Howard does a Bush
2004-04-25 10:11
Sydney - Prime Minister John Howard, emulating his friend US President George W Bush, made a secret visit to Iraq on Sunday to join Australian troops in the national Anzac Day commemoration of his country's war dead.
The visit, which for security reasons was kept secret until he landed before dawn at Baghdad airport with a planeload of journalists, was his first to the country since he committed troops to the US-led invasion last March.
He attended a dawn service at Baghdad airport, where the control tower is staffed largely by Australian air traffic controllers, and spent some time talking to troops, diplomats and other civilian expatriates.
Most of the troops gathered for the service knew there would be a VIP guest, but were not told who it would be.
Australia, which committed 2 000 troops to the invasion last March, currently has some 850 still serving in Iraq. They include soldiers protecting Australia's expatriate community or instructing Iraqi service volunteers, as well as air force air traffic controllers and naval crews in the Gulf.