.22War on Terror.22 Howard Government

memorial dead of 2002 bali bombing, in 88 australians killed.

following 9/11 al qaeda attacks, howard government committed sas troops high-profile part of operation slipper, australia s contribution international coalition invading force in 2001 war in afghanistan. initial adf commitment in afghanistan concluded in november 2002 when special air service task group withdrawn, howard government sent new contingent afghanistan in 2005.

a small number of australians, including david hicks, captured in , around afghan theatre having spent time training or fighting al qaeda aligned islamist paramilitaries. hicks internment @ guantanamo bay became highly controversial issue in latter term of howard government.

islamists following al qaeda modus operandi bombed nightclub in bali in 2002 , killed 88 australian civilians.

two days before attack, issued worldwide warning notice urging tourists bali avoid clubs, bars , restaurants westerners congregate. australian government had received intelligence identifying bali possible target of terrorist attack on western tourists did not change advice australian holidaymakers. howard government did not issue similar warning, though following attack issued travel advisory warning against travel indonesia.

in november 2002, howard government supported un resolution 1441, outlined breaches saddam hussein s iraq of succession of united nations resolutions – among these iraq had refused grant unrestricted access united nations weapons inspectors in decade since gulf war, , series of other breaches relating peace treaty signed @ end gulf war. resolution offered iraq final opportunity comply disarmament obligations in march 2003, australia supported united states/united kingdom coalition in invasion of iraq, on basis still in breach of un resolution 1441 , iraq possessed or pursuing illegal weapons of mass destruction. @ outset of war, howard said that, these reasons our direct , urgent commitment cause of disarming iraq must seen against background of different world in live . said iraq should disarmed because of appalling track record ; because discourage other rogue states pursuing wmd; because lessen risk of wmd falling hands of terrorist groups; , because australia should support american alliance because no nation more important our long-term security of united states . howard told national press club on 13 march:

additionally, howard outlined extensive human rights abuses of iraqi regime had perpetrated against own people, humanitarian cost of ongoing un sanctions regime against iraq supporting case war against saddam.

australia s commitment lasted until 2009. australian opinion divided on war , large public protests against occurred. simon crean led opposition did not dispute intelligence suggesting iraq in breach of un resolutions regarding wmd, came view australia should join war against iraq if un security council called such move. future labor prime minister kevin rudd promoted position of shadow minister foreign affairs following 2001 election , outlined labor s position in september 2002 saying:

there no debate or dispute whether saddam hussein possesses weapons of mass destruction. does. there s no dispute whether s in violation of un security council resolutions. is. argument before sort of action should taken... – kevin rudd, september 2002.

howard secretary of state colin powell in 2003.

several senior figures liberal party, including john valder, former president of liberal party, , howard s former friend , colleague, former opposition leader john hewson , former prime minister malcolm fraser publicly criticised howard on iraq.

the australian greens , australian democrats opposed military action. on 5 february 2003, australian senate presented first vote of no-confidence against serving leader deploying troops persian gulf. unprecedented vote carried no legislative power motion defeated in house of representatives. senior australian intelligence officer andrew wilkie resigned job, citing ethical reasons. wilkie later went on challenge howard in electorate.

ultimately, no advanced wmd programs found in iraq, saddam hussein tried , executed crimes against humanity. labor began accuse government of sending australia war on lie suggesting saddam had wmd. in march 2004, parliamentary inquiry found australia s presentation of case war had been more moderate of britain , united states , committee found there no interference in work of intelligence agencies . in response, howard called public inquiry how australia s intelligence services had misread iraq s wmd capabilities in lead war.

on anzac day 2004, howard made surprise visit australian defence personnel in iraq. came amid bitter debate in australia on war following opposition leader mark latham s promise return australian troops christmas, exposed apparent rift between latham , rudd on subject. howard portrayed latham threat us-australia alliance, contributed fall in latham s popularity.

the opposition, spearheaded kevin rudd, sought link howard government figures bribery , corruption allegations regarding australian wheat board s involvement in un oil-for-food program in iraq in lead iraq war. following un report found widescale breaches awb, 11-month commission of inquiry former judge terence cole corruption of un s oil-for-food programme made public in november 2006. report found no material way suggestive of illegal activity [federal government] or of officers found 11 former awb executives should considered prosecution.