It was the biggest decision of 2003, but discussions about sending Australian troops as part of the US-led invasion of Iraq only account for a slither of hundreds of pages of never-before-seen cabinet documents.
Key points:
- Cabinet documents from 2003 have been unsealed
- The documents reveal some of the high-level discussions of the government, including on the Iraq War
- Much of the deliberations on the war have been kept secret, despite the then-defence minister supporting their release
A six-page minute reveals then-prime minister John Howard had "extensive discussions over a period of time" with both US president George W Bush and UK prime minister Tony Blair about the "possible use of force against Iraq if it failed to disarm".
The 20-year-old cabinet documents have been released as part of an annual dispatch by the National Archives of Australia, after the documents' confidentiality period expired.
Despite the 246-document dump, there is still so much not known about Australia's involvement in the war, as the majority of the government's high-level deliberations were made by an inner circle of ministers in the National Security Committee (NSC) — with those records kept secret.
But here's what we do know.
March 18, 2003
March 18 would go on to be the most important briefing cabinet would have in 2003, according to historian David Lee.
On that day, Mr Howard told his cabinet Iraq had the "potential to damage gravely Australia's security" and posed a "real and unacceptable threat to international peace and security".
"The risk of weapons of mass destruction falling into the hands of terrorists constitutes one of the greatest present threats to the security of Australia and the entire international community," the document reads.
It also shows Mr Howard told his cabinet he received a "request" from Mr Bush for Australia to join the military operation, and the president would soon issue a "final ultimatum" to Iraq.
Shortly after the Australian cabinet met, Mr Bush delivered a statement: "Saddam Hussein and his sons must leave Iraq within 48 hours. Their refusal to do will result in military conflict commenced at a time of our choosing."
Back in Canberra, Mr Howard announced Australia's joining of what was dubbed the "coalition of the willing" at a press conference in Canberra, saying it had been done to protect Australia's "national interest".
"The government strongly believes the decision it has taken is right, it is legal," he said.
"I realise very much it's an extremely serious decision and I've thought about it a great deal and it does weigh very heavily on me.
"These are the sorts of things that do keep you awake at night."
Despite Mr Howard's plea that day for Australians to support the decision, mass protests opposing Australia's involvement in the war were held — from the steps of Parliament House to city streets.
In a major public showing, "NO WAR" was painted in big red letters on the sails of the Sydney Opera House.
Labor leader Simon Crean and his opposition opposed Australia's involvement.
"We are divided because the government and the prime minister have committed us to a war we should not be in," Mr Crean said in an address to the nation in March.
Robert Hill was Australia's defence minister at the time.
Two decades later, he insisted Australia's decision received strong public support.
"I think the view of cabinet was that the majority of Australians thought the action that had been taken via the Australian government was warranted," he said.
Even though the mission was to find weapons of mass destruction – as it turned out none were there – Mr Hill still argued it was the right call.
"On the basis of the information we had at the time, we made what we believe was the right decision, and I still believe on the basis of that information that was the right decision," Mr Hill said.
April 1, 2003
Other than the short briefing on March 18, the Iraq War barely received a mention at the full cabinet table.
The vast majority of government discussions about the war were had within a cabinet subgroup, the National Security Committee, which met regularly and had intelligence from spy agencies including ASIO.
The lack of Iraq-related cabinet record keeping is clear from a minute dated April 1, 2003.
The records from that meeting are only one sentence long: "The Cabinet noted an oral report by the Prime Minister on the progress of military operations in Iraq and the contribution made by the Australian Defence Force."
Despite the majority of Iraq War discussions happening at the NSC, those records have not been made public, but both Mr Hill and historian associate professor Lee were in support of their release for transparency's sake.
"What we hope to see in due course is release of those records which will help to give a fuller picture of decision making," historian Dr Lee said.
Climate change, SARS on the agenda
The records show climate change was an issue the government continued to grapple with in 2003, with cabinet discussing an emissions trading system on September 8.
But records showed the government chose to oppose it after Mr Howard met with industry leaders.
Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) also made it to the cabinet table, with ministers noting on April 1 there were possible cases in Australia, as quarantine arrangements were being made at major airports.
Cabinet also discussed security arrangements made for Mr Bush's visit to Canberra, which would prove to be highly contentious.
It saw protests both out the front of parliament and inside – from two Greens MPs.
What's old is new again
One of the striking elements of the 2003 cabinet papers, as is the case with years gone by, is how many of the issues discussed then are still hotly debated topics now.
Among the key issues: a "desirability" to "resolve the long-standing Israeli-Palestinian conflict", free trade agreements, the "national interest", the fuel excise and relations with both the US and China.
Also in the political spotlight, like in 2023, were Indigenous affairs.
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) was under review and would soon be dumped, something Mr Hill conceded was the incorrect call.
"On ATSIC, I think we made the wrong decision … it would have been better for Australia for ATSIC to continue," he told the ABC.
He also admitted the Howard government was wrong for refusing to apologise to the Stolen Generations.
The Coalition would go on to win a fourth, and final, term the following year.
https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMibWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvbmV3cy8yMDI0LTAxLTAxLzIwMDMtY2FiaW5ldC1kb2N1bWVudHMtcmVsZWFzZWQtaXJhcS13YXItc2Fycy1jbGltYXRlLWNoYW5nZS8xMDMyNTU3NDTSAQA?oc=5
2023-12-31 21:58:36Z
CBMibWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvbmV3cy8yMDI0LTAxLTAxLzIwMDMtY2FiaW5ldC1kb2N1bWVudHMtcmVsZWFzZWQtaXJhcS13YXItc2Fycy1jbGltYXRlLWNoYW5nZS8xMDMyNTU3NDTSAQA
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Previously secret 2003 cabinet documents reveal high-level conversations prior to Australia joining Iraq War - ABC News"
Post a Comment