Basra Showdown: Iraqi Troops Take On The Mahdi Army Basra erupted yesterday into some of the heaviest fighting since it was seized by the British Army five years ago, as Iraqi government forces took on a Shia militia that has turned the city into a m... Read Full Article MPC Split In Favour Of Holding Interest Rate The intense quandary facing the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) was emphasized today in a knife-edge vote by The Times MPC recommending that the UK interest rate should b... Read Full Article Pentagon’s Tanker Order Brings British Aerospace Boom BRITISH aerospace firms were celebrating an order bonanza this weekend, after EADS, the parent company of Airbus, won a $35 billion (£18 billion) Pentagon contract for tanker aircraft.... Read Full Article Israeli Raid On Syria Fuels Debate On Weapons Whether Syria is starting a nuclear program, as Israel may believe, is a difficult question for U.S. spy agencies.... Read Full Article M.L.B. Advanced Media Breaks Licenses For Video Player Baseball fans who purchased games in 2006 and earlier quickly discovered their purchased downloads were invalid.... Read Full Article |
Troops Decision On HoldTHE decision to return Australian special forces to Afghanistan has been delayed because the ADF has insisted they operate under clear Australian command and have strong backup. A 450-strong Australian reconstruction force now in southern Afghanistan operates under Dutch control and under a NATO umbrella. Defence Minister Brendan Nelson said yesterday he spoke on Saturday to Air Chief Marshal Houston who is in The Hague negotiating with Australias Dutch partners in Afghanistan. NATO wants Australian special forces back in Afghanistan to help blunt a major spring offensive by the Taliban and al-Qaeda. Air Chief Marshal Houston flew to The Hague last week to deal with outstanding issues that are believed to include an insistence that the Australians be given the freedom and support they need to ensure their safety on long-range patrols. The 200-strong Australian special forces task group was withdrawn from Afghanistan late last year after months of action against the Taliban. The reconstruction team includes infantry and armoured vehicles to provide "close-in" protection, but also depends for its safety on much larger Dutch forces that include attack helicopters to dominate the area further afield. BRENDAN NICHOLSON Tag CloudExternal InformationAdditional InformationLegislation Could Be Path to Closing Guantánamo...Russia Suspends Arms Pact, Citing U.S. Missile Plan... In Kenya, Barack Obama’s family prays for end to conflict... In a Force for Iraqi Calm, Seeds of Conflict... Where Am I?News Main Page - Business - Troops Decision On Hold |
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