| Australia 'has Iraq oil interest'
BBC NEWS | World | Asia-Pacific | Australia 'has Iraq oil interest' Quote:
Australian Defence Minister Brendan Nelson has admitted that securing oil supplies is a key factor behind the presence of Australian troops in Iraq.
He said maintaining "resource security" in the Middle East was a priority.
But PM John Howard has played down the comments, saying it was "stretching it a bit" to conclude that Australia's Iraq involvement was motivated by oil.
The remarks are causing heated debate as the US-led Iraq coalition has avoided linking the war and oil.
| Ah, gotta love those straight-talking Aussies....surprised no-one caught this earlier....
I spent a lot of money on booze, birds and fast cars. The rest I just squandered.
-George Best, on being asked what he did with his footballing fortunes. |