Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09CANBERRA1071
2009-12-02 07:25:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Embassy Canberra
Cable title:
AUSTRALIA WELCOMES THE PRESIDENT'S ANNOUNCEMENT ON
how-toVZCZCXRO4866 OO RUEHPT DE RUEHBY #1071/01 3360725 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 020725Z DEC 09 FM AMEMBASSY CANBERRA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2382 INFO RUEHBN/AMCONSUL MELBOURNE PRIORITY 6819 RUEHPT/AMCONSUL PERTH PRIORITY 5084 RUEHDN/AMCONSUL SYDNEY PRIORITY 5088 RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHMFISS/COMSOCCENT MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY RHEHAAA/THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CANBERRA 001071
NOFORN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/02/2019
TAGS: PREL AS
SUBJECT: AUSTRALIA WELCOMES THE PRESIDENT'S ANNOUNCEMENT ON
THE WAY FORWARD IN AFGHANISTAN AND PAKISTAN
REF: SECSTATE 122731
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Daniel A. Clune. Reasons 1.4 (a
) (b) (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CANBERRA 001071
NOFORN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/02/2019
TAGS: PREL AS
SUBJECT: AUSTRALIA WELCOMES THE PRESIDENT'S ANNOUNCEMENT ON
THE WAY FORWARD IN AFGHANISTAN AND PAKISTAN
REF: SECSTATE 122731
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Daniel A. Clune. Reasons 1.4 (a
) (b) (d)
1. (C/NF) Australia welcomes the President's announcement of
the way forward in Afghanistan and is committed to providing
support, Foreign Minister Smith told Ambassador Bleich
December 2. Ambassador Bleich delivered reftel message prior
to the President's speech. In addition to the discussion on
Afghanistan at the President's November 30 meeting with PM
Rudd, Smith said that Secretary of Defense Gates had called
Australian Defense Minister Faulkner on December 1 (local) to
brief on the President's Afghanistan strategy. Smith
stressed that Australia will stand by the United States and
will provide additional assistance, while noting that Defense
Minister Faulkner would provide a public statement of support
on behalf of the Australian Government following the
President's speech. In response to the Ambassador's
statement that he understood that Australia was thinking in
terms of providing an additional 125 civilians, including a
sizeable Australian Federal Police contingent, Smith said
this sounded about right, though he was not up on the
details.
2. (SBU) Defense Minister John Faulkner gave a press
conference after the President's speech at which he stressed
Australia's unwavering support for the United States and the
people of Afghanistan. Faulkner emphasized that Australia
welcomes the U.S. commitment of an additional 30,000 troops
along with an additional civilian effort. He said Australia
is confident that the President's new approach will provide
better outcomes for the people of Afghanistan. Australia has
been involved in consultations on the revised strategy at
political and military levels, according to the Defense
Minister, who said he had spoken with Defense Secretary Gates
December 1 and that the Secretary had reiterated his
appreciation for Australia's contribution. Faulkner said that
the Chief of Defense Force had been instructed by the
Government to review the composition of Australia's troop
commitment to make sure it best supports the new strategy.
3. (SBU) Prime Minister Rudd also released a statement on
the President's announcement.
Begin text of PM Rudd's statement
Prime Minister welcomes President Obama's announcement of a
new strategy for Afghanistan
The Australian Government welcomes President Obama's
announcement of a new strategy for Afghanistan as the best
way forward to provide security for the Afghan people and to
train sufficient Afghan security forces over time to transfer
responsibility to the Afghans themselves.
The President has consulted closely with Australia and other
allies on the review into Afghanistan strategy conducted by
the Commander of the International Security Assistance Force,
General Stanley McChrystal.
In responding to the review, the President has developed a
credible strategy designed to achieve success, a key element
of which will be an integrated civilian-military approach
designed to deliver security to the population and better
governance to the people of Afghanistan.
The strategy includes an emphasis on training and
QThe strategy includes an emphasis on training and
transferring responsibility to Afghan security forces and
civilian authorities.
The President's strategy is entirely consistent with the
approach that Australia is taking in Afghanistan where we are
working to train the Afghan security forces so that
responsibility for security can be transferred to them.
At the same time we will increase our Police training and
civilian development assistance. Australia, like the United
States, is committed to a transition to Afghan responsibility
as soon as conditions allow.
Australia expects the Government of Afghanistan to play its
CANBERRA 00001071 002 OF 002
part in doing what is necessary to improve security and the
delivery of Government services to its people.
The Australian Government announced in April that we would
increase our military commitment to Afghanistan by around 40
per cent to around 1550 troops. This increase is now almost
complete.
End text.
BLEICH
NOFORN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/02/2019
TAGS: PREL AS
SUBJECT: AUSTRALIA WELCOMES THE PRESIDENT'S ANNOUNCEMENT ON
THE WAY FORWARD IN AFGHANISTAN AND PAKISTAN
REF: SECSTATE 122731
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Daniel A. Clune. Reasons 1.4 (a
) (b) (d)
1. (C/NF) Australia welcomes the President's announcement of
the way forward in Afghanistan and is committed to providing
support, Foreign Minister Smith told Ambassador Bleich
December 2. Ambassador Bleich delivered reftel message prior
to the President's speech. In addition to the discussion on
Afghanistan at the President's November 30 meeting with PM
Rudd, Smith said that Secretary of Defense Gates had called
Australian Defense Minister Faulkner on December 1 (local) to
brief on the President's Afghanistan strategy. Smith
stressed that Australia will stand by the United States and
will provide additional assistance, while noting that Defense
Minister Faulkner would provide a public statement of support
on behalf of the Australian Government following the
President's speech. In response to the Ambassador's
statement that he understood that Australia was thinking in
terms of providing an additional 125 civilians, including a
sizeable Australian Federal Police contingent, Smith said
this sounded about right, though he was not up on the
details.
2. (SBU) Defense Minister John Faulkner gave a press
conference after the President's speech at which he stressed
Australia's unwavering support for the United States and the
people of Afghanistan. Faulkner emphasized that Australia
welcomes the U.S. commitment of an additional 30,000 troops
along with an additional civilian effort. He said Australia
is confident that the President's new approach will provide
better outcomes for the people of Afghanistan. Australia has
been involved in consultations on the revised strategy at
political and military levels, according to the Defense
Minister, who said he had spoken with Defense Secretary Gates
December 1 and that the Secretary had reiterated his
appreciation for Australia's contribution. Faulkner said that
the Chief of Defense Force had been instructed by the
Government to review the composition of Australia's troop
commitment to make sure it best supports the new strategy.
3. (SBU) Prime Minister Rudd also released a statement on
the President's announcement.
Begin text of PM Rudd's statement
Prime Minister welcomes President Obama's announcement of a
new strategy for Afghanistan
The Australian Government welcomes President Obama's
announcement of a new strategy for Afghanistan as the best
way forward to provide security for the Afghan people and to
train sufficient Afghan security forces over time to transfer
responsibility to the Afghans themselves.
The President has consulted closely with Australia and other
allies on the review into Afghanistan strategy conducted by
the Commander of the International Security Assistance Force,
General Stanley McChrystal.
In responding to the review, the President has developed a
credible strategy designed to achieve success, a key element
of which will be an integrated civilian-military approach
designed to deliver security to the population and better
governance to the people of Afghanistan.
The strategy includes an emphasis on training and
QThe strategy includes an emphasis on training and
transferring responsibility to Afghan security forces and
civilian authorities.
The President's strategy is entirely consistent with the
approach that Australia is taking in Afghanistan where we are
working to train the Afghan security forces so that
responsibility for security can be transferred to them.
At the same time we will increase our Police training and
civilian development assistance. Australia, like the United
States, is committed to a transition to Afghan responsibility
as soon as conditions allow.
Australia expects the Government of Afghanistan to play its
CANBERRA 00001071 002 OF 002
part in doing what is necessary to improve security and the
delivery of Government services to its people.
The Australian Government announced in April that we would
increase our military commitment to Afghanistan by around 40
per cent to around 1550 troops. This increase is now almost
complete.
End text.
BLEICH