Top praise for ADF

By Lt Cameron Jamieson
Volume 11, No. 40, April 6, 2006

MELBOURNE’S historic Victoria Barracks was the backdrop for US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice when she passed on the appreciation and admiration of the people of America for the efforts of the ADF since the terrorist attacks of 9/11.

The event, co-hosted by Australian Minister for Defence Brendan Nelson, allowed Dr Rice to speak to a gathering of soldiers, sailors, airmen and airwomen who have served on combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

In her address, she also praised personnel who were involved in providing humanitarian assistance in following the Boxing Day 2004 tsunami.

Dr Rice said that the American administraion was proud and grateful for the service provided by ADF members.

She said that in all of the endeavours, whether in supporting democracy in Afghanistan and Iraq or assisting the peoples of Indonesia and Thailand and South East Asia from the fury of Mother Nature, “we know that the men and women of Australia and the men and women of the US in uniform stand for the very best of our countries”.

“You represent us so well – we’re so proud and so grateful for your service,” she said.

“And I come to thank Australia, from the President, from the American people, from your compatriots – American men and women in uniform – for the great friendship, for the honourable service that we’ve done together and for the defence of freedom.

“We know that whenever we’re on the line, whenever we need a friend, that we’ve got a great friend in Australia.”.