Australia quits Iraq; Troops welcomed home.

We hope you enjoy your visit.

You're currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use. If you join our community, you'll be able to access member-only sections, and use many member-only features such as customizing your profile, sending personal messages, and voting in polls. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free.

Join our community!

If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features:

Australia quits Iraq; Troops welcomed home.
Topic Started: Jul 9 2008, 05:34 AM (169 Views)
Sayf Udeen Ismaeel	Jul 9 2008, 05:34 AM Post #1
Icon by meagan_chelsea @ LJ Posts: 7,578 Group: Admins Member #1 Joined: May 2, 2008 Gender Male Religious Views Muslim Political View All over the shop.	Troops welcomed home as Australia quits Iraq Australian soldiers who served in Iraq were given a rousing reception by about 10,000 people yesterday at a 'welcome home' parade in Brisbane that marked the country's withdrawal from combat operations. Well-wishers waved flags and banners and cheered as some 700 troops, many only recently returned from the war zone, marched through the streets in desert camouflage uniforms with an army band playing 'Waltzing Matilda'. The Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, was among a host of dignitaries who paid tribute at the ceremony, described as Australia's biggest military homecoming parade since the Second World War. 'Today the Australian nation says "thank you" to you, the men and women of the Australian Defence Force, for your service in Iraq,' said Rudd as he took the official salute outside City Hall. 'Freedom is not for free. Freedom comes at a price, and you are our front line in the defence of our freedom.' Parents, partners, children and other relatives of those who 'answered the nation's call' were thanked for supporting the soldiers. Private Dean Smith said he was happy to be home and was proud of having served in Iraq. 'It's really great to come home to such an amazing welcome from the public,' he said, waving to his family. Major John Papalitsas, commanding officer of the Australian Counter Insurgency Detachments, returned home last week after spending the past seven months in Iraq. 'I think it's very difficult for people to understand exactly how complex the nature of operations in Iraq are,' he said. 'It's a spider's web of complexity and I don't think people really understand what a good job the coalition forces are doing.' His mother, Rosemary, said she was relieved to have her son safely home. 'I don't think I can really hide my pride,' she said. Troops were deployed to Iraq by the former Liberal Prime Minister, John Howard, a strong supporter of the 2003 invasion. He has been criticised by Rudd, his Labor successor, for backing the war 'without accurate information or full assessment of the consequences'. Rudd made it a key election promise to withdraw combat troops as quickly as possible, though 300 will stay in Baghdad to help guard Australian diplomats and a further 500 will remain in the region.



Sayf Udeen Ismaeel	Jul 9 2008, 05:35 AM Post #2
Icon by meagan_chelsea @ LJ Posts: 7,578 Group: Admins Member #1 Joined: May 2, 2008 Gender Male Religious Views Muslim Political View All over the shop.	About time to show our disapproval, too. Hopefully more of the allies follow suit. My family have tried to tell me we're sending more in, but they are yet to source...I've looked, and have found nothing on it too. Anyone know? I think they're full of it.



KMY	Jul 9 2008, 11:47 AM Post #3
Posts: 17 Group: Members Member #82 Joined: Jul 9, 2008 Gender Male Religious Views Christian	I wish the Uk would pull our troops out too



Redneck	Jul 10 2008, 03:48 AM Post #4
Posts: 264 Group: Members Member #48 Joined: May 25, 2008 Gender Male Political View Liberal Facist	I think within a year and a half everyone will be out. Iraq is wanting everyone out, and I think the only person who wants to keep the US there is Bush and he's gone in six months, and I expect the new president to start a withdrawl, especially if Iraq is looking good like it is now and is continuing on it's demands that the US leaves.



Sister *)	Jul 11 2008, 02:41 AM Post #5
Leb-Muslima Posts: 932 Group: Former Members Member #5 Joined: May 2, 2008 Religious Views Muslim Gender Female Political View sharia law	iraq (from a democratic view, i would have thought the americans would treasure this ) have wanted america out from the start. if mccain is voted in, there is no way troops will withdraw.



Redneck	Jul 11 2008, 03:06 AM Post #6
Posts: 264 Group: Members Member #48 Joined: May 25, 2008 Gender Male Political View Liberal Facist	American troops will never totally leave, we tend keep atleast a small number of soliders everywhere. The US still has solidiers in Japan and Germany from WW2. There will be some soldiers there no matter what. But if things continue to go the way they are, I dont think McCain could keep them there even if he wanted to, because than Congress and the American public would force his hand.



blue	Jul 11 2008, 04:41 PM Post #7
Posts: 1,224 Group: Admins Member #8 Joined: May 3, 2008 Religious Views Muslim	The new presidents of the US, either of them whoever it is, don't seem to be too interested in pulling the troops out. Typical.



Redneck	Jul 11 2008, 09:13 PM Post #8
Posts: 264 Group: Members Member #48 Joined: May 25, 2008 Gender Male Political View Liberal Facist	Actually Obama has said he would, but he's also stated that he would talk with the commanders in Iraq before making any decission. which is smart, because if keeping them there means fewer people will ultimately die it's the right thing to do.



1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous)


« Previous Topic · Iraq · Next Topic »