Australia minister rejects call to send troops to Syria

Australia's federal Treasurer Scott Morrison has rejected government backbencher Kevin Andrews' call to send troops to Syria to fight Islamic State (IS).

Responding to an article that Andrews wrote in an Australian newspaper on Monday, Morrison told the parliament that Australia had no intention at this stage of committing troops to a ground war.

He said Australia was part of a coalition of forces and would not act unilaterally by sending troops to the Middle East.

"It is important in these situations that we remain calm and that we work in concert with our partners in this theatre and that we don't have some sort of hot-headed response to these issues. That we remain measured ... and we remain focused on getting the job done," Morrison said on Monday.

Andrews, the former defence minister in Tony Abbott's government, wrote in the Australian Financial Review on Monday that a concerted campaign by coalition special operation forces was required to defeat IS.

He said Australia should suggest to the United States that a full-scale invasion of Syria was appropriate given the recent terror attacks in Paris. He also suggested co-operating with Russia after President Vladimir Putin recently pledged to send troops to "wipe out" IS.

"For far too long, we have operated under the misapprehension that IS is an unsustainable ragbag army," Andrews wrote in the Australian Financial Review on Monday.

"To the contrary, many are experienced fighters, who are well-financed, agile and disciplined. They are also driven by an ideology that glorifies martyrdom and aspires to domination.

"Our efforts in training Iraqi forces is commendable, but insufficient. The Advise and Assist missions have also been useful, but more is required.

"The West cannot drift along for another year. It needs a clear strategy to defeat IS and a willingness to win."

Morrison said he did not want to create a division in public opinion in Australia which would play into the terrorists' hands.

"What we won't entertain is the sort of approach which will set one Australian against another because that's what Daesh (another term for IS) wants. Daesh wants conflict in this country ... and we're going to deny them that," he said.

"I think Australians will also not be intimidated out of the free and open lifestyle that we enjoy in this country."

Sources: XINHUA