EDITORIAL: Bit by bit truth emerges from fog of Iran war

We have become involved in the Iran war bit by bit. So what’s next?

Consider this scenario. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stands at a lectern in Parliament House, shuffles his papers and begins.

“This morning I received a request from United States President Donald Trump . . . ”

Mr Albanese goes on to announce Australia has agreed to make a bigger contribution to the US-Israeli war against Iran.

It does not seem an impossible scene to imagine.

That is especially in light of continued ongoing revelations about Australia’s contribution to the war, which seem to be ratcheting up almost daily.

More often than not this has emerged after questioning from the media which is ignored or stonewalled, followed by belated confirmation in following days.

Witness how we found out that Al Minhad Airbase outside Dubai, used by Australian forces in the Middle East, had been hit by Iranian strikes.

Or how it emerged that three Royal Australian Navy members were embedded on a US submarine which sank an Iranian warship.

On Tuesday Mr Albanese announced Australia would send an E-7A Wedgetail surveillance aircraft and missiles to bolster Gulf nations’ defences against Iranian retaliatory strikes.

Mr Albanese insisted that it was purely “defensive” and Australia wouldn’t engage in offensive action or put troops on the ground.

Of interest is that while the Prime Minister maintained the decision was prompted by a request from the United Arab Emirates, the news came just hours after a phone call with Mr Trump early on Tuesday morning.

Mr Albanese described the 2am AEDT call as warm but “fairly lengthy”. He said the leaders primarily discussed the plight of the Iranian women’s soccer team.

When asked directly if the pair also spoke about military support, he avoided directly answering, insisting it was a “private conversation”.

Fast forward to that night. Defence Minister Richard Marles reveals the US — and others — have also made requests.

“A number of other countries, including the US have made requests which are centred on helping to provide for the defence of the Gulf countries,” he said.

When questioned on the Trump administration’s requests, Mr Marles refused to detail exactly what Washington’s wish list included.

“I’m not going to go into the specifics of it,” he said.

On Wednesday Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy also refused to shed light on the issue.

Asked directly if the US request had been accepted or rejected, he replied: “I’m not going to go into those details”.

So here’s some information to consider.

Australia has fought alongside the US in every major conflict since World War I.

Can anybody really imagine we would now turn down a request from our most significant ally and security blanket?

So who knows where this ongoing mission creep will take us next?

To help secure the Strait of Hormuz passageway to get oil flowing again perhaps?

Bit by bit.

Responsibility for the editorial comment is taken by Editor-in-Chief Christopher Dore.