Capt Grumpy, one clarification the RAAF did send controllers to Iraq, not just from TL but RAAF ATC wide.
As for track shortening, all arrivals for 01 are now tracked to SATCO as a TMP, the 9NM final is rarely used, you could always ask for it if visual approach is on the ATIS unless the cloud near final may lead to you calling visual late.
All bases train, the sausage factory is continually pumping them out, once they get proficient it’s time to move them on. Also clogging up the sky are Caribou, SF34 and SW4, Army helicopters and local lighties all training as well which might add to your delays. TL is not a capital city so the priorities are a little different.
Late last year how they treated runway 01 and 07 changed because of an incident, they now have to be treated as crossing runways.
virgindriver, were you held up because of EMQ helicopter into the hospital?