FED:Abbott backs Afghanistan mission=4

AAP General News (Australia)
08-25-2010
FED:Abbott backs Afghanistan mission=4

Mr Abbott said he would not impose limits on Australia doing its bit to keep the world
free of terrorists.

"The last thing we should do at a time like this with our soldiers mourning the loss
of their comrades is to waver in our commitment to work that our forces are doing in the
field," he said.

"Obviously our soldiers are paying a high price to protect Australians and others from
the threat of terrorism. But this is a very important struggle and it cannot be abandoned."

Mr Abbott said the issue at present was not the withdrawal of Dutch forces as they
had been substantially replaced by Americans.

"The issue at the moment is the increased tempo of operations in Afghanistan," he said.

Mr Abbott said it was important to try to ensure that Afghanistan had a reasonably
stable government to ensure it never again became a terrorist safe haven.

"My understanding, based at least in part on the briefing on that I had from the chief
of the defence force yesterday is yes it is achievable," he said.

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