Australia says securing oil supply means no Iraq withdrawal

Australia admitted for the first time on Thursday that securing oil supply is a key factor behind its involvement in the United States-led war in Iraq.

Defence Minister Brendan Nelson said a review of Australia’s defence strategy to be released Thursday concluded that maintaining ‘resource security’ in the Middle East was a priority.
‘The defence update we’re releasing today sets out many priorities for Australia’s defence and security, and resource security is one of them,’ Nelson told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

‘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,’ he said.

Forbes