By Tony Underwood
CA Lt-Gen Peter Leahy, has praised the work of the Defence Intelligence Organisation (DIO) through the course of the war against the Iraqi regime.

At a function to farewell a joint military-civilian contingent of 12 experts in weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) departing for Iraq, the CA said DIO had displayed timeliness, accuracy and relevance through the course of the war.

Representing the CDF, he joined Minister for Defence Robert Hill, and Secretary for Defence Ric Smith, at a gathering of some 150 intelligence staff at DIO headquarters on May 6.

“What strikes me is the word ‘continuity’ when I look back over the last decade-plus and our involvement in the Middle East and the establishment within DIO,” he said.

“The ability to have base levels of knowledge and to bring it up when required to provide very high level of support to the Strategic Command Group is essential.

“I can’t offer much higher praise than to say it was timely, accurate and relevant and really put us in a position in the SCG to work with the CDF and the Secretary to advise the Government.

“The results that we’ve seen have been quite outstanding.

“This continues with the exploration that is going to occur now – our ability to go over there and find that smoking gun.”

Lt-Gen Leahy said the remarkable performance of DIO over an extended period was attributable to energy and effort.

“I know that doesn’t come from an eight-hour shift. It comes from a lot of people who have done an enormous amount of work, mostly after hours.

“It has had an effect and has made a major contribution to what Australia has been able to put into the field.”

The continuity also applied to people who hadn’t been involved in Iraq. Recent briefs showed there were other areas of interest to Australia’s security.

“You’ve been there providing the work, making sure if we needed to know something, we would be told about it.”

The WMD specialists are military and civilian officers drawn from Government agencies including DIO, DSTO and the ADF.

Senator Hill said he was proud of their efforts.

“I am in no doubt that our personnel will make an important contribution to these efforts as they did to coalition combat operations. We wish them all the best for a successful deployment and a safe return,” he said.

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