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Aussies to send troops
Australia is sending 1550 troops and an array of military hardware to Afghanistan, where they are expected to be fighting "very soon". Australian Prime Minister John Howard said he had responded to phone call from George W Bush by offering the soldiers - including elite Special Air Service troops - as well as four fighter aircraft, three frigates and two refuelling aircraft. "Our forces will be overseas fighting in our name within a very short period of time," Mr Howard said. Mr Howard announced the increased Australian military commitment in Melbourne on Wednesday in the countdown to a November 10 federal election. Australia's forces would be fully deployed by the middle of November. "It will not be an easy operation," he said. "The possibility of death, the possibility of casualties, is quite high." Under its ANZUS military pact with Washington, Australia had already said it would send 150 SAS troops and two refuelling aircraft to join the US and British strikes on Afghanistan, while a frigate already in the Gulf would remain there. Under the new military commitment, Australia will send two more frigates, the four FA-18As, an amphibious command ship, the SAS, two PC3 long range maritime surveillance aircraft and two Boeing 707 refuelling aircraft. Posted by: Fred Pruitt 2001-10-17 |
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