Dutch to Australians...

Aussies in action!
The biggest news for me today was the Australian government's announcement of its deployment of extra soldiers to Iraq. They've pledged their 450 soldiers will replace the Dutch protecting the Japanese Self Defense Forces in Samawah of southern Iraq. I've seen a team of Australian soldiers when I was covering the news about the JSDF in Kuwait last year. Very friendly!
It's hard for me to figure out the Australian government's intentions for this decision, but close ties between us and our Pacific partner must be a major factor. As an optimist, I think Samawah is fairly peaceful than other areas of Iraq and if commitment to Iraq's reconstruction was a necessity to Japan (there of course is debate among the politicians and polls on this issue), I'm confident going to the area the JSDF was deployed is a smart choice. So on, the assessment of our ability in international contributions and of the safety of the area was not off the mark. This may be true for the Aussies too. Though there probably will be more conflicts till their deployment (see ABC's HP of Australia http://www.abc.net.au/news/)
I hope our long friendship will lead to great teamwork in a confused rebuilding nation.

P.S. I've never been to the southern hemisphere. Australia is one of the countries I wish to go in the near future!!