Robert McClelland Barton, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs
4:15 pm
My question is to the Prime Minister. Is the Prime Minister aware of reports of the preparation by the Pentagon of a plan for a phased withdrawal of United States troops in the event that the current ‘surge’ of United States troops fails to stop sectarian violence in Iraq? Does the Prime Minister have a similar contingency plan of phased withdrawal in place for Australian forces?
John Howard Bennelong, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
The answer is yes, it is normal for that contingency planning to be made.