Wednesday, October 10, 2007
U.S. lands Iraq 700,000 ton wheat deal
(ABC News) - The United States has cemented its position as Iraq's biggest wheat supplier, after locking in an export deal for 700,000 tonnes. Australia used to dominate the Iraq trade, but has struggled to sell any wheat there since the Oil-for-Food scandal involving AWB. Grain trader Brett Stevenson says it will be hard for Australia to regain any of the market."We would have every right to put our hand up as a government level and say we want to participate, the only problem with that is, is that the organisation that cause a major disfunction over there is still operating and still has a single desk over the 2007 crop," he says."And we're still entertaining a single desk for ongoing crops, and I just think while that's the case we're going to struggle."
Labels: Australia, Brett Stevenson, Iraq, U.S., wheat
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Australia to play bigger role in Iraq reconstruction
(AFP) - A more than two-month-old security plan for Baghdad is heading in the “right” direction despite efforts by insurgents to undermine it, Australian Defence Minister Brendon Nelson said on Saturday. Nelson’s unannounced visit to the Iraqi capital comes a day after US Defence Secretary Robert Gates wound up a two-day trip to check on the progress of the crackdown.
A number of high-profile car bombings killed more than 200 people this week in Baghdad despite the presence of some 80,000 Iraqi and US troops on the capital’s mean streets. “The security plan currently in action is going in the right direction despite the challenges,” Nelson said in his talks with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki.
A statement from Maliki’s office said Nelson pledged Australia’s ”full support” for the Iraqi government, particularly in developing the country’s dilapidated infrastructure. “Our country is intent to play a bigger role in the reconstruction drive that is currently on in Iraq,” the statement quoted Nelson as saying. Australia has around 1,400 troops in Iraq, of which 550 are combat troops and largely deployed in the south alongside British forces.
A number of high-profile car bombings killed more than 200 people this week in Baghdad despite the presence of some 80,000 Iraqi and US troops on the capital’s mean streets. “The security plan currently in action is going in the right direction despite the challenges,” Nelson said in his talks with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki.
A statement from Maliki’s office said Nelson pledged Australia’s ”full support” for the Iraqi government, particularly in developing the country’s dilapidated infrastructure. “Our country is intent to play a bigger role in the reconstruction drive that is currently on in Iraq,” the statement quoted Nelson as saying. Australia has around 1,400 troops in Iraq, of which 550 are combat troops and largely deployed in the south alongside British forces.
Labels: Australia, Brendon Nelson, Nouri Al-Maliki, reconstruction
Sunday, March 18, 2007
Australia to stay in Iraq for 'as long as it takes'
Security, International
(AP) - Australia's prime minister declined Saturday to commit to a timeline for withdrawing his country's forces from Iraq, but insisted that steady progress was being made. John Howard spoke to reporters in Baghdad, where he arrived after his plane made an emergency landing in southeastern Iraq because it had filled with smoke after takeoff from an airbase there, according to the Australian Associated Press.
Howard, a staunch U.S. ally who was making his first trip to Iraq, has been under increasing political pressure to set an exit strategy for Australia's 1,400 troops from Iraq. Opinion polls show the Iraq conflict is deeply unpopular among Australians. "Great progress has been achieved, but there is still work to be done," Howard said during a news conference with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. "As you know, I don't set speculative dates. There is nothing to be achieved by that."
Al-Maliki said Australian help has been successful in helping to fight the Sunni insurgency in southern Baghdad, but stressed the dangers in calling the mission a success prematurely. "The mission is still ongoing. We have a desire for Australia to remain and to continue its support until we are completely confident that all terrorist activities cease," al-Maliki said.
Howard, a staunch U.S. ally who was making his first trip to Iraq, has been under increasing political pressure to set an exit strategy for Australia's 1,400 troops from Iraq. Opinion polls show the Iraq conflict is deeply unpopular among Australians. "Great progress has been achieved, but there is still work to be done," Howard said during a news conference with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. "As you know, I don't set speculative dates. There is nothing to be achieved by that."
Al-Maliki said Australian help has been successful in helping to fight the Sunni insurgency in southern Baghdad, but stressed the dangers in calling the mission a success prematurely. "The mission is still ongoing. We have a desire for Australia to remain and to continue its support until we are completely confident that all terrorist activities cease," al-Maliki said.
Labels: al-Maliki, Australia, John Howard, troops
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Australia to increase troops in Iraq
Security
(ABC) The Iraqi Government says it is very supportive of Australia's decision to boost its troop numbers in Iraq. Prime Minister John Howard announced yesterday that up to 70 military trainers from Australia would join troops in Iraq. Iraq's Deputy Foreign Minister Labeed Abbawi says the trainers will support the Iraq military, and early withdrawal of troops would have negative consequences.
Labels: Australia, military trainers
