Image Gallery: March 2006
Minister for Defence visits Australian troops in Iraq
07 March 2006
The Minister for Defence, Dr Brendan Nelson MP, and the Chief of the Defence Force (CDF), Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, in early March 2006 visited Australian troops deployed to the Middle East as part of Operation CATALYST.
After being greeted by the current Joint Task Force Commander, Brigadier Paul Symon AO, the Minister and CDF visited several locations in which Australia has troops deployed, including the Al Muthanna Province in southern Iraq.
Following meetings with each of the commanders of these Australian Defence Force elements the Minister took the opportunity to speak with and meet as many of the troops as possible.
Operation CATALYST is the ADF’s contribution to the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Iraq. Operation CATALYST commenced on July 16, 2003, and currently comprises 1400 ADF personnel.
Operation CATALYST runs concurrently with Operation SLIPPER, Australia’s contribution to the international coalition against terrorism.
Visit
Operation CATALYST website
| 20060304adf8243116_089 During his visit to Australian soldiers of the Al Muthanna Task Group in southern Iraq, the Minister for Defence, Dr Brendan Nelson, inspects military equipment deployed in the region. He is accompanied by the commander of the task group, Lieutenant Colonel Peter Short. (Date taken: 05 March 2006) Low-res | High-res |
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| 20060304adf8243116_127 During his visit to the Al Muthanna Task Group (AMTG) 2 the Minister for Defence, Dr Brendan Nelson, inspects the turret of one of the ASLAV vehicles used by Australian soldiers deployed in southern Iraq. (Date taken: 05 March 2006) Low-res | High-res |
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| 20060304adf8243116_200 The Minister for Defence, Dr Brendan Nelson (centre) and the Chief of the Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston (right), are briefed by the commander of the Al Muthanna Task Group, Lieutenant Colonel Peter Short, in the task group base at Camp Smitty in southern Iraq. (Date taken: 05 March 2006) Low-res | High-res |
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| 20060304adf8243116_238 The Minister for Defence, Dr Brendan Nelson and the Commander of the Australian Joint Task Force, Brigadier Paul Symon (left), walk from a British EH101 Merlin helicopter on which they flew into the Al Muthanna Task Group base at Camp Smitty, in southern Iraq. (Date taken: 05 March 2006) Low-res | High-res
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| 20060304adf8243116_278 The Minister for Defence, Dr Brendan Nelson, arrives in southern Iraq aboard a Royal Australian Air Force C-130J Hercules aircraft. (Date taken: 05 March 2006) Low-res | High-res |
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