Ian McPhedran in Tarin Kowt
The Daily Telegraph
October 29 ,2013
PRIME Minister Tony Abbott last night declared Australia's longest conflict over, saying our soldiers were leaving Afghanistan a better place after the war on terror.
After more than a decade of battle and the loss of 40 Australian soldiers, Mr Abbott arrived at Tarin Kowt under unprecedented security for a "recognition ceremony" to lower the flag on the war
The prime minister told a large crowd of Australian and coalition forces the war was ending, "not with victory, not with defeat, but with, we hope, an Afghanistan that is better for our presence here".
"Our armed forces and our officials have done their duty. That duty never ends, although our duty here has,'' Mr Abbott said.
The prime minister and officers from four countries laid wreaths at the base memorial wall, carrying the names of 114 fallen soldiers, including the diggers who paid the ultimate sacrifice.
Governor of Oruzgan Province Amir Mohammad Akhunzada thanked Australia and other countries involved in the province from the bottom of his heart.
"I hope that friendly countries will continue their help through the central Government in order to keep Afghanistan stable and self-sufficient," Mr Amir said.
He said the enemies of Afghanistan should understand that their ideas of regaining power are "delusionary and mad.''
Following a secret dash from Sydney to the Middle East, Mr Abbott arrived at Camp Holland for his first visit as prime minister, accompanied by Opposition leader Bill Shorten, Defence Minister David Johnston and Defence Chief General David Hurley.
The camp will be formally handed over to Afghan security forces in mid-December.
The giant C-17 transport jet, with Mr Abbott in the cockpit, was shadowed into TK airfield by US Apache attack helicopters and army snipers took up overwatch positions in towers overlooking the arrival bay.
Mr Abbott had been wearing body armour and a helmet on the flight into Tarin Kowt but emerged from the cockpit of the C-17 wearing an open neck shirt and pullover.
It was a stark contrast to Kevin Rudd who strode off the plane wearing a bullet proof vest when he visited the country before the election campaign.
Inside the base a gaggle of special forces bodyguards and infantry and RAAF "guardian angels'' took up positions on every corner as Mr Abbott was taken inside the headquarters for secret briefings by the Commander of Combined Team Uruzgan, Colonel Wade Stothart, and the US commander of Regional Command South, Major General Paul LaCamera, and deputy ISAF commander British General John Lorimar.
The memorial at which the wreaths were laid last night is due to be painted over, broken up and buried, as revealed by News Corp on Sunday, prompting anger from soldiers and the families of diggers.
Families and soldiers have reacted angrily to the plans saying that they want the wall returned home to the Australian War Memorial.
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