By Andrew Bolt
Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd ticks off yet another ally by letting domestic politics again get in the way of good policy:
AUSTRALIA’S restrictions on the deployment of its troops in Afghanistan have sparked a serious rift between military leaders in Washington and Canberra, and are likely to be a key issue during the the US President Barack Obama’s visit later this month.
The coalition’s military commander in Afghanistan, US General Stanley McChrystal, has ‘’warned that the Rudd governments’ refusal to allow Australian troops to take the fight to the Taliban was impairing the US-led war effort’”.
General McChrystal delivered the warning in a private phone call late last year to the Australian Chief of the Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston. The Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, has blocked moves to send Australian-trained Afghan soldiers, and their Australian mentors, to the NATO offensive in Marja in Helmand province.
Senior military sources said General McChrystal had used ‘’blunt language’’, complaining that Canberra was making his job ‘’incredibly difficult’’. The sources said there was potential for ‘’permanent damage’’ to the US perception of Australia’s military commitment.
Andrew Bolt is a journalist and columnist writing for The Herald Sun in Melbourne Victoria Australia.
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Filed under: Afghanistan, America (USA), Australia, Conniving Politicians, Liberals, Lily-Livered Liberals, Limp-Wrist Liberals, Middle East, Military, Politics, Spine Donor Politicians Tagged: Afghanistan Military Committment, Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, General Stanley McChrystal, War In Afghanistan 
