Increased US presence backs up Australian troops in Oruzgan

[unhappycamper]

Increased US presence backs up Australian troops in Oruzgan
Cameron Stewart
From: The Australian
October 02, 2010 12:00AM

AUSTRALIAN troops are benefiting from a beefed-up US military presence in Afghanistan's Oruzgan province

Resources include ready access to artillery, aerial support and intelligence, Defence Minister Stephen Smith said yesterday.

Mr Smith made the claims as the government stepped up its defence of the size of its military commitment to Afghanistan in the face of opposition calls for it to be boosted by more troops as well as Tiger helicopters, Abrams tanks, mortar and artillery.

Opposition defence spokesman David Johnston this week called for an extra 360 Australian troops, as well as equipment, to be sent to Afghanistan to provide more support to the Australian contingent of 1550.

~snip~

Mr Johnston called for a greater Australian military commitment to Afghanistan following claims that an Australian soldier killed in late August, Lance Corporal Jared MacKinney, would not have died if more artillery and aerial support had been available.



unhappycamper comment: Uhhhhh... . Australia? Your johnson is showing.

Get out while you can.