Minister says oil key to Australian presence in Iraq

OIL is a key factor in keeping Australian troops in the US-led war in Iraq, Defence Minister Brendan Nelson said yesterday, before his boss Prime Minister John Howard sharply contradicted him.

Nelson’s startling comments caused an immediate stir in Australia, one of the few leading allies the United States has in the increasingly unpopular war, but Howard quickly backed away from the explosive contention.

A new defence review had concluded that maintaining “resource security” in the Middle East was a priority, Nelson said in an interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

“Energy security is extremely important to all nations throughout the world, and of course, in protecting and securing Australia’s interests,” he said.

“Obviously the Middle East itself, not only Iraq, but the entire region is an important supplier of energy, oil in particular, to the rest of the world.

“Australians and all of us need to think what would happen if there were a premature withdrawal from Iraq.”

Australia joined the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003. It was said to be aimed at eliminating Saddam Hussein’s weapons of mass destruction, which were never found.

Howard remains a staunch supporter of the US military campaign in Iraq. Australia’s deployment currently numbers about 1,575 soldiers.

Nelson also said Australia’s main reasons for remaining in Iraq were to prevent violence, driven by al-Qaida, between the Sunni and Shia populations and to help key ally the US combat terrorism and stabilise the region. But he said safeguarding oil supplies was an important part of bringing stability.

“For all of those reasons, one of which is energy security, it’s extremely important that Australia take the view that it’s in our interests, our security interests, to make sure that we leave the Middle East, and leave Iraq in particular, in a position of sustainable security,” he said.

Howard swung into damage limitation mode later in the day, strongly denying either Nelson or he himself had said securing oil supply was key in his country’s involvement in Iraq.

“We’re not there because of oil and we didn’t go there because of oil, we don’t remain there because of oil,” he told commercial radio.

Treasurer Peter Costello joined in the denial that the troops were primarily in Iraq to secure oil supplies.

“We’re fighting for something much more important here than oil. This is about democracy and freedom in the Middle East,” he said.

Howard had earlier told a conference in Canberra that energy demand was a key reason for helping to develop a stable Middle East.

But he later said it was “stretching it a bit” to conclude that Australia’s involvement in Iraq was motivated by oil.

The centre-left opposition Labor Party, which wants to withdraw Australia’s troops from Iraq, accused the government of making contradictory statements.

“This government simply makes it up as it goes along on Iraq,” Labor leader Kevin Rudd told reporters.

Howard also ended speculation sparked by a newspaper report that he could announce an Iraq troop withdrawal ahead of national elections due this year.

“The government remains committed to staying in Iraq with our coalition partners until the Iraqi security forces no longer require our support,” he said.