10 July 2013
Subjects: Withdrawal from Afghanistan, Egypt leadership crisis, Indigenous recognition in Constitution, asylum seekers on bridging visas
E&OE…
DAVID SPEERS Thanks for your time.
Are you concerned about this apparent tension between the US and Afghanistan at what is a very sensitive time?
JULIE BISHOP David, the ultimate goal of the military intervention was to ensure that the Afghan Government could provide security for the nation and ensure that Afghanistan would not again become a safe haven for terrorists. The transition period will be complex and there are no easy answers as to the ongoing role for the international forces once the Afghan Government takes control of the security of the country. There will need to be military judgments. There will need to be political judgments.
There are reports that the negotiations between the United States and the Afghan Government are rather tense with the Obama Administration saying that the President retains all options including the option of complete withdrawal, the so-called “zero option”. President Karzai on the other hand is saying that the United States can have permission to retain up to nine military bases in Afghanistan. And there’s apprehension that’s been reported amongst the Afghan citizens, particularly women, who are concerned that a full withdrawal could lead to fundamentalism. From Australia’s perspective….