Word: australian
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Dates: during 2000-2009
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...Australian forces ended their mission in southern Iraq this week and began heading home, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd praised the troops but said the decision to send them had been a mistake. The government of his predecessor, John Howard, had joined the war against Saddam Hussein's regime "without a full and proper assessment ... of its consequences." At Tallil air base, Lieutenant Colonel Chris Websdane's praise for his soldiers was unqualified: "You should be proud of your achievements...
...Australians have not been engaged in fighting in Iraq since Saddam's armies were defeated in 2003; they've performed their mission with few injuries and no fatalities. The 550 ground troops now leaving the country have spent the past five years overseeing security in the relatively calm Al-Muthanna and Dhi Qar provinces. They've protected reconstruction workers, trained Iraqi police and soldiers, gathered intelligence, fostered amity among local leaders, and promoted democracy and the rule of law. "They trained the local security forces and restored confidence," said the Australia Defence Association's Neil James. "That they were...
...Phnom Penh, I stop by the offices of Rory and Melita Hunter, an Australian couple whose real estate company was recently granted a 99-year lease to build a luxury boutique hotel on Song Saa, a tiny pair of islands off the coast. They show me elaborate renderings of the future 40-room complex, replete with a wine cellar, air-conditioned library and 15 over-water bungalows designed to reflect the architecture of a nearby fishing village. The Hunters paid relocation costs for the 15 or so families living on the islands. They hauled away tons of trash that...
...lights is a mesmerizing sight. For pre-dinner drinks, my pick would be the waterside Opera Bar, tel: (61-2) 9247 1666, tucked below the white sails of the Opera House. A short walk away and with equally stunning views is Aria, tel: (61-2) 9252 2555, offering contemporary Australian cuisine. Then I'd take in a concert or play at the Opera House, tel: (61-2) 9250 7777, or listen to live rock or blues at the Basement, tel: (61-2) 9251 2797, and end the evening at the chic Bligh...
...antiques restorer The northern side of the harbor is often overlooked by travelers, which is a pity because it has some of the nicest views and walks in Sydney. I would start in the mid-afternoon at Taronga Zoo, tel: (61-2) 9969 2777, where koalas, kangaroos and other Australian wildlife enjoy an excellent view of the harbor and the city skyline. Then I'd walk along the foreshore through Sydney Harbour National Park to Chowder Bay for alfresco coffee and cake at Ripples Italian restaurant, tel: (61-2) 9960 3000, in a renovated naval wharf complex. Not far away...