APSNet 25 August 2010
- Brown urges Afghan talk as two more troops hurt
- Security outfit killed civilians, gets embassy job
- Afghan forces will not meet takeover deadline: general
- Military fears over Timor link to China
- Ramos-Horta to free rebels who shot him
- Medics to get armed back-up in Pakistan
1. Brown urges Afghan talk as two more troops hurt, Daniel Flitton, Age, 2010-08-23
A roadside bomb has seriously wounded two more Australian soldiers in Afghanistan, as the prospect of a fragile minority government at home casts a shadow over support for the troop deployment. The attack in the Baluchi Valley in Oruzgan province came after another explosion in the area on the same day killed two Australian soldiers and wounded two. Greens leader Bob Brown has called for an urgent debate in Parliament on Australia’s future role in the conflict.
- Casualties – ADF, Australia in Afghanistan, Nautilus Institute
2. Security outfit killed civilians, gets embassy job, Dylan Welch, Age, 2010-08-19
The Australian security firm that shot dead an Australian academic and two Iraqi women has been hired by the government to guard its Baghdad embassy. The revelation comes as new figures show Australia has spent at least $25 million on private platoons of bodyguards and security guards in Afghanistan and Baghdad since 2006. The new Baghdad contract means the government will be paying private security firms about $14 million a year for security at just two embassies.
- Australia defends Iraq security deal, Dylan Welch, Age, 2010-08-23
3. Afghan forces will not meet takeover deadline: general, Elisabeth Bumiller, NYT, 2010-08-23
The US commander in charge of building up Afghanistan’s security forces has said that in the next 15 months he would have to recruit and train 141,000 soldiers and police officers to meet President Barack Obama’s goals for getting Afghan forces to fight the war on their own. That figure is more than the current size of the Afghan army.
- Top marine dislikes Afghan deadline, Elisabeth Bumiller, NYT, 2010-08-23
4. Military fears over Timor link to China, Mark Dodd, Australian, 2010-08-25
In a move that has set alarm bells ringing in Canberra, East Timor has foreshadowed closer military ties with China. It follows the handover in June of two 43m Shanghai class patrol boats which East Timor purchased for $28 million.
5. Ramos-Horta to free rebels who shot him, Lindsay Murdoch, Age, 2010-08-25
East Timorese President Jose Ramos-Horta has pardoned 23 rebels over attacks in Dili in 2008 including one in which he almost died. The pardons will renew criticism of a so-called ”culture of impunity” in East Timor.
6. Medics to get armed back-up in Pakistan, Mark Dodd , Australian, 2010-08-24
Australian medical teams departing for flood-ravaged Pakistan will be protected by armed Australian Defence Force personnel. The decision to provide a protection team to accompany the humanitarian taskforce follows fears aid workers might be targeted by Islamic militants.
- Australian Government deploys medical task force to Pakistan, Media Release, Department of Defence, 2010-08-22
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