Australia PM makes unannounced visit to troops in Iraq

[Judi Lynn]

Sunday, April 25, 2004
Australia PM makes unannounced visit to troops in Iraq

SYDNEY, Australia: Amid tight security, Prime Minister John Howard paid a surprise visit Sunday to Australian troops in Iraq for an emotion-charged dawn service honoring soldiers who fought and died in an ill-fated World War I campaign.

Wearing camouflaged body armor with the word "Howard'' handwritten on the front and with his suit jacket draped over his arm, the prime minister flew into Baghdad in a military Hercules transport plane for the service, which was attended by the commander of coalition ground forces, U.S. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez.

In video images released by Australia's Defense Department, Howard looked relaxed as heavily armed troops greeted his plane and ushered into a waiting car that whisked him to the airport's air traffic control center.

Howard said afterward he had never before heard the sound of automatic gunfire crackling in the background during a service on Anzac Day, which commemorates troops who fought with the Australia New Zealand Army Corps. in World War I's Gallipoli campaign.
(snip/...)

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2004/4/25/latest/17078Australia&sec=latest


Howard and friend

[DustMolecule]

1. Did he remember to bring a plastic turkey?

precident HAS been set already for this, ya know ;-)

[rooboy]

2. This will backfire on Howard because he didn't take Latham...

in Australia (and UK, I believe) it is customary for matters of national unity to be bi-partisan, thus the leader of the opposition is usually invited on such trips. Latham didn't even know about it, and I don't see how the Australian public will do anything but groan about this opportunistic, short, slow-witted bald man.

[0007]

3. I don't see how this will help Howard any shape way or form

... Can't wait to see this prick buried by his own people at the next election.

[Andrushka]

4. How I truly hope this backfires

We'll have to wait and see as Aus gets back to work after a long weekend, but I don't think this will go down well, except for the few die-hard Howard supporters (an endangered species, and one which I could care less about seeing go the way of the dodo).

[rooboy]

5. Welcome to DU, Andrushka !!!

And the Chaser is a GREAT rag!

:hi: :hi:

[greenleaf]

6. During one of the ceremonies

Howard was attending gunfire was heard in the background.
Gen.Sanchez joked with Howard that they arranged it especially for him.
Howard gave the sickest smile ive ever seen him pull.
and said "Aha?"

[JoFerret]

7. ANZAC day

- about says it all. I hope the people at home do think of the ANZACS.

[sofa king]

8. Honor to Anzac Day.

You've heard of the town of Bedford, Virginia, which had 19 of its residents killed on Omaha Beach on June 6, 1944 and several more in the weeks thereafter? That equates to a per-capita death rate of roughly 6 per 1000 residents, widely believed to be the highest of any American town in World War II. Virtually everyone in the town knew someone who died in Normandy. That's why my nation's D-Day Memorial is located there.

For Australians and New Zealanders, the landings at Gallipoli had a similar effect, only on a much larger scale. Twenty percent of the New Zealanders who landed there on April 25, 1915 were casualties by the end of the day. By the time the operation was terminated in August, 1915, roughly 1.6 out of every 1,000 Australians were dead at Gallipoli--a Bedford of national proportions. Virtually everyone in Australia and New Zealand knew someone who fell at Gallipoli.

It is only appropriate that the Prime Minister should honor his proud nation's troops who serve in combat today, on this day. Please keep that in mind as this discussion progresses.