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–
Expert comment on Afghanistan troop surge –
US President Barack Obama has announced plans to send 30,000 more soldiers
to Afghanistan in a new six-month troop surge.
While Australia will not send extra troops, it will expand police training and aid
assistance to the country.
Professor Richard Tanter, Director of the Nautilus Institute at RMIT University, said
more foreign troops and foreign aid would not bring peace to Afghanistan.
“Australia, which has deployed troops in Afghanistan almost continuously since
November 2001, needs to urge the US to recognise that the time has come to let
the Afghan people decide their own future,” he said.
“Already massive aid programs are being funnelled into a government that is
corrupt and ineffective, resulting in waste, deepening corruption, and further loss of
legitimacy.
“With the best of intentions, more aid, especially in conditions of war and
government corruption and illegitimacy, will not help.
“Australia, as a friend and ally of the United States, needs to take the unpopular
stand and say that 100,000 foreign troops and huge amounts of foreign aid will not
bring peace in the absence of a legitimate and inclusive Afghani peace process.
“Since that can only be achieved by supporting a peace process sponsored by
countries not involved in the fighting, the time has come for Australia to end its
military engagement in Afghanistan and move with like-minded countries to build a
broad-based international process to sponsor an inclusive Afghani peace process.
“This is impossible as a member of the war coalition.”
Professor Tanter has written lengthy articles about the war and insurgency in
Afghanistan and was the project coordinator of “Australia in Afghanistan”, part of a
series of Briefing Books on Australian Forces Abroad published by the Nautilus
Institute at RMIT.
He is available for comment on the Afghanistan troop surge and Australia’s
involvement in the war.
For interviews: RMIT University’s Professor Richard Tanter, 0407 824 336.
For general media enquiries: RMIT University Communications, Gosia
Kaszubska, (03) 9925 3176 or 0417 510 735.
2 December, 2009
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