Australia: Ready for war and not hiding behind a veil.
Via CNS News
Arab and European countries have yet to state publicly what military contributions they may make to the coalition against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS/ISIL), which Secretary of State John Kerry is cobbling together, but Australia showed no such reluctance Sunday, announcing that troops and aircraft will be deployed to the Middle East within days.
Kerry said earlier more than 40 countries had “offered assistance of one kind or another” to the anti-ISIS coalition but declined several times over the weekend to give details.
In response to what he said was a specific request from the U.S., Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said 600 personnel, including a Special Forces contingent, as well as eight fighter planes, an early warning and control aircraft and an air-to-air refueling aircraft were being prepared.[…]
We’ve seen the beheadings, we’ve seen the crucifixions, we’ve seen the mass executions, we’ve seen the blood curdling threats, and indeed the murders directed towards Westerners. And we know that there are at least 60 Australians fighting mostly with this particular group. These are people who have murderous intent towards everyone who doesn’t share their particular ideology and that includes us.”
Abbott said the operation against the jihadists could last “many months.”
The mission could be considered to success, he told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, if the Iraqi government and Kurdish regional authorities “are able to maintain reasonable control over their substantial towns, reasonable protection for their own people.”