Australian government commits more troops to Iraq

February 23, 2005 

Australian prime minister John Howard has admitted this week's decision to commit an additional 450 troops to Iraq is a policy backflip. 
During the 2004 election campaign Mr Howard indicated that there would be no major increase in the number of Australian troops in Iraq. However yesteday's announcement is set to more than double the number of Australian troops on the ground in Iraq. 
Mr Howard justified the reversal of policy as being in the "broader interests of democracy in the Middle East". He also explained that the decision came in response to requests from British and Japanese leaders.
Australian government commits more troops to Iraq February 23 , 2005 Australian prime minister John Howard has admitted this week 's decision to commit an additional 450 troops to Iraq is a policy backflip . During the 2004 election campaign Mr Howard indicated that there would be no major increase in the number of Australian troops in Iraq . However yesteday 's announcement is set to more than double the number of Australian troops on the ground in Iraq . Mr Howard justified the reversal of policy as being in the " broader interests of democracy in the Middle East " . He also explained that the decision came in response to requests from British and Japanese leaders .
Australian government
np0
more troops
np1
Iraq
np2
Australian prime minister John Howard
np3
this week's decision
np4
an additional 450 troops
np5
Iraq
np6
a policy backflip
np7
the 2004 election campaign
np8
Mr Howard
np9
no major increase
np10
the number
np11
Australian troops
np12
Iraq
np13
yesteday's announcement
np14
more than double the number
np15
Australian troops
np16
the ground
np17
Iraq
np18
Mr Howard
np19
the reversal
np20
policy
np21
the "broader interests
np22
democracy
np23
the Middle East
np24
He
np25
the decision
np26
response
np27
requests
np28
British and Japanese leaders
np29