PM thanks troops in Al Muthanna

Visit: Lt-Col Roger Noble presents a Desert Ashes cricket team shirt to Prime Minister John Howard during his visit to the AMTG. Photo by Cpl Jamie Osborne

By Cpl Cameron Jamieson

PRIME Minister John Howard and CDF Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston made a surprise visit to Australian troops in Iraq to see the good work being done by the ADF personnel assigned to Operation Catalyst.

Following a meeting with the Iraqi Prime Minister in Baghdad, the Australian Prime Minister and CDF arrived at the Al Muthanna Task Group’s base near As Samawah in southern Iraq for a tour and update on the group’s operations. The VIPs also took the opportunity to meet as many of the troops as possible.

Beneath a scorching afternoon sun the Prime Minister thanked the gathered ADF members for their efforts on behalf of the Australian people. “The work you are doing here and the way you are building the good name and reputation of the Australian military forces … is something that the country is very proud of,” Mr Howard said.

“You are going about it in a typical Australian way; very professional, very dedicated and in a fashion that is sensitive and sympathetic to the interests of the local people.”

Later he said the ability of Australian troops to win the hearts and minds of the local people was an important trait that shouldn’t be under estimated.

“It’s a great national characteristic.

“I don’t think there’s anyone better than Australians for working with local people. Some people think winning hearts and minds is an old cliché, but it’s very important and Australians do that very well,” he said.

When asked how he felt when addressing crowds of ADF personnel on overseas operations, the Prime Minister said he felt very proud of them. “They do a fantastic job in our name, and they have wonderful traditions and wonderful values,” he said.

ACM Houston said the opportunity to meet the deployed forces in Iraq meant a great deal to him. “I wanted to come out and look at it for myself so I could thank everybody for the great effort they’re making,” he said. “Our people out here are working in extreme climatic conditions and are doing a magnificent job. They’re very professional, dedicated and working wonderfully well with our friends and allies from the UK and the United States, and are doing a great job of training the new Iraqi Army.”