by Chris Becker
Well at least the RAAF will get a chance to use their new Super Hornets.
From the SMH:
Tony Abbott has given the go-ahead for RAAF fighters to begin air strikes against the feared Islamic State in Iraq, marking the start of Australia’s military involvement in a campaign likely to last months or even years.
The federal government has also given the green light to sending about 200 special forces advisers to Iraq to advise and assist local forces on the ground, though the Australians will not take part in independent combat operations.
After the government’s National Security Committee gave a nod to air combat operations, the full cabinet then approved the action and the opposition was also briefed.
The Australian Defence Force has been planning its air missions around a start date of Sunday, it is understood.
Up to eight of Australia’s Super Hornet fighters will carry out the strikes, joining bomber jets from the United States, Britain and France, all of whom have already begun air strikes.
Does this action harm or help our international standing? Or is the more important issue is this campaign actually going to be successful in bringing about stability in the Middle East. Like all the other bombing campaigns conducted so far.
On the first question, probably banning women wearing burqas or locking them behind glass doors when visiting Parliament House is worse – its always assumed that when the US decides to start another war, Australia de facto “agrees” too.
On the second point, there has been some moderation in IS’s brutal activities, but very early days yet. But as advocates of air power usually forget, you need a physical presence on the ground to convert a vacuum of power into some sort of stability.
And then as the politicians almost always forget, you need to foster a chance of prosperity to turn that short term stability into lasting peace.