Just a gentle reminder for those who are living in the political twighlight zone....

The 'reason' geopolitically we are in Afghanistan is

a) Alliance obligations. (we help them (USA)...they defend us)

b) The strong possibility..nay..probability of a Taliban controlled Afghanistan then taking Pakistan and it's nuclear arsinal.

c) Probably numerous commercial interests

"b" is the most important.

Great article!

Julia suffers from the same myopia that has afflicted a number of Australian Prime Ministers. She too thinks that following America onto its many battlefields will bring some benefit to Australia. How silly!

America is engaged in trying to control the world. That's why it has so many military bases and that's why it spends more than it has on armaments and endless wars.

I have a map on my blog which shows how much of the world America controls already. You really should look at it, get up to speed!

http://www.dangerouscreation.com

Dearest ALGOREisRICH (Third Reich) or whatever.

The diversity of my political views is a sign of the maturity and tolerance, in line with OLO's best traditions - that you manifestly lack :)

Regards

Pete

The war is not Gillard's. She is constrained by all the forces around her just as her predecessors were to maintain the alliance with USA... the one that I would prefer to distance our country from asap! The USA wants to go warmongering to enrichen and empower itself throughout the world, as it has been since the second world war, and wants Australia to accompany it to lend some legitimacy to what it does. If Australia had enough self respect it would expose the hypocrites for what they are, and leave them to do their own dirty work.

Heaven help Australia if we ever call on USA to defend us (which is said to be the excuse for maintaining our American alliance). Have you noticed the mess America has left in other countries it rushed to save in living memory? Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan....

Hi all...

On this occasion I do agree with C J Morgan, and vehemently disagree with YUYUTSU.

YUYUTSU, you state inter alia, that our soldiers are 'professional', and they're fighting a 'holy war' ?

Well I was a 'professional' soldier, and there is NO WAR that's holy !
Afghanistan is just another Vietnam. Another unwinnable War. Vietnam was nothing but a bloody hell hole. Most times you couldn't even identify your enemy. Farmer working his 'paddys' by day, and a Viet Cong by night, lurking in the foothills of the Long Hi's.

I've never been to Afghanistan, but I've heard plenty about it from the likes of Mr Neil JAMES of the 'Defence Association', a very knowledgable former Army Officer. Though he still supports Australia's involvement, I do wonder exactly what level of conviction he really has ?

The combined 'might' of America and her Allies, couldn't win in Vietnam, similarily, we can't win in Afghanistan. The loss of seventeen young men is enough in this unwinnable conflict.

Sung Wu

http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?article=10689#176809

http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?article=10689#176824

Leigh & ALGOREisRICH, excellent work. To which i would add one alternative policy.

All the young fit "Afghan Refugees" in their late teens & early 20's, who have been emigrating here, by boat or plane should not be put into a 3 star immigration centre, but the OZ army for 6 weeks basic military training then straight back to Afghanistan for 10 years, unpaid "National Service" during which time they will be taught English & a trade or Profession, before being eligible for a visa to OZ, based on their record of service.

If they decline our kind offer of 10 years free accommodation, education, health care, etc, they are deported immediately.

http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?article=10689#176831

Poor Dear C J Morgan, sorry to disappoint you but AGiR is quite correct, Marx did not even write his evil book, personally. It was produced for the "Illuminati" nearly a century earlier & supplied to Karl as a complete work. All he did was edit it, a little, throw in his own style of Spin/Propaganda/Dogma etc.

Totally Plagiarised, just like Red/green Principles & Policy being completely stolen from the "Australian Democrats" then given a Communist Spin to appeal to the Loony Lefties.