For Australian combat troops the war in Iraq is over.
The Defence Force in southern Iraq has formally handed its commitment to the United States and lowered the Australian flag above Camp Terendak, at the US-run air base Tallil.
The handover, which fulfils the Rudd Government’s election commitment to withdraw Australia’s combat troops from a deeply divisive war, was based on an agreement between Australian and US commanders.
The Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, is expected to attend a ceremony for returning troops in Queensland this month.
Rudd campaigned on getting Oz troops out of Iraq. He kept his promise.
loyal ally poland will put and end to their involvent in this asinine affair by fall of this year.
There were only 4000 of them but they out drank the entire US contingency by a factor of 3. God bless them.
Lucky them.
Good to hear a politician making a statement and standing by it although it would be more difficult for an American president to do the same. The Aussies are pulling out 550 troops where as we would be pulling out ~150K. Not an easy task even if you really want to pull out.
I’ve worked with some of the Australian EOD guys in Iraq though and they are good guys. Very laid back and well trained.
Good for them. I’m happy that at least one leader realizes sacrificing young men and women for an illegal and immoral war is wrong, and is doing something about it.
While I agree that removing the Aussie troops would be easier than the US troops, it’s obviously something that needs to be done, and done soon. There is no war to be ‘won’ there, and every day that goes by is yet another day our finest men and women are put in harm’s way needlessly.
Good. Its not only good to see my country’s leader keep his promise, but also nice to not be one of the purpetrators of the cluster-f*** that is G W Bush’s pathetic attempt to ‘beat’ his dad at being prez.
Go, Diggers!
#2
“they out drank the entire US contingency by a factor of 3”
Not hard to do, the U.S. troops are not allowed alcohol in Iraq.
The more things change, the more. . …. ..
“The Army’s involvement in the war reflected the classic conundrum facing a junior coalition partner that was sacrificing its blood and its treasure but remained impotent in a strategic sense. That no immediate national interests were involved, as well as the fact that the Government had not identified an exit strategy, made it inevitable that the troops would have to be withdrawn at some stage.”
From: The Australian Army and the Vietnam War 1962-1972 – Alan Ryan
TatooYou, I don’t even know here to begin with that one.
Seth, it sounds like you were in Iraq. Thank you for your service.
[Ed. See comment guidelines #4.]
Not allowed: Personal attacks on the Editors unless it represents interesting commentary
Interesting that when the current Spanish Prime Minister fulfilled his election promise and withdrew Spanish troops from Iraq, various commentators including JCD called them “cowards.” Now the Aussies do the same and everyone praises them.
11, don’t get pissy now. you may worship me all you want.
“US troops are not allowed alcohol”.
Thats hilarious. A friend of mine who served in Saudi Arabia during the first gulf war showed me a picture of himself standing next to a bunch of playboy centerfolds stuck to a board and him holding a bottle of whisky. Nope, no alcohol and pornography allowed…nope, none around here.