Its time to ask.
How many young Australains are going to be killed in an unwinnable war in Afghanistan?.
How many children will be left without fathers in early age of their lives?
How many young mothers are going to live on their own with young children and without loving husbands?
Howe many of them should suffer to fulfill dreams of corrupted politicians?

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/7950634/australian-killed-in-afghanistan

An Australian soldier has been killed in an intense firefight with Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan.

The 28-year-old lance corporal, who has not been identified, was on a joint patrol with Afghani security forces when the insurgents attacked.
The battle lasted three hours, Defence Force Chief Angus Houston told a press conference a short time ago.
"Though immediate first aid was provided, the soldier was unable to be saved," he said.
"The soldier's family have been advised and have specifically requested that his name not be released at this early stage."
The experienced soldier, from the sixth battalion, was on his fourth operation deployment and his second to Afghanistan.
He leaves behind a wife and young family, Air Chief Marshal Houston said.
"He was very popular with his platoon and displayed good humour even in times of stress."
"This was a soldier devoted to duty, his mates, and the Australian army values of courage, initiative and teamwork."
The dead man was the 21st Australian soldier to die in Afghanistan since 2001.
"There is absolutely no doubt that this has been a very tough two-and-a-half months for the Australian army," Air Chief Marshal Houston said.

... wrote on Aug 25^th, 2010 at 10:27am:


I entirely agree.
It’s not only sad but the awful tragedies that should be addressed and to some degree understood if we try to put ourselves in the position of those unfortunate families.
I am just wondering how many of those advocates of this war sent their children to Afghanistan?.

hey chook

Angus Houston, stated that they had air support during the contact, it would be very likely that this would be correct, the US has aircraft up the wazzoo.

It is very sad, but it is part of the job. RIP Digger

Local people are between rock and not so hard place. On one side there is Local Force, that can execute them and on the other side is soft approach military with all the rules of engagement, one could compare to at least one hand tied behind ones back.

So choice is not so difficult, just cooperate with outsiders during brief encounters and do what they are told to do the rest of time.

For our military to be safer, we would have to totally separate from the locals, who time and again proved that mostly willingly or not they are just moles.

How much would you be willing to sacrifice to bring democracy to Afghanistan? Are you willing to condemn them to anothe 50 years of brutal dictatorship?

As far as wars go, this one is pretty tame, at least for our side.