The Militant - August 22, 2005 -- Australia gov’t returns troops to Afghanistan, pushes ‘antiterror’ drive

Vol. 69/No. 32 August 22, 2005

Australia gov’t returns troops to
Afghanistan, pushes ‘antiterror’ drive

BY RON POULSEN
SYDNEY, Australia—Following the bombings in London in July, Australia’s imperialist rulers seized the moment to press their anti-working-class attacks further at home and abroad in step with their closest allies. The Australian government announced in mid-July that it will send troops back to Afghanistan, for the first time since it joined the 2001 invasion, and will beef up domestic “antiterrorist” measures.

The government of Prime Minister John Howard said it will dispatch 150 Special Air Service (SAS) commandos to Kabul by September. These are likely to operate under U.S. command in the Pakistani border region, where recent intensified clashes with remnants of the Taliban regime have occurred. Australian Labor Party opposition leader Kim Beazley welcomed the Australian commitment to “complete the job.”

A further 200 troops will be sent early next year for “reconstruction.” Howard said the year-long deployment was timed for the run-up to elections in Afghanistan to help stabilize the imperialist-backed government in Kabul.

In 2001 the Australian government sent more than 1,500 troops to Afghanistan as part of the U.S.-led war there but withdrew from the occupying forces the next year. One Australian SAS soldier was killed in Afghanistan in 2002. The decision to re-send forces there comes after pressure from Washington, London, and NATO officials as well as from Kabul.

London, which recently committed additional forces to Afghanistan, has proposed the Australian military take over command from some British forces in Iraq. According to the London Sunday Times, Australian troops are already assuming control in parts of southern Iraq from British forces to allow their redeployment to Afghanistan.

The Howard government, part of the U.S.-led “coalition of the willing” invasion force, has always insisted Australian forces would remain in Iraq “until the job is finished.” There are 1,400 Australian military personnel in and around Iraq.

In London after the July 21 failed bomb attacks, Howard announced plans to further beef up “antiterrorism” laws, saying Australia’s rulers were impeded by “19th century legal responses to 21st century terrorist behaviour.”

Beazley proposed “flying squads” of counterterrorism agents to patrol public transport. State Labor Party premiers have called for a national “antiterrorism” summit to discuss even tougher security laws and measures. Proposals for a national identity card and expanded police powers, including longer detentions without charges and random bag searches, are being floated.

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