Ruddism continues with a bet each way on our troops

Labor Leader Kevin Rudd's contortions over Australia's troop deployments have become even more contradictory.

Mr Rudd today has declared his support for any future additional Australian troop deployments to Afghanistan, saying "we've always taken a constructive, bipartisan approach to the war against Osama bin Laden and the Taliban."

This comes just days after Mr Rudd said Australia should withdraw its troops from Iraq because they are needed back in the region.

"We have other alliance responsibilities in our region. You've got the Solomons going to hell in a hand basket, you've got problems in Tonga, you've got problems in Fiji, who knows what's going to happen in parts of New Guinea - we have limited military resources... " (Channel 7, 16/2/07)

Mr Rudd can't have it both ways.

Either he believes the troops are needed back in our region (in which case he cannot support any extra deployment to Afghanistan).

Or he was merely using his claimed regional demands as an excuse to justify his surrender policy in Iraq.

Why does Labor want victory in Afghanistan but defeat in Iraq?

Why does Labor want to support and defend the people of Afghanistan but abandon the people of Iraq?

Mr Rudd's duplicity on national security is laid bare.

Media Inquiries: Mr Downer's office 02 6277 7500 - Departmental Media Liaison 02 6261 1555