Tony Abbott hits out at US over Iraq post-war 'chaos'

David Wroe National security correspondent

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has blasted in his strongest terms yet the US management of Iraq following the 2003 invasion, branding it a period of "chaos and confusion".

During a visit to Baghdad on Sunday, Mr Abbott hinted he could bolster Australian troop numbers in the war-torn country. It came as Fairfax Media learnt that Australian special forces soldiers in Iraq have begun operating "outside the wire" by accompanying local troops beyond Baghdad.

Mr Abbott met with his Iraqi counterpart and discussed what further help Australia could give the government beyond the current commitment, which includes 200 special forces advisers and RAAF airstrikes, for the fight against the brutal Islamic State group.

He used conspicuously strong language to slam the post-2003 handling of Iraq led by the US administration of George Bush and Dick Cheney, and strongly supported by former Prime Minister John Howard, who is Mr Abbott's political mentor.

"Iraq is a country which has suffered a very great deal," Mr Abbott said. "First, decades of tyranny under Saddam Hussein. Then, the chaos and confusion that followed the American-led invasion. Most recently, the tumult, the dark age, which has descended upon northern Iraq as a result of the Da'esh death cult. But Australia will do what we can to help."

The deliberately chosen words about the post-invasion period reflect Mr Abbott's efforts to distinguish what is now widely seen as a debacle in the aftermath of 2003 from the current more cautious approach, steering Australians away from any impression the West is being drawn back into a quagmire.

Most experts agree Washington made major missteps in the aftermath of the invasion, including by dissolving the ruling Baath Party and the military, and by underestimating the troop levels needed to stabilise security.

Foreshadowing a further possible commitment, Mr Abbott vowed to do more to help the Iraqis beat back the extremist scourge, which has seen nearly a third of the country fall under Islamic State control.

"We are determined to deepen our co-operation with the government and the people of Iraq in the weeks and months to come, not because we are a country which goes forward seeking foreign fights, but because where our vital national interests are threatened, where universal values are at stake, Australia should be a strong partner," Mr Abbott said.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said after the meeting that he had asked Mr Abbott "to increase armament and speed up training to end the battle and eliminate Da'esh", using the Arabic term for the extremist Islamic State organisation.

Fairfax Media understands that some of the 200 special forces troops who arrived in Baghdad in November to "advise and assist" the Iraqis have begun moving outside the capital.

Defence has said in the past their role will include operating at the level of battalion headquarters, which could put them well out on the battlefield, clearly raising the risk they face.

And while they are able to defend themselves, the government has ruled out any offensive combat role for Australians.

Defence has already drawn up contingency plans for Australia to provide further forces for a longer-term training role in Iraq, estimated at between 200 and 400 additional personnel.

Fairfax Media understands however that such a further deployment has not been discussed at recent meetings of the National Security Committee of Cabinet and is not imminent.

Mr Abbott, who was accompanied on his visit by new Defence Minister Kevin Andrews and Chief of the Defence Force Mark Binskin, also announced a $5 million aid boost to Iraq through the World Food Program, bringing to $22 million Australia's humanitarian assistance to the country since June.

This came despite the government's deep cuts to foreign aid, most recently in the mid-year budget update in December.

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