(Australian) PM to farewell Iraq-bound troops

[anakie]

Prime Minister John Howard is in Darwin today to officially farewell soldiers who will leave for Iraq over the next few weeks.

Mr Howard, Defence Minister Robert Hill and the chief of the Defence Force, General Peter Cosgrove, will address the troops at Darwin's Robertson Barracks this afternoon.

Australia is sending 450 soldiers to the Al Muthanna province in southern Iraq, where they will provide security for Japanese engineers and help train Iraqi security forces.

After intensive training for the mission, the troops will leave Australia in staggered deployments over the next few weeks.

Mr Howard says they have a "very important" role to support an ally and help the Iraqi people break free from their past.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200504/s1346876.htm

The real pity here is that our illustrious leader is not going over there himself to lead the mission. But like all chicken hawks he talks a good war.