Rudd visiting Australian troops in Afghanistan and laying a wreath.
Posted on 11/12/2009 4:29:43 AM PST by myknowledge
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has made a surprise visit to Australian troops in Afghanistan.
The secret diversion was made as Mr Rudd travelled to India and was kept under wraps because of security fears.
Mr Rudd stayed with the troops in Tarin Kowt overnight and marked Remembrance Day with them in a ceremony.
The Prime Minister's visit came just hours after an Australian soldier was wounded by a roadside bomb near Tarin Kowt.
Australia currently has about 1,500 troops in southern Uruzgan province.
Mr Rudd used the Remembrance Day ceremony to praise the sacrifice of the 11 Australian soldiers who have been killed in Afghanistan since the fighting began, and pledged Australia's long-haul commitment to the country.
"Their sacrifice was that so we prevail against the enemy - the enemy of the Afghan people, the enemy of the Afghan nation and the enemy that would otherwise give to terrorists across the world," he said.
"We in Australia are here for the long haul. We from Australia will remain for the long haul."
Mr Rudd spoke with President Hamid Karzai over the phone and stressed the need for Afghanistan to tackle corruption.
It was a none-too-veiled swipe at what the President needs to do and has not done so far.
Mr Rudd also spoke in person to the American general who is leading the NATO effort in Afghanistan, Stanley McChrystal.
General McChrystal argues the Obama administration should increase its troop numbers in Afghanistan and President Barack Obama is considering that request.
India visit
Mr Rudd is now on his way to India, where he will spend a day trying to build business and political ties with the emerging economic powerhouse.
There are issues on Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's agenda as well, like asking Mr Rudd to reconsider the ban on exporting uranium to India.
Mr Rudd's plans to visit the financial capital Mumbai were scrapped because of the approaching Cyclone Phyan.
His visit to India follows efforts by a parade of state and federal government ministers who have tried in recent months to repair damage to the international student sector, after a spate of violent attacks in Melbourne and Sydney, seemingly directed at Indian students.
The recent collapse of international colleges and reports of unscrupulous education agents ripping off international students has also caused tension between the two countries.
One international security expert says Australia has long ignored its economic and strategic relationship with India and Mr Rudd's visit should be focused on that.
Program director for international security at the Lowy Institute, Rory Medcalf, says Canberra has neglected the subcontinent but the feeling has been mutual.
"The real challenge is to take it to a new level in terms of strategic trust, diplomatic cooperation, and I don't think we're anywhere near our potential on those fronts yet," he said.
"India has tended to see Australia through a couple of very outdated lenses. It has seen Australia as eventually an appendage of the United States or it has seen Australia as some sort of afterthought in Asia.
"I think for a long time India has just simply not understood and has not appreciated how much Australia has to offer."
Meanwhile, Mr Rudd's wife Therese Rein is already in India visiting a kindergarten in the slums of Mumbai.
She braved pouring rain to take books and educational toys to the 24 children at the kindergarten, known locally as Muskaan, which means "smile" in Hindi.
Rudd visiting Australian troops in Afghanistan and laying a wreath.
Think Australia would give us Kevin Rudd in exchange for The One?....didn’t think so. We already have a not natural born citizen (I hesitate to even call him an American) in the WH so the only difference would be one has balls and conviction the other has nada.
Call him a Kenyan.
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