Unions condemn troop deployments

The Queensland Council of Unions today condemned the federal government's deployment of troops to aid the build-up of American forces for an attack on Iraq.

"This troop deployment takes place without reference to any proper process, and we totally condemn it," QCU Assistant Secretary Chris Barrett said.

"It ignores the UN resolution to await the findings of UN weapons inspectors currently in Iraq, and can only be viewed as the first step towards Australian military support for US-led unilateral action against Iraq."

"Bereft of its own foreign policy, the Howard government is abasing itself before the Bush administration and its oil-driven policies, and gambling with the lives of young Australian service men and women."

"As one of only two nations prepared to follow the Bush administration into a war against Iraq, you have to ask what the Howard government's real motives are for engaging in this deadly and unnecessary enterprise."

"A great majority of Australian workers are firmly against any Australian involvement in military action against Iraq. This reflects the fact that it in any war it is Australian workers and their sons and daughters that pay the ultimate price."

Mr Barrett branded the federal government's argument that the deployment of was merely designed to increase pressure on Saddam Hussein as "patently absurd".

"United Nations resolution 1441 requires Iraq to supply proof that it has totally disarmed itself of weapons of mass destruction, and with UN weapons inspectors still in Iraq Howard's precipitate actions treat the UN with utter contempt."

"The Queensland Council of Unions calls on the Howard government to suspend any further military preparations in accordance with UN resolution 1441 and the delivery of the findings of UN weapons inspectors in March."

The QCU will, along with other community groups, engage in protests against this troop deployment.

The QCU calls on working people everywhere to oppose any war with Iraq and to support diplomacy and the UN processes.