Fed: Labor warns Aust can't afford to aid US in Iraq
By Linda McSweeny and Sandra O'Malley
CANBERRA, April 7 AAP - The federal opposition today warned that Australia could notafford to help the United States if it attacked Iraq.
The government said US military intervention was a possibility if Iraq continued todefy the United Nations, and Australia would "consider its position" if that occurred.
US President George W Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair today warned of thecapabilities of Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein as they met in Texas to discuss their options.
Both leaders said Iraq must prove it had not developed weapons of mass destruction,particularly after Saddam Hussein ordered out UN weapons inspectors in the late 1990s.
In outlining Australia's position, Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said US militaryaction in Iraq as part of the war on terrorism was not a foregone conclusion.
"If they continue to defy the United Nations, the international community, continueto defy the international community's demand that Iraq ceases producing weapons of massdestruction, then one can imagine a situation where military action ultimately would becomean option," Mr Downer told ABC television.
"And we'd consider our position in that context.
"But we haven't got to that point yet and I think it's premature to be canvassing toomany details of what military action could take place.
"Maybe it will never happen."
Opposition foreign affairs spokesman Kevin Rudd said Australia could not afford tojoin the fight against terrorism in Iraq because its defence budget was grossly overstretched.
Australia was already heavily committed to forces in Afghanistan and East Timor, Mr Rudd said.
"There is extreme crisis within the system," Mr Rudd told the Seven Network.
"The overrunning of our operational budget at present within Defence to the completedetriment of our capital acquisition budget ... is such that we have on our hands at themoment a real medium-term crisis in terms of proper defence expenditure and preparedness.
"Therefore to add an additional burden in terms of a move into Iraq ... would probablybe unsustainable."
Treasurer Peter Costello is reportedly putting defence at the top of priorities innext month's federal budget.
The government is believed to have spent $320 million this year on the deployment oftroops in Afghanistan, with an extra $19 million covering the cost of intercepting asylumseekers.
But before a commitment was made to move into Iraq, Labor would need to see evidencefrom the US that it was warranted.
"The question of Iraq should be approached with extreme caution," Mr Rudd said.
"The case from our point of view has yet to be made as far as what US president GeorgeW Bush has been saying, namely that the object of its policy is regime removal.
"The case has to be made in terms of linking Iraq with the events of September 11 andthe specific actions of al-Qaeda at that time."
AAP lm/pw/sb
KEYWORD: TERROR NIGHTLEAD
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