Stable Afghanistan needs to be secured - Australia

[maddezmom]

Mon Jun 20,11:55 PM ET



CANBERRA (Reuters) - The end of Australian peacekeeping missions to East Timor and the Solomon Islands gave Australia's defense forces more flexibility for a deployment back to Afghanistan, Defense Minister Robert Hill said on Tuesday.

New Zealand on June 2 committed 50 Special Air Services forces for a third deployment to Afghanistan and Hill confirmed the Australian government was also considering sending forces to help stabilize the country.

"I think what's been achieved in Afghanistan is tremendous, but it needs to be consolidated," Hill told reporters. "Whether Australia makes another contribution is something cabinet will have to decide in due course."

Australia sent special forces troops and air support for the initial stages of the war on terror in Afghanistan following the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States, but withdrew its forces in 2002 following the fall of the Afghan Taliban regime.

~snip~
more: http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20050621/wl_nm/afghan_australia_dc_1

[Oversea Visitor]

1. Woah

Why suddenly so many deployment to Afganistan hmmm telephone buzzing somewhere. UK just send 5000 any from US ????

[DoYouEverWonder]

3. Be interesting to see how many

are going to Western Afghanistan?

[leesa]

2. Exactly what has been achieved in Afghanistan?? The pipeline deal

finally went through? Let's see how about the idea of putting troops along Iran's eastern border for the upcoming invasion.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

5. Heroin exports are through the roof.

Perhaps these are the flower petals we were to be greeted with.

[Oversea Visitor]

4. Me think soon

coffin be top export from Afghanistan :cry: