Helen Coonan (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts) Share this | Hansard source

Admittedly I did not initially hear the question—whether it was the United Kingdom or the United States—but I do not see how that supplementary question arises out of the original question. Assuming that what the senator is really asking me is ‘Would our withdrawal damage the alliance?’ I can say—and repeat—that, as the Prime Minister said on 25 February, America both appreciates our presence in Iraq and wants us to maintain our current commitments. And, as I said in my primary answer, premature withdrawal would embolden terrorists and abandon the Iraqi people. We do not intend to do that.