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June 2nd, 2012 
FAKE NEWS for the Zionist agenda The long-term strategic partnership agreement signed at the Chicago NATO Summit in late May has the support of the Australian Greens, but some question Australia’s role after the previously agreed NATO withdrawal in 2014.
“Certainly the Greens have concerns that the troops in one form or another will remain,” said Senator Lee Rhiannon.
Rhiannon also pointed to “the large amounts of Australian public money” poured into Afghanistan, adding, “Now we need to ensure that money does work for the people of Afghanistan and that the programs that they are spent on do not end up in the hands of corrupt officials.”
The Greens say Australia’s 1,500 troops should be withdrawn from Afghanistan immediately, rejecting the 12-18 month transition period announced by Prime Minister Julia Gillard in April.
James Brown, from the independent think tank Lowy Institute for International Policy and a former soldier, believes that the Afghan forces are able to effectively handle many operations.
“They will be able to handle on-the-ground security; they will be hiring more specialized military capabilities that they will still rely on foreign forces for, say intelligence support, surveillance support, reconnaissance support. But demonstrably, the Afghan security forces have been able to handle security operations in Kabul, the capital, for some time now. Their special units have been able to respond to some of the spectacular attacks they have had over the last months,” he said
The chief of the Australian Defense Forces said that the Afghan forces currently trained by Australia are already maintaining order in areas handed over to them. General David Hurley, however, explained that the strategic agreement means Afghanistan will not be abandoned by Australia after 2014.
Since the initial deployment of Australian troops, a total of 32 have been killed in Afghanistan, making the war even more unpopular in Australia.
Meanwhile, the Australian army will take control of military operations in the southern province of Uruzgan from the United States after it had earlier rejected to do that two years ago.
Defense Minister Stephen Smith says no additional troops will be necessary and there will be no increased risk, whereas General Hurley says the change will allow for an easier transition to Afghan forces over the next 18 months.
MRS/SS
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