do, we have something to tell them. "We're, at this point, evaluating what our options are." Bergdahl was captured on June 30 in southeastern Afghanistan. His identity was confirmed by US authorities Sunday after a videotape showing the captured soldier surfaced showing him looking nervous, frightened and occasionally choking back sobs.

British soldier killed in Afghanistan blast
A British soldier was killed in an explosion whilst on patrol in southern Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence said here Tuesday, bringing the death toll since 2001 to 187. "It is with great sadness that the Ministry of Defence must confirm that a soldier from The Joint Force Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group has been killed," the MoD said in a statement. "The soldier was killed as a result of an explosion that happened whilst on patrol in central Helmand Province on the afternoon of July 20." The death brings to 187 the number of British troops who have died since operations against the Taliban extremists began in October 2001. Of these, at least 155 were killed as a result of hostile action. "The death of any comrade brings sadness to the Task Force but we are consoled by the fact that these deaths are not in vain," said Lieutenant Colonel Nick Richardson, a spokesman for Task Force Helmand. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends so affected by this tragic event." Next of kin have been informed, the ministry said. Britain has around 9,000 troops in Afghanistan, largely battling Taliban insurgents in Helmand. British troops have been involved in Operation Panther's Claw, a major assault against the Taliban in the province. The spike in deaths since the operation began in late June has revived debate in Britain about its involvement in Afghanistan and the standard of equipment available to troops. Among the British soldiers killed so far in the assault was the first commanding officer to die in operations since 1991: Lieutenant Colonel Rupert Thorneloe, commanding officer of the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards.

by Staff Writers
Sydney (AFP) July 21, 2009
Australia's defence chief on Tuesday said he hoped troops could hand over to Afghan forces in "three to four years," but warned pulling out too early would cause civil war.

Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston said a premature withdrawal of international forces would almost certainly deliver the troubled central Asian nation to the Taliban and result in a surge in global terrorism.

"If we were to all withdraw now we would leave the country in a situation where I think there would be a civil war, and there is a very strong possibility the Taliban would prevail," said Houston, delivering an update to press here on Afghanistan.

"If the Taliban were to prevail we would be likely to go back to the circumstances that we had before 2001, where the Taliban hosted groups like Al-Qaeda."

Houston's comments came as the body of young private, killed by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan Saturday, began its journey home. He was the 11th Australian soldier to die in Afghanistan since the conflict began in 2001.

Houston said troops were about "one third" of the way through a programme to mentor and train the Afghan National Army, and for the first time offered an estimate of a timetable for handing over responsibility for security in Uruzgan province, in the country's restive south.

"I would hope that over a period of time we will be in a position (to hand over) and I would hope it's three to four years," he said.

"But as we saw in Iraq there is more to it than just saying drawing a line and saying this battalion will be ready at this time," he added.

Australia has about 1,550 troops stationed in the country, mostly in Uruzgan, and Houston said "major attacks effected in western countries" would likely follow any hasty withdrawal.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd echoed Houston's remarks, warning that terrorists in southeast Asia, "in the past responsible for bombings which have killed Australians, have been trained in Afghanistan."

"Afghanistan used to be an unrestrained training ground for terrorists who operate worldwide, including in southeast Asia," Rudd said.

"Our mission, together with our friends and allies around the world, is to prevent that from happening again."

Rudd in April committed 450 more soldiers to the conflict in Afghanistan, saying the current military strategy was failing and security was deteriorating.

Houston also promised a new, more open approach to publishing Afghan casualties, 80 percent of which he blamed on the Taliban.

"The Taliban are increasingly using allegations of civilian casualties to damage our reputation, reduce local support, weaken our resolve, tie up our resources and add to the complexity of the operational environment," he said.

"It is vital that in the event of an alleged or actual civilian casualty there are transparent, consistent and robust processes in place."

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US Army to add 22,000 troops temporarily
Washington (AFP) July 20, 2009
The US Army is to boost its ranks temporarily by up to 22,000 troops to ease the strain of deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced Monday. "Much has changed over the last two years, causing us to reassess whether we are properly sized to support current operational needs," Gates said, adding that the army would swell to 569,000 soldiers, up from the ... read more

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