FRIDAY FOTO Extra (Dec. 31, 2010)

TRADITION: Warriors of the World

To ring in the New Year, we thought we’d take a look at the dress uniforms of several nations around the world. As luck would have it, U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates made several trips to Latin America, Asia and the Near East in 2010. And where the secretary travels, there is always a photographer. We hope you enjoy this scenes, which aren’t always seen. Remember to click on each image to see a larger version of the photo.

First stop, Vietnam

Defense Dept. photo by Air Force Master Sgt. Jerry Morrison

Defense Secretary Robert  Gates was in Hanoi in October and reviewed the troops with Vietnamese Defense Minister Gen. Phung Quang Thanh during a Guards of Honor Ceremony at  the Vietnamese military headquarters. Those boots have got to be hot in the tropics.

Malaysia

Defense Dept. photo by Cherie Cullen

Gates reviews the troops during an honor arrival ceremony at Malaysia’s Ministry of Defense in Kuala Lumpur,  Nov. 9, 2010.

Chile

Defense Dept. photo by Air Force Master Sgt. Jerry Morrison

Gates and Chile’s Defense Minister Jaime Ravinet reviews the troops during an honors arrival ceremony Nov. 20 at Santiago. Check out those helmets and boots. How do you say ‘Achtung!” in Spanish?

Bolivia

Defense Dept. photo by Air Force Master Sgt. Jerry Morrison

In Bolivia for a conference of Western hemisphere defense ministers, Gates received full military honors when he arrived in Santa Cruz on Nov. 21. Must be windy, look at those flapping ties. No wonder the honor guards’ caps have chin straps.

Oman

Defense Dept. photo by Air Force Master Sgt. Jerry Morrison

Omani Defense Affairs Minister Sayyid Badr bin Saud bin Harib al-Busaidi was on hand to greet Gates upon his arrival in Muscat, Oman, Dec. 5.

And finally, Afghanistan

Defense Dept. photo by Air Force Master Sgt. Jerry Morrison

Gates receives an honors welcome in Kabul as he arrives at the Ministry of Defense with Afghanistan Defense Minister Abdul Rahim Wardak on Dec. 9.

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