Herald Sun (Melbourne, Australia) April 29, 2004
Troop morale matters
By Phillip Coorey
EVEN if you take America and Britain out of the equation, Australia still has a relatively small number of troops in Iraq.
Although we had about 2000 personnel in the region when the war started -- and were one of only four nations in Iraq at that stage -- the figure dropped to about 850 after Baghdad fell.
Of those left, about 360 are in Iraq at any time, putting us below Italy, Spain, Poland, Ukraine, Japan, the Netherlands, Honduras and others, but ahead of the Kiwis.
Just because we have fewer personnel does not diminish their bravery or the risks they are taking.
As US troops bear the brunt of the violence, few Americans would notice the practical effects of an Australian withdrawal.
It is startling how many Americans don't know we fought in Vietnam.
Mr Howard is report edly thinking of joining Mr Bush at Normandy for the 60th anniversary of the D-day landings by the US, British and Canadians.
They will talk about how freedom was liberated from tyranny in 1944, just as it is today in Iraq. It will be OK to compare Iraq with World War II, but not with Vietnam.
TROOPS IN IRAQ
US 135,000
Britain 7500-9000
Italy 2700
Poland 2400
Spain (pulling out) 1400
Ukraine 1700
The Netherlands 1100
Japan 560
Denmark 510
Bulgaria 470
Honduras (pulling out) 370
Australia 365
El Salvador 360
Dominican Rep. (pulling out) 300
Norway 180
Mongolia 180
Azerbaijan 150
Nicaragua 115
Albania 70
New Zealand 60
*Japan has 400 other troops in the region
Australia has 485 other troops in the region
Sources: Associated Press and www.globalsecurity.org
© Copyright 2004, Nationwide News Pty Limited
