64 Iraq 2005- Al Muthana Task Group - 2 The Army Special Forces Task Group in Western Iraq withdrew from the area in 2003 following the Australian Government’s decision to switch gears in their commitment to the region. The Australian Government had decided to cease contributions to providing security on the ground and instead moved to provide Iraq with the Australian Army Training Teams as well as a number of military staff to protect Australia’s Diplomatic and Military Staff in Baghdad. This change of focus came as the Australian Government had agreed to a request from the British and Japanese Governments to assist in providing a secure environment for the Japanese reconstruction groups as they made plans to assist in the Al Muthana province. This province was a part of the British area of operations, previously secured by the Dutch and was a very large but relatively poor rural province populated by the Shiite peoples of the Shia branch of Islam. The province at this time was known to be one of the more stable regions but was at times unpredictable as locals became frustrated at the slow pace of reconstruction efforts. On the 22nd February 2005 the Prime Minster Hon John Howard made the announcement that the Australian Army would assist with the betterment of Iraq. The Australian Army task group deployed to Al Muthanna province, South Iraq. The task was to provide a secure working environment for the Japanese Reconstruction and Support Group as they were performing essential humanitarian tasks as well as rebuilding local areas. The secondary task was to train the local Iraqi Army so that they could one day take over the role of defending their country – a role the ADF still plays to this day, albeit under the name Task Force Taji.
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