Ex-Australian PM embarrassed by 2003 Iraq invasion

Sydney, Sep 22 (IANS/EFE) Former Australian prime minister John Howard, who deployed troops in the US-led invasion to oust Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein in 2003, has said he was "embarrassed" for using the existence of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) as an excuse for the invasion.

In a televised interview on the Seven network late Sunday, Howard said he was "struck by the force of the language" used by US intelligence officials who accused Hussein of possessing biological weapons and having the ability to make nuclear bombs.

However, more than a decade after the start of the conflict, no proof has ever been found of a WMD arsenal in Iraq.

"I did my best to explain it wasn't a deliberate deception. It may have been an erroneous conclusion based on the available information but it wasn't invented and the suggestion that (then US president George) Bush made it up is nonsense," Howard said.

The former leader, who served as prime minister from 1996 to 2007, also said the country was currently facing a real terrorist threat.

"I don't think any Australian should assume we won't have a terrorist event here," he added.

Last week, Australian authorities arrested over a dozen alleged jihadis related to the Islamic State (IS) movement in a nation-wide sweep.

The suspects had allegedly planned to kidnap and behead civilians with the intention of circulating the videos on social media websites.

"So much of the Islamic State operation comes out of what's occurring in Syria and to suggest that it's purely or predominately a result of what happened in Iraq in 2003 is a false reading of history," Howard argued.

Australia upgraded its terror threat level to "high" in mid-September as international concern about the IS grew.

Australian troops and aircraft have joined a US-led coalition designed to degrade and destroy the militant group.

According to the government, about 60 of its citizens have joined the ranks of the IS, while 100 more are actively working in Australia to provide logistical support to the radical Islamic group and recruit jihadis.

--IANS/EFE

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