Australians Release Details of Iraq Role

AP | 5/09/03 | PETER O'CONNOR

[kattracks]

CANBERRA, Australia, May 09, 2003 (AP Online via COMTEX) -- Elite Australian special forces charged with knocking out Scud missile bases entered deep into Iraq two days before the opening salvo of the war, defense officials said Friday.

Releasing details on the role of Australia's 150 Special Air Services troops in Iraq for the first time, defense officials said a large contingent of Australian special forces went into Iraq the night of March 18.

The commandos were mainly charged with reconnaissance and "shoot and scoot" missions tracking key military targets and destroying them, either with their own weapons or by calling in coalition air strikes.

The first allied bombs did not fall on Iraq until early March 20, when Washington attempted a "decapitation" strike on Saddam Hussein and the Iraqi leadership at a suspected hideout in Baghdad.

The first Australian special forces entered Iraq's southern desert in long range jeeps, skirting enemy positions and trenches under the cloak of darkness.

A second group was dropped into the western desert hundreds of miles behind Iraqi lines by U.S. helicopters flying near the ground to evade Iraqi missile defenses and battling poor weather.

"The intent was to insert clandestinely and get deep into the assigned area before the sun came up," said Special Operations Command chief of staff Colonel John Mansell.

A staunch ally of the United States, Australia's special forces commandos were the combat core of its 2,000 troops committed to the war.

The SAS work in small teams of about five men in specially designed jeeps and are trained to operate for up to six weeks without logistical support, or indefinitely if needed, by living off the land.

Mansell said their biggest triumph was the capture of the giant Al Asad air base west of Baghdad, which they achieved with support from Australia F/A-18 fighter-bombers.

Australia suffered no casualties in the war.

The military released the details Friday to coincide with a visit by Prime Minister John Howard to Australian troops based in Qatar.

The first of the SAS troops are expected home within weeks.

By PETER O'CONNOR Associated Press Writer

[The_Victor]

Thank you, Aussies!

[Incorrigible]

G'Day!

[MEG33]

I salute our Aussie allies.Good job!

[RJL]

Well done, Aussies.

[Modernman]

An ally we can count on. Apparently, after the Bali bombing, the Aussies were pissed and looking for a fight. As history has shown, being on the receiving end of Aussie anger is not a good place to be.

[Grampa Dave]

Your fellow Aussies did an incredible job!

Thanks for being there with us!

Time for you to recycle that Pacific trading group concept again.

[Grampa Dave]

This will have an incredible shock and awe impact on the bad guys as this word gets out.

[Guillermo]

I wonder how many bin Laden's their actions created...

[BOBTHENAILER]

This will have an incredible shock and awe impact on the bad guys as this word gets out.

No kidding.

[Travis McGee]

Hmmm... you think the Aussie SAS gets much practice at roaming around in vast stretches of destert wasteland?

Oh wait a minute, I just described 2/3 of Oz.

;^)

[Grampa Dave]

Haven't we sent our spec ops there for training. I know in WWII a lot of our GI's went there. One of my uncles spent some time Australia before coming back to his division.

[Travis McGee]

I don't know.