Turnbull wants more troops in Iraq ... but not Australia’s

MALCOLM Turnbull will use a political address in Washington to call for more boots on the ground in Syria and Iraq to defeat IS: But not Aussie boots.

PM APEC Leaders Photo

MALCOLM Turnbull will use a political address in Washington today to call for more boots on the ground in Syria and Iraq to defeat Islamic State.

They just won’t be Australian boots.

In a landmark national security speech to the Centre for Strategic and Independent Studies, the PM will sharpen his language on terrorism, claiming it was untrue to say IS had nothing to do with Islam. “We should not be so delicate as to say ISIL and its ilk have ‘got nothing to do with Islam’,” he will say.

“But equally we should not tag all Muslims or their religion with responsibility for the crimes of a tiny criminal minority. That is precisely what the extremists want us to do.

“The threat posed by ISIL has a direct impact on our region … ISIL has used the declaration of a caliphate as a powerful marketing tool which is attracting supporters to travel to the region or to carry out attacks at home …

“The destruction of their self-styled caliphate would help to counter its narrative of inevitable victory and is therefore an important element in securing Australians and Americans at home — and abroad.

“The destruction of ISIL requires a military solution — it requires boots on the ground. But they must be the right boots on the right ground.

“The recent retaking of Ramadi is a prime example. Led by the Iraqi army, assisted by the coalition’s respective air and special forces, it was not just a blow to ISIL, but an example of the right combination.”

In his meeting with the PM, the Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi was said to have made it clear that coalition forces should not be taking a greater role beyond the wire — something that would not be supported by the Iraqi people.

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Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull with US President Barack Obama / Picture: Gary Ramage

Mr Turnbull visited Iraq and Afghanistan on his way to the US.

Mr Obama will host his fourth Australian prime minister when Malcolm Turnbull arrives at the White House tomorrow.

While officials might joke about whether it really will be his last, they all agree that when Mr Turnbull and President Obama sit down in the Oval Office it will be a rare meeting of minds.

“The chemistry between the President and the PM should be good,” said Tony Abbott’s former national security adviser Andrew Shearer, who is a visiting fellow for the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).

“Their world views are shaped by their legal training. They are socially progressive and share a commitment to causes like climate change, equality and innovation.”

Mr Shearer said that Mr Turnbull would be expected to focus on the maintenance of the US/Australia alliance, which he said was fundamental to Australia’s national security.

“The Australia-US alliance ­remains fundamentally sound, but neither side can afford to take it for granted,” Mr Shearer has written.

Defence Minister Marise Payne will visit Paris to discuss the IS threat.

Cartoonist Warren Brown’s view.