Claims made in the Fairfax Press, (The Saturday Age, 25 June 2011) “Defence Plans for Afghan Troop Cuts” are not accurate.
The Australian Defence Force is not preparing plans, nor has it been directed to prepare plans, for a possible reduction in Australian troop numbers in Afghanistan in response to the drawdown announced by President Obama this week.
As the Minister for Defence, Stephen Smith, and I have said repeatedly we expect to be able to transition security responsibility for Uruzgan to the Afghan National Army in the 2012-2014 period.
No changes to our ADF force levels or campaign plans have or are being developed as a result of the US announcement.
Yours sincerely,
A.G. Houston, AC, AFC
Air Chief Marshal
Chief of Defence Force
Issued by Ministerial and Executive Coordination and Communication,
Department of Defence,
Canberra, ACT
Phone: 02 6127 1999 Fax: 02 6265 6946
