The P.M. Tony Abbott: "Australia's response"

Dear friends,



read this message delivered to me by the Prime Minister of Australia Tony Abbott:



"Dear Antonio Gabriele,

A few hours ago, I announced that the Government will commit up to eight Australian F/A-18F Super Hornet aircraft to participate in airstrikes in Iraq as part of the international coalition formed to disrupt and degrade ISIL.

As a peaceful democracy, Australians are reluctant to reach out to conflicts many thousands of miles away but sometimes these conflicts reach out to us.

There are at least 60 Australians fighting in the Middle East with terrorist groups, principally the ISIL movement.

There are also at least 100 Australians supporting terrorist groups with funding and recruitment.

ISIL has effectively declared war on the world and you’ve all heard the murderous threats that leading ISIL spokesmen have uttered against Australia and Australians.

The world is responding, as demonstrated by the UN Security Council Resolution last week against Foreign Fighters.

The United States in coalition with Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the UAE, Bahrain and Qatar has launched airstrikes against ISIL in Syria. As you also know the United States in coalition with the United Kingdom and France has launched air strikes against ISIL in Iraq.

Earlier this week, Royal Australian Air Force aircraft began flying support missions in Iraq.

Today, Cabinet has authorised Australian air strikes in Iraq at the request of the Iraqi Government and in support of the Iraqi Government. Also, subject to final legal documentation, Cabinet has authorised the deployment of Australian Special Forces into Iraq to advise and assist Iraqi forces.

Only Iraq can defeat ISIL but Iraq shouldn’t be alone. As far as Australia and our allies are concerned, Iraq won’t be alone.

I have to warn that this deployment to Iraq could be quite lengthy, certainly months rather than weeks.

However, I want to reassure you that it will be as long as necessary but as short as possible. I also need to warn the Australian people that this is a dangerous mission, but I’m confident that the Chief of the Defence Force has put in place all possible measures to minimise risk.

This is essentially a humanitarian mission to protect the people of Iraq and ultimately the people of Australia from the murderous rage of the ISIL death cult.

ISIL must be distrupted and degraded at home and abroad.

It is absolutely in Australia’s national interests that this mission go ahead.

I spoke to Bill Shorten, the Leader of the Opposition, and he indicated to me his full support of the decisions that the Government has taken this morning.

You can read a copy of my statement on this matter here.

Regards,



Tony Abbott
Prime Minister.

Australia is with civilization and against barbarism.
It wants to make its contribution in the fight against serious ISIL.
Best regards.

Italian:

L'Australia è con la civiltà e contro la barbarie.

Essa vuole dare il suo serio contributo nella lotta contro ISIL.

Cordiali saluti.