Fed: Aust nervous about Iraq deployment: Wright-Neville
CANBERRA, Aug 25 AAP - Australia would be nervous about committing more troops to Iraqas the security situation in the war-torn country worsened, an Australian terrorism expertsaid today.
The federal government was resisting United States pressure to send fresh troops toIraq, The Australian newspaper reported.
US officials were using informal channels to keep the issue of deploying more Australiantroops on the bilateral agenda of Canberra and Washington, the paper said.
David Wright-Neville, of Monash University's Global Terrorism Research Unit, said Iraqwas becoming more dangerous for coalition troops.
"That's a decision that the government will have to make, and I'm sure that they'dbe very nervous about that decision," Dr Wright-Neville told the Nine Network.
"The situation on the ground in Iraq appears to be deteriorating for a number of reasons."
The remnants of former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein's forces remained determinedto draw the Americans and British into a prolonged guerilla war, while evidence had emergedthat Iraq had become a magnet for terrorists around the world.
"The situation on the ground there, I think, unfortunately, is likely to get worsebefore it gets better," Dr Wright-Neville said.
"So that's an environment that I think would worry the Australian government if theywere asked to recommit troops to the region."
The approaches came as US casualties continued to mount, despite President George WBush's declaration that the war already had been won.
Australia has about 1,000 army, navy and air force personnel in and around Iraq, includingair traffic controllers in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad.
Last week's bombing of the United Nations' headquarters in Baghdad claimed 23 lives,including that of the world body's special envoy to Iraq, Sergio Vieira de Mello.
Weekend media reports said Washington was now looking to the international communityto supply peacekeepers.
AAP rmg/ak/
KEYWORD: IRAQ AUST WRIGHT
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