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Iraq
New Australian PM for long term ties with Iraq
2007-12-22
BAGHDAD - Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, on a surprise visit to Baghdad on Friday, assured Iraq of a long-term partnership but stressed his combat troops deployed here would head home by June next year.

“Earlier today I visited Australian battle group in Talil (southern Iraq) and spoke directly to what is a fine body of men and women,” the recently elected Rudd told a Baghdad news conference with his counterpart, Nuri al-Maliki. “That battle group will come to a conclusion as of June next year. And that will be the last battle group we deploy.”
Hard to argue; if we're going to draw down forces we can't be upset if the Aussies and Poles do the same.
Rudd, on his second visit to Baghdad, was elected on a promise that he would pull out the 550 troops deployed in Iraq along with the British forces in the south of the country.

On Friday, Rudd spoke of long-term bilateral relations with Iraq. “Australia will continue to support our friends in Iraq through navy deployment in the Gulf to assist in long-term security of Iraqi exports,” he said. Australia would also continue training Iraqi soldiers and police in Australia or in neighbourhing Jordan, he said.

“We look forward to strengthen bilateral relations between Australia and Iraq in the years ahead ... to build a new Iraqi democracy and look foward to be this country’s long-term partner in the future,” Rudd added.

Maliki expressed appreciation for the role played by Canberra in helping the war-torn country develop its security forces. “We are happy to receive him in Iraq, especially when he has not been in his position for more than two and half weeks,” Maliki said. “It is a sign of attention and concern towards our country. We had positve talks with him that opened doors for future cooperation between Australia and Iraq.”
Posted by:Steve White

#3  think u jon carry four pasing a budjit.
-soljer n arack

(Thank you Australia. See the family, grab a bite, you have done well).
Posted by: swksvolFF   2007-12-22 23:21  

#2  We didt win this war. this war was illegal, and is a quagmire. we have lost it. i know, because it is seared... seared i tell you into my memory.
Posted by: J F Kerry   2007-12-22 13:09  

#1  As long as the MSM understands it's because we won the war, not because they succeeded in getting everyone to run away.

Someday, even Harry and Nancy will grasp that fact.
Posted by: Bobby   2007-12-22 12:29  

00:00