Posted on 07/31/2009 3:35:14 AM PDT by naturalman1975
AUSTRALIA has officially ended its six-year military presence in Iraq three days ahead of the deadline. Some 20,000 members of the army, navy and air force have served in Iraq since 2003.
The honour of being the last Digger to leave the strife-torn country went to Corporal Don Mander.
He stepped aboard an RAAF C-130 Hercules transport aircraft at Baghdad International Airport on Tuesday afternoon, the last of 12 Australian personnel embedded within US units operating in Baghdad.
They arrived home last night.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says Australia's troops did a "fantastic'' job and Iraq has now achieved "a remarkable democratisation of the country''.
While Labor hadn't agreed with the invasion of Iraq, serving troops should never be put in the middle of a political bunfight, he told Fairfax Radio Network.
"These are a fine body of soldiers and they should be recognised.''
But, Mr Rudd admitted, he wasn't sure when the last troops arrived home or what reception arrangements were planned.
That was left for Defence Minister John Faulkner to explain.
"As the operation has now successfully concluded, Defence will consider suitable opportunities for public recognition, which may include parades in appropriate locations,'' Senator Faulkner said.
"Our service men and women again proved the Australian Defence Force's high reputation in complex and difficult operational environments and I thank them on behalf of the Australian Government.''
Under an agreement negotiated with the Iraq Government late last year, all Australian troops had to leave the country by July 31.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.com.au ...
GOD bless our Aussie buddie’s, They’ve fought side by side with us many time’s. Thank You!
Australia, Poland, Britain and Canada to a degree, is all we got left baby.
Leaving without a public thank you from Obammy.
Don’t forget the El Savs.... In Iraq they had aggressive ROEs and were hard core fighters.
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