Douglas Alexander: “I have spoken here previously about the contribution that one of our closest allies, Australia, has made to support our…”

“I have spoken here previously about the contribution that one of our closest allies, Australia, has made to support our efforts in Iraq and in the ongoing war against terror. At a time when other members of the international coalition in Iraq are beginning to draw down or remove their forces from the region, Australia continues to do its part. In fact, over the following weeks, Australia will expand its commitment to Iraq by about 50 percent. This will increase the total Australian military personnel currently working in or around Iraq to 1,370. These additional Australian troops will provide a secure environment--following the withdrawal of Dutch troops--for Japanese engineers who are involved in the reconstruction efforts in the Al Muthanna Province in southern Iraq. The additional troop commitment will also bolster the existing training of Iraqi forces by Australian troops--training which is essential to the successful transformation of Iraq into a secure democracy. Australia has always been a great friend and ally of ours. It shares a tradition of democracy and a dedication to the values of freedom and respect for life that we hold dear in the United States. Australia is, in fact, the only nation to have sent forces to fight alongside the United States in every major conflict during the 20th century, including Afghanistan, the first gulf war, Vietnam, Korea, and both World Wars.…”