Australia should be talking to Iraqi parliament and U.S. about withdrawal

"Instead of wheeling out the Defence Minister Brendan Nelson to repeat tired rhetoric about 'strengthening resolve', the Prime Minister should show leadership and instigate talks with the Iraqis and U.S. about a timeline for withdrawal," Senator Nettle said.

"Australia should negotiate a pull out before we are kicked out.

"Even without U.S. support Australia can play a positive role in making Iraq safer by removing its troops.

"The International Committee of the Red Cross has told us that the security situation for ordinary Iraqis is getting even worse, a recent nationwide poll of Iraqis found a majority wanted foreign troops to leave and the bombing in the parliament building shows the utter failure of the U.S. led occupation to keep the peace.

"This week key Iraqi cabinet members have threatened to resign if the Iraqi Prime Minister does not back a timeline for foreign troop withdrawal. The time is coming when Australia will be kicked out in circumstances not of our choosing.

"The lesson we should be learning in Iraq is that we cannot impose western style peace and stability through the barrel of a gun, in fact heavy handed military operations create rather than cure an environment of violence.

"The Greens continue to call for the withdrawal of Australian and US troops from Iraq."