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INFO RUCNAFG/AFGHANISTAN COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 CANBERRA 001744 
 
SIPDIS 
 
C O R R E C T E D  C O P Y -- ADDED TEXT TO SUBJECT 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR P, NEA-I, SA, ISN AND EAP 
PACOM ALSO FOR POLAD 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/12/2017 
TAGS: MARR MOPS KNNP PREL AS
SUBJECT: U/S BURNS' 12/4 MEETING WITH AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE MINISTER 
FITZGIBBON 
 
REF: A. STATE 162558 
     ¶B. CANBERRA 1717 (NOTAL) 
 
CANBERRA 00001744  001.2 OF 003 
 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Robert D. McCallum for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d 
). 
 
SUMMARY 
------- 
¶1. (C)  Under Secretary Nicholas Burns, accompanied by the 
Ambassador, called on newly sworn-in Minister for Defence 
Joel Fitzgibbon on December 4. Fitzgibbon reaffirmed the Rudd 
government's commitment to the alliance with the United 
States, asserted his government's long-term commitment to 
Afghanistan, and reiterated the GOA's intention to withdraw 
combat forces from Iraq while maintaining non-combat 
engagement.  U/S Burns stressed that the international 
community needed to maintain pressure on Iran, as findings of 
the unclassified National Intelligence Estimates Report on 
Iran's nuclear weapons program indicated Iran has ongoing 
enrichment and reprocessing activities.  Burns also flagged 
as a U.S. priority approval of the U.S.-India civil nuclear 
deal, including by the Nuclear Suppliers Group which includes 
Australia.  End summary. 
 
------------------------ 
U.S.-Australian Alliance 
------------------------ 
¶2. (C) Joel Fitzgibbon, a 45-year-old member of Parliament 
who had been sworn in December 3, the previous day, along 
with other cabinet members of PM Kevin Rudd's new government, 
stressed the importance of Australia's alliance with the 
United States.  He offered assurances that the strong 
relationship between the two countries would not change under 
the Rudd government.  U/S Burns reciprocated the sentiments, 
expressing confidence the United States and Australia would 
continue to enjoy a great relationship, despite occasionally 
diverging on some issues. 
 
----------- 
Afghanistan 
----------- 
¶3. (C) After acknowledging U/S Burns' condolences for Luke 
Worsley, the third Australian soldier to die in Afghanistan 
within the past two months, Fitzgibbon said Australia 
remained "absolutely committed" to its engagement in 
Afghanistan. Fitzgibbon described Australia's contribution to 
Afghanistan as "substantial," noting that Australia's 
involvement in Afghanistan, unlike Iraq, enjoyed broad 
bipartisan support.  While Australia would "stay the course" 
in Afghanistan, he cautioned against expectations that 
Australia could increase its security contribution there, as 
the Australian Defense Force (ADF) was overstretched 
operationally, given its other deployments.  Fitzgibbon 
commented on the need to look beyond the military response in 
Afghanistan, noting his government was considering offering 
arid agriculture experts and possibly deploying Australian 
Federal Police to counter the opium poppy trade.  It was 
important not to deny opium cultivators their liveihoods 
without providing an alternative, he observed.  Fitzgibbon 
said he planned to attend the December 13-14 International 
Security Assistance Force (ISAF) Regional Command South 
Ministerial in Edinburgh. 
QMinisterial in Edinburgh. 
 
¶4. (C) U/S Burns provided Fitzgibbons with an update on 
efforts to forge greater solidarity among NATO members in 
Afghanistan and outreach to current or potential non-NATO 
contributors, including Singapore, New Zealand, and South 
Korea.  He described plans to establish a senior civilian 
position, representing the UN, EU and NATO, to help bring the 
civilian and military efforts together in Afghanistan, and 
solicited Australia's support for efforts to recruit Paddy 
Ashdown for the position. 
 
---- 
Iraq 
---- 
 
CANBERRA 00001744  002.2 OF 003 
 
 
¶5. (C) Fitzgibbon said Iraq had been a divisive domestic 
issue in Australia and had strained U.S.-Australia relations. 
 He reiterated that the Rudd government intended to withdraw 
the combat troops stationed in southern Iraq in 2008, 
emphasizing that the decision to do so was not driven by 
populism but by constraints on capacity.  Australian forces 
were overstretched.  Combat forces in Iraq were needed to 
address requirements elsewhere.  Nevertheless, he noted, the 
GOA had recently reauthorized another six-month rotation for 
the 500  combat troops, until the middle of 2008.  Fitzgibbon 
assured U/S Burns Australia wanted to work closely with the 
United States on this issue, and that the withdrawal of 
combat elements would be done in close consultation with the 
United States.  Australia was prepared to leave in place 
other, non-combat forces, including air and naval units, as a 
demonstration of its long-term commitment to Iraq.  The Rudd 
government was prepared to publicly remain part of the Iraq 
effort, he said, which would allow the United States to count 
Australia as part of the coalition. 
 
¶6. (C) As an example of how overstretched the Australian 
Defense Force (ADF) was, Air Chief Marshal Houston observed 
that the ADF had deployed over 20,000 personnel to numerous 
contingencies over the past two years, representing almost 50 
percent of its entire force.  Most deployments were drawn 
from the Army, which was especially overstretched in the 
infantry and cavalry.  Two Chinook helicopters -- one-third 
of the ADF's inventory -- were preparing to redeploy to 
Afghanistan, he noted.  The ADF was operating at a very high 
operational tempo, with the equivalent of only one battalion 
group in reserve to handle any contingency.  The ADF needed 
to balance its overseas deployment against regional risks. 
 
¶7. (C) Under Secretary Burns said the United States would 
respect the decision of the new Rudd government on Iraq, and 
that the withdrawal of combat troops would not damage the 
friendship between the two countries.  It was important to 
manage it in such a way, however, as to do the least damage 
to our efforts in Iraq.  Fitzgibbon should expect to discuss 
this in detail with Secretary Gates. 
 
¶8. (C) Ambassador McCallum interjected that we envisioned 
consultations would continue at senior levels over the coming 
months, perhaps culminating in a meeting between the leaders 
of the two countries in 2008.  U/S Burns described the 
improved security in Iraq, citing the lowest casualty figures 
in 18 months.  Acknowledging the possibility that the 
situation could reverse, he contrasted the encouraging 
security picture with much work remaining to be done on the 
political and legislative fronts.  He reaffirmed the U.S. 
commitment to Iraq, adding the United States welcomed any 
assistance other countries could provide in training, 
Qassistance other countries could provide in training, 
economic inputs and political support. 
 
---- 
Iran 
---- 
¶9. (C) In a brief discussion of Iran, U/S Burns discussed Ref 
A demarche points on the release of the unclassified National 
Intelligence Estimates Report on Iran's nuclear program. (Ref 
B reports DFAT's response to Ref A demarche.)  Burns 
emphasized that while the NIE assessed that Iran's nuclear 
weapons development had been suspended in 2003, that did not 
affect the need to address Iran's ongoing enrichment and 
reprocessing activities, which were the focus of the UN 
Security Council resolutions.  UNSC agreement was nearing on 
a third resolution, he added.  Fitzgibbon took the points on 
board, noting there was continuing pessimism in Australia 
over Iran, which was causing great tensions in Israel. 
 
----------------------------- 
U.S.-India Civil-Nuclear Deal 
----------------------------- 
¶10. (C) U/S Burns flagged the high importance the United 
States attached to securing approval for the U.S.-India civil 
nuclear arrangement, not only in the Indian Parliament but 
 
CANBERRA 00001744  003.2 OF 003 
 
 
also by consensus in the Nuclear Suppliers Group, which 
includes Australia.  Fitzgibbon noted the Australian Labor 
Party, while in opposition, had opposed the Howard 
government's policy decision to sell uranium to India because 
India had not signed the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, 
acknowledging the NSG issue would be a challenge for the Rudd 
government.  U/S Burns noted this was a priority for 
President Bush.  Australia should separate its future 
decision on uranium sales from the separate issue of the NSG 
decision. 
 
¶11. (U) Under Secretary Burns has cleared this cable. 
 
MCCALLUM