Australian PM Abbott Visits Australian Troops in Afghanistan

Under heavy security, PM Tony Abbott visits Afghanistan and declares war over

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.

Sergeant Blaine Diddams,Aussie Warrior coming home, God Bless.

Sergeant Blaine Diddams' body on its way home


Daily Telegraph
July 05, 20129:11PM


THE body of fallen Australian digger Sergeant Blaine Diddams, killed during a firefight in Afghanistan, is on its way home after being farewelled by colleagues in Tarin Kowt.


Sergeant Diddams was killed on Tuesday after his patrol was dropped by helicopter, in pursuit of an insurgent.


He was shot in the chest and died at a medical facility in Tarin Kowt despite wearing combat body armour.


"Today we farewelled a husband and father, a mate and brother who will be forever missed but never forgotten," said an Australian Special Operations Task Group commander who can only be identified as Lieutenant Colonel J for security reasons.


"He died doing what he loved in the only way he knew how - to lead his men from the front."

His memorial service was held in Camp Russell at Multi-National Base, in Tarin Kowt, before his casket was moved to a waiting Australian C-130 Hercules aircraft.


Sgt Diddams, known as "Didds" to his mates, was a devoted family man, father of two, as well as a dedicated professional soldier.


Born in Canberra in 1971, Sgt Diddams enlisted in the Army in April 1990 and was posted to the 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment in Townsville, Queensland, later that year.


In 1995 he was posted to the elite SASR in Perth after completing the selection course.

Sgt Diddams was on his seventh tour of Afghanistan since 2001 and had deployed previously to Somalia, East Timor and the Solomon Islands.


Highly decorated, he was awarded a number of honours during his career and served in various operations over his 22 year career.


He is survived by his wife Toni-Ann, their daughter Elle-Lou and their son Henry, his parents Peter and Cate, and siblings Nikki, Sian, Christian and Luke.

So so sorry Mate, Thank you .

Australian PM Kevin Rudd agitated in Afghanistan

PM Kevin Rudd denies argument over hair dryer in Afghanistan

Steve Lewis and Ben Packham
Herald Sun
May 08, 2009 12:00am

KEVIN Rudd has denied he threw a "wobbly" over a hair dryer while in Afghanistan.

Coalition frontbencher John Cobb claimed the Prime Minister became agitated when Diggers couldn't find a hair dryer for a photo opportunity.

A livid Mr Rudd last night rejected the allegations as "laughable, ridiculous and untrue".

He also accused Liberal leader Malcolm Turnbull of denigrating the "good name" of Australia's frontline troops.

But Mr Cobb stood by his claims, saying he was told of the incident by forces in Afghanistan.

The alleged incident occurred when Mr Rudd and a small entourage made a secret dash into Afghanistan just before Christmas last year.

There have been stories circulating about it in Defence circles ever since.

Mr Cobb, National MP for the NSW seat of Calare, said the troops he spoke to at Tarin Kowt were staggered at Mr Rudd's behaviour.

"He chucked a wobbly," he said. "I heard from a few people in the Defence forces - they were going on and on about it."But the PM strongly denied the incident.

"The claims by Coalition MP John Cobb on behalf of the Liberal Party dirt unit of an alleged incident in Afghanistan are laughable, ridiculous and untrue," a spokesman for Mr Rudd told the Herald Sun.

The Herald Sun revealed last month Mr Rudd had reduced an RAAF flight attendant to tears during a flight from Port Morseby to Canberra in late January.

The PM was forced to publicly apologise after he complained about the food service on the VIP flight.

Rudd's Australia