The politics of Australia\u27s withdrawal from Iraq

This article examines the complex matrix of public, political and policy debates that were brought to bear on Australia\u27s decision to withdraw from Iraq. In analysing the ‘politics of withdrawal’ in Australia, this article identifies four dominant frames that served to polarise the issue along party-political lines and reduce the complexities of Australia\u27s withdrawal to a set of simple polarities (such as ‘stay the course’ versus ‘responsible withdrawal’). Specifically, these frames obfuscated an assessment of the myriad challenges facing post-Saddam Iraq and the prospects for peace, security and development beyond Australia\u27s withdrawal. Understanding the ways in which Australia framed its decision to disengage from Iraq is critical to further analysis of Australia\u27s approach to current (or future) military draw-downs (such as in Afghanistan), as well as those conducted by other liberal democracies, such as the US and the UK