Tony Abbott gives green light to RAAF airstrikes in Iraq

Sydney, As Australia returned to fight in Iraq for the third time in 23 years, The Weekend Australian has been told some special forces specialists are already in Baghdad planning the 600-strong contingent’s role. Announcing that RAAF combat operations and the commandos’ training mission would begin within days, Tony Abbott warned that the ADF would be in Iraq for many months. The Prime Minister said the mission, which has the Labor opposition’s backing, would be dangerous and the men and women in the RAAF aircrews could face anti-aircraft fire and shoulder-launched missiles.

While the army instructors would not be involved directly in combat, they would face the risk of roadside bombs and infantry attack, Mr Abbott said.

“This is not a fight we can or should shirk,” he said in Canberra after meetings of the national security committee and the cabinet authorised the attacks.

“It is in our national interest that we do so; it is in the interests of civilisation that we do so. It is in everyone’s best interests that the murderous rage of the ISIL death cult be checked and rolled back and that’s what we’re determined to do.”

Bill Shorten said Labor supported the government’s decision because “in the face of evil, nations of good conscience have a responsibility to act”.

“ISIL is not the enemy of one nation, one faith or one people; they are the enemy of all, because they are the enemy of peace,” the Opposition Leader said.

He said Labor gave its support on condition that Australian ground combat units were not sent to fight Islamic State directly, that operations should be confined to Iraq and that the operation should end when Iraq’s government was able to take full responsibility for security.

Mr Shorten said that if the Iraqi government and forces engaged in unacceptable conduct or adopted unacceptable policies, Australia should withdraw its support.

Australia is sending to Iraq a comprehensively tailored, potent force that has its own eyes and ears, in the Wedgetail early warning and control aircraft, the strike force of six Super Hornets and the KC30 tanker to refuel them as they carry out lengthy patrols. RAAF aircraft this week began flying support missions in Iraq.

Defence chief Mark Binskin said the ADF contingent was well-trained, well-equipped, and well-prepared.

The Prime Minister acknowledged that the risk of civilian casualties could never be eliminated in a mission he said was likely to last months, rather than weeks. He defined success as when Islamic State was “in retreat, not in advance”.

“We will know that we are succeeding when the Iraqi government is restoring a modicum of control over its own cities and towns,” he said.

Mr Abbott said the aim was not to build liberal pluralism in Iraq. “We’re not trying to create a shining city on a hill,” he said. “We are simply acting as part of the US-led coalition in support of the legitimate elected government of Iraq.”

Mr Abbott conceded it was very difficult to eliminate an ideology.