Julie Bishop - Member for Curtin

Rudd must show courage on Afghanistan as opposition to war mounts

Written by Julie Bishop Thursday, 25 February 2010

Published on Fairfax’s National Times

 

The recent collapse of the Dutch Government over its commitment to the NATO-led forces in Afghanistan is an example of the inevitable tension that arises in Western democracies between a government’s long-term commitment to a military deployment, public opinion and the electoral cycle.

 

Public pressure inevitably increases if there are ongoing casualties and a perceived slow rate of progress in not only winning a war but in the requisite reconstruction efforts and nation-building during and after a conflict. The Dutch Prime Minister’s decision to extend the deployment of Dutch troops in Afghanistan beyond the planned withdrawal date in September, causing the Labor Party to pull out of the ruling coalition and sending the nation to the polls in three months is the latest illustration of this tension.

Afghanistan will now be a contentious election issue in the Netherlands, and if there is a change in government, the Dutch troops will be withdrawn in six months.

This will impact on Australia as our troops are stationed in Uruzgan province in southern Afghanistan where the Dutch have played a lead role since 2006 and have established a positive presence and image with the Afghani people.

At a time when the United States is increasing its offensive in Afghanistan and urging other nations to follow, the challenge for NATO is to ensure the situation in the Netherlands does not have a ripple effect among other Western nations currently contributing to the international deployment.

Public support in the United States for the war in Afghanistan was very high in the immediate aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attacks on New York and the Pentagon, with 90% of Americans approving of military action.

A recent poll revealed support had fallen to 39%, with 58% now opposed.

Opinion polls in Britain and Germany indicate increasing opposition to the war in Afghanistan.

Polls in Australia also show weakening support for our involvement.

It is to be remembered that Afghanistan under the Taliban regime had harboured Al Qaeda which carried out acts of terrorism around the globe.

The Al Qaeda attacks on September 11 targeted the morale and way of life of a civilian population.

The NATO led forces are engaged in a deadly war with the Taliban insurgents to ensure that Afghanistan cannot again be the headquarters for global terrorism.

On the military side, it is not enough to endure in Afghanistan, it is essential to prevail.

Further, the scale of the challenge in rebuilding Afghanistan, a nation devastated by decades of conflict, makes it unrealistic to expect a relatively quick resolution to the problems in the country.

There is widespread poverty, no functioning economy, and very high levels of illiteracy.

It will be years before Afghanistan can provide for its own security, with a government underpinned by sustainable institutions.

To achieve a stable society in Afghanistan will require a greater and longer commitment than a temporary military surge.

The Taliban insurgents encourage the view amongst the Afghani people that the public in western nations will soon tire of the war and the international forces will leave, sooner rather than later.

An early troop withdrawal by the Dutch will feed that perception.

Leadership and courage will be required from political leaders, often in the face of hostile public opinion, if the international community is to avoid a negative cycle of early withdrawal leading to the development of similar or worse problems that triggered the original military intervention.

It is in Australia’s interests for Afghanistan to be stable and peaceful with a properly functioning government.

It is likely Barack Obama will seek assurances from Australia about our role in Uruzgan province.

The Rudd Government must keep the Australian people informed of the likely length and depth of our commitment and take them into its confidence over any future requests for additional support in both the military and civilian spheres.