Howard On Iraq, Rudd Trip To Baghdad Kevin Rudd - Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs

Doorstop Interview

Transcript - Brisbane - 10 November 2003

Rudd: Mr Howard said today that he has put Iraq behind him. Well, I have just got to say that the thousand or so Australian troops still in Iraq have not put Iraq behind them. The Australian diplomats and the Australian aid workers in Iraq have not put Iraq behind them. They are still there in the front line in harm's way. Frankly, Mr. Howard wants to wash his hands of Iraq politically, a bit like Pontius Pilot – I wasn't there, it's now somebody else's problem. Well, we have news for Mr Howard. Mr Howard is an Occupying Power in Iraq together with the British and the Americans. And though he doesn't want to talk about Iraq these days, the bottom line is that he can't just walk away from the mess which now exists on the ground in Iraq.

John Howard's political strategy is very plain: be there for the military parades, when all the Australian troops come home from their military tasks at the end of the formal hostilities period of the Iraq war, but now, when it is getting harder and harder, and worse and worse on the ground, John Howard doesn't want to be anywhere near the action. And frankly, I don't think that is acceptable.

If the Prime Minister thinks that it is good enough to turn up for the military parades at the end of the so-called Iraq war, then why is he not also prepared to continue to put his shoulder to the wheel when it comes to constructing the peace in Iraq as well. John Howard, under International Law, recognised back in April that Australia was an Occupying Power in Iraq. That means a country responsible for physical security of the Iraqi people, and on top of that to ensure that the Iraqi people are given food and shelter and the basic requirements of life until a civilian Iraqi government is appointed. The British are still in Iraq doing that. The U.S. Administration under President Bush is doing that as well. So, the British haven't walked away from Iraq, the Americans haven't walked away from Iraq, but John Howard wants to walk away from Iraq as quickly as possible because he is frightened that it has become a political and security mess.

Reporter: …Inaudible…

Rudd: I have decided myself to travel to Baghdad this week. The reason I am going to Baghdad is because in the six months since the time when President Bush declared the end of formal hostilities in Iraq, we have had no independent parliamentary oversight about Australia's continued presence in that country, or for that matter, independent parliamentary scrutiny as to what is unfolding on the ground in Iraq as well.

In Iraq, I hope to be meeting with Mr Bremer who is in charge of the Coalition Provisional Authority, in effect, the interim government in Iraq. Also, Sir Jeremy Greenstock who is the Head British delegate to the Coalition Provisional Authority. And on top of that, also the senior Australians involved as well. I am looking forward particularly also to sitting down and spending some time with Australian troops.

The Australian troops are a gutsy lot. It is a very difficult operating environment for them to be in. Despite the fact that we had disagreements before the war in terms of the reasons for going to war, I have got to say we on our side of politics have nothing but respect for the continued professionalism of the Australian troops on the ground who are putting their lives in harms way. Also Australian aid workers and Australian diplomats.

The key questions for Iraq now are: Is there a reasonable timetable for a transfer of political authority from the interim government controlled by the Americans and the British and the Australians to an interim Iraqi administration? And on top of that, what is now happening with the economic reconstruction effort and the humanitarian assistance? These are the key questions that I will be seeking to find out the facts on and then after that complete an independent report for the Australian Parliament.

Ends. E & OE - PROOF ONLY