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(June 29, 2007) -- For several months, the Marines and sailors of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit prepared to take part in Exercise Talisman Saber 2007, a bilateral joint exercise between Australian and U.S. armed forces. Time drew near for the kickoff of this major joint field training exercise at the Shoalwater Bay training area in Central Queensland, Australia. The first of two waves of Marines and sailors of E Company filed off into an Australian landing craft resembling a gigantic, oceangoing flat-bed truck and packed it in close for what everyone already knew would be a tight squeeze. After...

SYDNEY, Australia (AP) — Amid tight security, Prime Minister John Howard paid a surprise visit Sunday to Australian troops in Iraq. "The trip to Iraq is in recognition of the great sacrifice and contribution Australian personnel are making there in challenging conditions," Howard's office said in a statement. "They are following in the footsteps of countless other Australians who have served the nation in many parts of the globe." Howard's visit was for a dawn ceremony at Baghdad International Airport to mark Anzac Day, Australia's main veterans' commemoration. It was Howard's trip to Iraq since he sent 2,000 troops to...

THE US said yesterday Australia's commitment of troops to Iraq was a "major effort" that further strengthened ties between the two countries. US Defence Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman General Richard Myers praised Prime Minister John Howard's decision to deploy about 2500 personnel to maintain pressure on Iraq. General Myers said it was never easy for a leader to commit his people to the dangers of a potential war, and hoped Australians would support their troops. "If forces are going to go into combat, you would like to know that your country is behind it, of course, and that you...