[Peakoil-announce] Howard links Iraq war to oil

[Alex Pollard]

Dr Bezdek briefed the Australian Defence Department only a few days ago, and
now this....

Alex
O4O4873828

ACT Peak Oil
http://act-peakoil.org

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http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2007/07/04/1183351291906.html

Howard links Iraq war to oil

Brendan Nicholson
July 5, 2007


PRIME Minister John Howard will today for the first time link the war in
Iraq to the need to safeguard the world's oil supplies.

In a major speech on national defence policy and its future direction, Mr
Howard will explain the "convergence" of several reasons Australia must
remain committed in Iraq for years to come.

The update prepared by Mr Howard and his key defence advisers will say a key
reason for Australia's long-term commitment to the wars in the Middle East
is the involvement there of its main ally, the United States.

The update will also discuss the need to deal with terrorism and extremism,
and growing concerns about Iran and its development of weapons of mass
destruction.

But in a major departure from previous statements, another key reason Mr
Howard will cite is that Australia and its major trading partners and
allies, including Japan and China, have a "major stake of energy dependency".

Previously, the leaders of nations in the US-led coalition have carefully
avoided suggesting that fuel is a reason to fight the war in Iraq.

By mentioning energy, Mr Howard could bring back into focus the claims of
some opponents of the Iraq war that the initial invasion was motivated more
by a desire to secure oil supplies than anything else.

The update will say that the three factors all come together to demonstrate
why the Middle East will be crucial to Australia for a long time. Mr Howard
will warn that while all Australians are sickened by the violence in Iraq,
"the stakes are too high to contemplate Western failure and defeat".

Australia currently relies on the Middle East for about 20 per cent of its
crude oil, with the rest coming from domestic sources and Asia.

In other elements of his defence update, Mr Howard will say China's
modernisation of its armed forces will have the potential to cause tension
and misunderstanding, and close dialogue with Beijing will be crucial to
ensure that the relationship moves forward at a mutually comfortable pace.

He will stress the importance for Australia and the region of the
relationship between China and the US, and declare that Japan will become an
increasingly close ally of Australia, with defence ties going to new levels.

The update will predict that the US will remain the dominant global power in
military and economic terms for decades to come, but will warn that
Australia must get used to having other major powers — including China,
Japan and India — on its doorstep.

Defence ties with India will increase significantly as that country gains
strategic weight and as its interests converge with those of Australia.

Mr Howard will state that Australia has major international interests that
are vital even though they are a long way away.

The update will set out the extent to which defence policy has moved away
from the concept of using a powerful air force and navy to protect Australia
to a much more "expeditionary" strategy.

This strategy is to be backed by major new ships being built to carry 1000
personnel, tanks and equipment around the globe and warships and aircraft
able to protect them far from Australia.

Mr Howard will also talk about a "long war" against terrorism and warn that
there is unlikely to be any let-up, particularly in the wake of the latest
attacks in Britain.

Restating his Government's commitment to remain in Iraq, Mr Howard will say
that the strategy and make-up of the coalition forces there are likely to
change. But he will argue it is much too soon to conclude that the new
"surge" strategy in Iraq will not succeed.

Mr Howard will also take a swipe at Labor's promise to pull combat troops
out of Iraq while supporting the war in Afghanistan, asking why it is all
right for terrorists to defeat the West in Iraq but not in Afghanistan.