Australia weighs up Afghanistan options
AFTER Donald Trump yesterday laid out his strategy to deal with the almost 16- year war in Afghanistan, Australian Defence Minister Marise Payne refused to rule out sending more Diggers to help.
“Australia is making a significant contribution to operations including in Iraq and Syria, in Afghanistan and in our own region,” she said.
“We will examine the President’s statement, consider any expectations of counterpart nations and engage in discussion with the US.”
Australia has about 300 troops in Afghanistan.
In a televised speech, the US President – addressing the military at Fort Myer in Virginia – acknowledged he had changed tack from his “instinct” to “pull out” of Afghanistan, referring to the “disaster” of a rapid withdrawal from Iraq in 2011.
Instead, Mr Trump committed to fighting terrorists in Afghanistan and neighbouring Pakistan, declaring America would change how it does so.
“We must stop the resurgence of safe havens that enable terrorists to threaten America, and we must prevent nuclear weapons and materials from coming into the hands of terrorists and being used against us, or anywhere in the world for that matter,” Mr Trump said.
“But to prosecute this war, we will learn from history. As a result of our comprehensive review, American strategy in Afghanistan and South Asia will change dramatically.”