Australia sending more troops to Iraq on training mission

[CougarKing]

An update that follows the ADF mission mentioned in another thread;I chose to start a new one  since this concerns Diggers in Iraq, not just the ones in the UAE as mentioned in the other thread.

Reuters

Australia to send 300 more troops to Iraq on training mission

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia will send an additional 300 soldiers to help train Iraqi forces fighting Islamic State militants, Prime Minister Tony Abbott said on Tuesday, following a request from the United States to contribute to an international training coalition.

Australia last year committed a 600-strong force comprising some 400 airforce personnel and 200 special forces soldiers to help fight Islamic State.

The new Australian troops will join around 140 New Zealand Defence Force members and be based at Taji, northwest of Baghdad, Abbott told reporters.

"We are naturally reluctant as a peace-loving people to reach out to far-away conflicts but, as we know, this conflict has been reaching out to us for months now," Abbott said.

(...SNIPPED)

 

[Jarnhamar]

Considering how long the US spent in Iraq training their forces maybe even more training isn't what they need.

 

[dimsum]

Considering how long the US spent in Iraq training their forces maybe even more training isn't what they need.

But, the political situation at home means a "safe" addition to the current mission would be well-received by the public and to show that the Liberal Party is doing something.  Also, they can put an ANZAC spin on it given that NZ forces are involved as well.

In the past month, the PM nearly faced a vote of non-confidence from within his own party.  Right now, they'd be willing to latch onto as much positive news as they can.

 

[Jarnhamar]

Thats true.  It's funny how politics and public opinion work.  People automatically assume training and advisor mission is safer and more pleasent than combat mission which I'm sure many make out to be sinister.


I just meant that in light of how much time was already spent training Iraq forces, apparently to little effect, sending more soldiers seems wasteful.