NZ can be proud of our serving troops

Todd Muller during his trip to Iraq. Supplied photo.

Bay of Plenty MP Todd Muller has just returned from a visit to the Middle East where he has met with NZ troops serving in the region.

Todd, who is Chairman of Parliament's Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Select Committee, travelled as a member of Defence Minister Mark Mitchell's delegation.

'This was my first time meeting serving Kiwi troops and I was struck by their professionalism, humility and the genuine satisfaction they were gaining from assisting the global effort to defeat ISIS.

'I was invited in my capacity of Chair of the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Select Committee and it was a trip of significant learning.

'Our troops are doing a great job, from the team supporting our P3 Orion mission at Al Minhad Airbase in the UAE, to the team based in Camp Taji, north of Baghdad, where 106 of our soldiers are part of the joint training mission with Australia to assist the Iraqi forces build their capability.

Todd says there is something very humbling about seeing these young professionals doing a job they love - that they have trained for - in a region that is hot and inhospitable.

He says they are making a clear difference.

"I had the opportunity to speak to a number of our troops from the trainers, force protection and medics through to the logistics team, administration support and communication and intelligence.

'The joint mission with Australia is well integrated, the kiwis themselves are demonstrably competent, and with the Iraqi Security Forces now well in the ascendancy in their battle with ISIS, this mission is genuinely making a difference."

When Todd spoke with an Iraqi General who was overseeing the training, he was very clear that the NZ and Australian training was critical to their future success - "not only in liberating Mosul but the longer term challenges of stabilising ground won back from ISIS”.

'Another clear take away from meeting some of the Iraqi troops on the ground and their leadership in Baghdad is how the mix of our professional soldiering and understated humility was really connecting with the Iraqis and is a key ingredient in the success of the training and adoption of the techniques in theatre. There is a genuine level of trust and respect being built up.

'Together with the Australian contingent the joint task force has trained 22,000 Iraqi soldiers since 2015. Through their in-field success 60,000 square kilometres have been liberated, 1.7million Iraqis have returned to their homes and 250,000 children are now back at school.

'With ISIS in full retreat, New Zealand is playing its part in this critical mission," says Todd.

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1 comment

War does not bring peace

Posted on 28-06-2017 21:31 | By Riverjade

It is sad not humbling to know our young men have been brainwashed into thinking they are doing something that adds value to this world. The majority of wars are fueled by America and the corporations, base on maintaining power and control over both legal and illegal resources ie Opium. There are no heroes in war


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