Iraq: How we could get out

NZ First MP Ron Mark has labelled the Iraqi Army “cowards” and questioned why New Zealand forces were being put at risk trying to train an army that did not want to fight.

In Parliament yesterday, Mr Mark asked the Prime Minister whether New Zealand trainers could make any difference after criticism of the Iraqi forces from the US Defence Secretary, Ash Carter, who said they appeared to lack the will to fight and had given up Ramadi despite outnumbering Isis (Islamic State) fighters. “Does he not realise you can’t train cowards to fight?” Mr Mark asked.

The Prime Minister, John Key, said characterising an entire army as cowards was “either foolhardy or harsh”. He stood by the decision to send New Zealand troops, saying they had made a difference in Afghanistan and he was confident of the same in Iraq.

Mr Mark said Mr Key now had the evidence to show that New Zealand’s efforts were pointless. “If Iraq hasn’t got the will to defend itself, then it is not worth one Kiwi soldier’s life.”

Mr Key came under fresh questioning about the deployment after Isis’ takeover of Ramadi brought them within 80km of the Taji base where the 140 Kiwis are stationed alongside Australian troops. That prompted warnings Isis will target Taji either with missiles or by disrupting supply lines.

Asked if New Zealand troops would evacuate the base or stay and fight if it was attacked Mr Key said there were a number of trigger points for an exit strategy.

“It’s about whether we believe the safety and security of our people are compromised. If they are and we see a number of trigger points that reach that point, then we’ll get them out. None of those have been triggered and at this point there’s no likelihood they’ll be triggered.”

He said Taji was the safest place for the troops to be and if he had a visit scheduled for next week he would still go.

Despite Mr Key’s claims, security expert Paul Buchanan said Taji was likely to be a “major target” for Isis over the next few months.

Writing on his 36th-parallel.com website, he said if Isis gained control of land supply lines between Baghdad and the base it would leave the allied forces reliant on air supply or fighting their way out.

“If that happens it is doubtful that the NZDF troops will hunker down ‘behind the wire’ and do nothing else.”

Speaking on ABC, Australian counter-insurgency expert David Kilcullen also warned the proximity to Taji could put the troops in danger and Isis manoeuvrings threatened to cut it off from other bases.