MARTIN:
Prime Minister thank you for your time. Now you are a committed
family man and the father of two young men, what went through your
mind today when you had to make the decision to send other young
men off to put their lives on the line?
PRIME MINISTER:
Everything you can imagine. It is the hardest decision I have taken
as Prime Minister. It certainly involved a greater sense of responsibility,
a sense of dread, but also a belief that the country had really
no alternative.
MARTIN:
Were you aware that you are the first Coalition Prime Minister
in 30 years to send Australian troops to war?
PRIME MINISTER:
Well I don't know that I would quite put it in those terms.
I mean, the vessel we sent to the Gulf in 1991 was exposed to some
of the most hostile activity there. So in that sense it is a continuum
of what was done then. But we do have a responsibility, we can't
shut our eyes and pretend that this is something that ultimately
won't affect us.
MARTIN:
Do you serious think there is a threat of something like anthrax
in Australia's water supply?
PRIME MINISTER:
Well not immediately, no. But there could be in countries bordering
on Iraq and if he is able to do it then other rogue states, perhaps
closer to home, might believe that they can do it as well.
MARTIN:
Will you get a chance to look the SAS men in the face before they
go off?
PRIME MINISTER:
Yes I will. I will want to see them if ultimately before they go,
if ultimately that is the contribution that is agreed between us
and the United States. We are still discussing with the United States
the nature of our contribution. But we have indicated, both in my
discussions with President Clinton and also in the discussions between
our defence people and the American defence people, that the sort
of contribution we would make is a small detachment of the SAS and
of the 707s. And I would certainly want very much to see the men
before they go.
MARTIN:
Did you speak to President Clinton and is he pleased with Australia?
PRIME MINISTER:
Yes he is. I spoke to President Clinton on Saturday when he rang
to make the request and I rang him again this afternoon immediately
after I had announced the decision of the Australian people. He
was very grateful. He expressed the hope to me, and I share it very
devoutly, that military action will not be necessary. And I believe
that the more countries that line up publicly with the United States
the greater is the pressure on Iraq and on Saddam Hussein to see
the folly for his own people of the course of action that he is
taking.
MARTIN:
Does it worry you that America's Middle East allies who were
there in the Gulf War in 91 are not there today and are saying
no?
PRIME MINISTER:
It is too early to write them off, it is too early. And, of course,
some of them have already indicated a willingness to make airfields
and other installations available.
MARTIN:
Who was that?
PRIME MINISTER:
One or two have done that I am not at liberty to say more.
MARTIN:
Does this mean that if we send SAS troops does this mean we are
at war with Iraq?
PRIME MINISTER:
No it doesn't mean that. It means that we are part of a multi-national
force led by the United States, acting persuant to a Security Council
resolution to ensure that weapons, the material that is dangerous
to neighbouring countries and potentially to others is destroyed.
It doesn't mean that we are automatically at war. And bear
in mind that the unit that we are proposing to send is meant to
be engaged in a search and destroy operation.
MARTIN:
But do they have the...
PRIME MINISTER:
I am sorry, search and rescue not search and destroy, I am sorry,
search and rescue.
MARTIN:
Alright, search and rescue behind the lines again, do they have
the protection of prisoner of war status?
PRIME MINISTER:
Well they will have all of the protections that can be available.
But at this stage we are discussing with the Americans what is involved.
Bear in mind if you are dealing here with the most highly trained
section of the Australian Defence Force.
MARTIN:
Would you agree that most people, I guess around the world, want
to get rid of Saddam rather than kill the Iraqi people?
PRIME MINISTER:
Yes I do.
MARTIN:
So what happens PM when those first CNN pictures come in of dead
babies and crying old people and destroyed buildings, what happens
then?
PRIME MINISTER:
Well I understand the emotional effect of that, I also have been
told that the Americans have refined even further the precision
of their military activities since the Gulf War in 1991. I don't
pretend to the Australian people that there might not be people
killed or hurt outside the immediate targets, that unfortunately
is the tragic consequence of when you are dealing with a dictator
like Saddam Hussein. I mean, if you always factor that into account
you never do anything and he wins.
MARTIN:
Do you fear a split though, a retaliation from Arab Australians
or Islamic Australians?
PRIME MINISTER:
No I don't. And I want to say to Australians of Arab descent
and of the Islamic faith that you are valued Australians like all
other Australians, that my Government will not tolerate any kind
of victimisation or any kind of singling out. I think by and large
they faired extremely well during the time of the Gulf War. And
I want to make an appeal to all Australians that under no circumstances
should the odium of what Saddam Hussein has done and what he represents,
under no circumstances should that odium attach to any Arab Australians,
they should be treasured and protected as should all other Australians.
MARTIN:
Well finally Prime Minister, you know that President Clinton is
going to be accused of going to war against Iraq as a diversion
to his sex scandals, how do you answer that?
PRIME MINISTER:
Well I don't believe it.
MARTIN:
It is already being said.
PRIME MINISTER:
I know it is being said. I think if you look at it objectively
in those terms that accusation is untrue, I don't believe it,
I don't accept it and I don't think it should be allowed
46;t accept it and I don't think it should be allowed
to divert President Clinton from his role as the Leader of the free
world.
MARTIN:
Prime Minister I wish you well.
PRIME MINISTER:
Thank you.
[Ends]