John Howard admits he lost sleep over the decision to send Australian forces to Iraq in 2003.
More than a decade on, Prime Minister Tony Abbott is now weighing the same decision - and Mr Howard believes he's up the task.
But the former prime minister is refusing to comment on the merits of sending in the military to take on Islamic State.
In his memoirs, Mr Howard admitted the difficulties he experienced in making the still controversial decision in 2003.
"All prime ministers carry a special responsibility when it comes to asking the men and women of the defence force to put their lives on the line. It doesn't matter who it is," he told reporters in Canberra on Friday.
In the end, it was always the prime minister who carried more weight than anyone else, he said.
"Mr Abbott is a very resilient, intelligent, well-grounded man. He will be able to handle the pressure. Nobody can get to the job of prime minister without having a capacity to handle pressure," he said.
The government is now considering joining a US-led coalition to launch air attacks on brutal IS militants who control much of northern Iraq. RAAF Super Hornet fighter-bombers are tipped as the likely contribution.
Mr Abbott said the US would inevitably lead any international action in Iraq, which would need to be done in accordance with international law and with the consent of the Iraqi government.
"We are continuing to talk to the United States about what we might do in partnership with our allies," he told reporters in Canberra.
Mr Abbott said the Middle East was a witches' brew of complexity and danger.
"But where there are clear evils that can be averted through international action then I think the international community does have a responsibility to consider that action," he said.
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said there were no differences between Labor and the government in the importance of tackling the Islamic State menace.
He said Labor recognised there might be further calls to help the Iraqi government.
"We are supportive of these measures," he told reporters in Melbourne.
"The basis of our support and actions in Iraq is based upon humanitarian support for minorities who are being persecuted by a dreadful terrorist organisation."
Share
