FED: Rudd boosts civilian numbers in Afghanistan

AAP General News (Australia)
04-24-2010
FED: Rudd boosts civilian numbers in Afghanistan

By Crystal Ja

CANBERRA, April 24 AAP - Australia has vowed to stay the course in Afghanistan, but
it is civilians, not troops, that are set to play an increasing role, Prime Minister Kevin
Rudd says.

He is upping the number of civilian workers in Afghanistan to about 50 people, made
up of diplomats, aid workers and police officers.

They'll help with rebuilding efforts, development, governance and police training,
based mostly in Afghanistan's Oruzgan province.

"Our civilian increase will amount to around 50 per cent more than our existing contribution
and will be a force-multiplier for our total effort in Afghanistan, Mr Rudd said.

"In this, we will continue to make it clear to the government of Afghanistan that we
expect them to meet their responsibilities."

While stressing the importance of Australia's military presence of 1550 troops, Mr
Rudd said it was not up to defence alone to help Afghanistan find its way back.

Mr Rudd said it was a "critical point in time" for Afghanistan's progress forward,
but warned Australian troops will not stay "one day longer" than was necessary.

He used the speech to attack Opposition Leader Tony Abbott's comments that he will
boost troops if needed given the Dutch government's decision to withdraw later this year.

"Such a decision would probably require the further deployment of an additional thousand
or more troops to Afghanistan," Mr Rudd said, adding it would cost taxpayers an extra
$1 billion a year.

"Once again we have an example of erratic policy making on the run."

Australian Federal Police (AFP) Commissioner Tony Negus has welcomed the prime minister's
announcement, which he says will enhance the AFP's role in training and mentoring Afghan
police officers.

"This announcement demonstrates the importance of the AFP's work with the Afghan National
Police in Oruzgan province and the additional deployment will enable the AFP to continue
this important work in conjunction with our coalition partners," Mr Negus said in a statement.

Mr Rudd spoke while launching the country's first National Security College at Canberra's
Australian National University - the first college to focus exclusively on security.

"There is no greater responsibility for government than that of national security,"

he told various ambassadors, diplomats and servicemen.

"The defence of our nation, the protection of our people, the upholding of the values
which we live by and the interests which we hold dear - these are paramount."

He said Australia's most important security relationship was with the US, but pointed
to critical partnerships with countries like Japan, China, India and Indonesia.

Australia must continue to meet the vast array of security challenges ahead, including
the "increasing, constantly mutating" threat of terrorism, he said.

"Computer hackers in internet cafes can penetrate national security systems and steal
commercial secrets.

"Virtual imams can recruit suicide bombers off the net.

"And viruses can spread from a chicken farm in China to infect cities across the world
with the speed of an A380."

That there had not been a repeat of a disaster on the scale of the September 11, 2001
terror attacks in the US was a tribute to all security agencies, although he warned Australia
was still not immune.

The college, which will analyse security issues, how to combat threats, as well as
developing global networks, will open in May.

AAP cj/jfm/srp

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