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Making a difference in Iraq
By LTCOL J. Squire
Volume 50, No. 16, September 06, 2007 |
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| LEGAL HELP: Lieutenant Commander Hugh Cameron, a Navy Lawyer, centre, with US colleagues. |
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LCDR Hugh Cameron is a long way from the Personnel Executive in Russell Offices and his legal opinion is now making a difference to Coalition operations in Iraq.
LCDR Cameron is an Australian “embed” working with the Multi-National Corps – Iraq (MNC-I) headquarters in Baghdad.
His official title is Chief Operational Law – Coalition Support and his job is to advise Coalition planners and commanders on Operational Law issues and solutions as they conduct operations.
His advice contributes to ensuring that Coalition actions comply with international law and are consistent across the coalition. With 26 nations contributing to the force in Iraq there is no shortage of work for him and the Coalition team he works with.
LCDR Cameron works together with seven US lawyers and 14 support staff in the Operations Law section of HQ MNC-I in Baghdad.
Legal officers are also employed at the Force, Divisional, Brigade and often unit level so he is part of a massive Coalition legal system. He said that the most rewarding part of his deployment so far has been his involvement in “cutting edge” operational legal work.
“The intensity and variety of legal issues I am exposed to here is beyond anything I have experienced in Australia,” he said.
He is also learning from his US counterparts.
“It is a privilege to see the professionalism of the US and coalition lawyers.
“I will take away a very thorough knowledge of the US military system and how they coordinate all aspects, including legal issues, into the conduct of operations on this scale,” LCDR Cameron said.
Approximately 95 ADF embedded personnel are making a less visible, but important, contribution to Coalition operations both in Iraq and Afghanistan.
These personnel comprise members of the Navy, Army and Air Force including Reservists and Defence civilians.
They are employed in a variety of roles including specialist advisers, liaison and training officers. |
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