With US President Obama seeking approval from Congress to deploy troops in future to Syria, Australia’s PM Abbott should likewise seek parliamentary approval for ongoing fighting.
Australia must debate whether to continue fighting in Syria
The Australian Parliament should debate the continuing deployment of our troops and aircraft to Syria, and vote to authorise future operations, or not, Civil Liberties Australia says.
“If it is proper for the Obama administration to seek Congressional approval to fight rabid islamic forces, it should be proper for the Abbott administration to do the same in Australia,” CLA President Dr Kristine Klugman (photo) said.
“After all, our troops and planes are fighting the same battles alongside the US military.”
President Obama is seeking formal authorisation from Congress to continue the fight.
“American presidents must seek Congressional approval for extended deployments. The Prime Minister should likewise seek the vote of the Australian Parliament if he or she wants to maintain forces in battle after deploying them in an emergency,” Dr Klugman said.
In the US Congress, the House of Representatives and the Senate will debate the presidential war powers and the wisdom of committing to another unpredictable mission against the islamic fighters in the Middle East.
“Australia should also hold a parliamentary debate,” Dr Klugman said. “In what we are told will be very straitened economic circumstances in the future, we have to decide whether we want to, or can afford to, follow the Americans into every battle they choose to fight.
“We have responsibilities in our part of the world, particularly among the Pacific Islands, Papua New Guinea and East Timor, all of which should have first call on deploying our forces for assistance or fighting missions.”
Civil Liberties Australia called on one of the Independents in parliament to move a motion seeking a vote to confirm our continuing in the way in Syria.
“There is no reason Australian citizens should be second class, in that we don’t get a say through our parliamentary representatives when the nation goes into battle, whereas American citizens do.
“If it’s good enough for us to fight alongside Americans, it’s good enough for Australians to have a say like the American people do.
“Australia needs to have a War Powers Act to set the rules for national debate and decision making in circumstances like we have now.”
Further information: Dr Kristine Klugman, President