Thanks everyone for your compliments and for reading.

"The world's still a rotten place despite the sacrifice, Greg? Spot on. But it's through no fault of the men and women who have been killed in horrible ways"

No. Its not their fault. Its the fault of those of us who unquestioningly support wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

"none of this 'dying', 'gave their lives', 'made the supreme sacrifice' rubbish - to protect us from Nazism and Communism and now Islamism. (That not a benefit?)"

If people had refused to fight in the First World War, the suffering and death that laid the ground for Nazism and Communism wouldn't have happened. To the 800 kids killed http://www.amnestyusa.org/sites/default/files/asa330132013en.pdf in drone strikes from 2004-2008, we probably are the Nazi's, the Communists or whoever.

"We've had a pretty good run since WW2; now, with what looks to the biggest threat ever, Greg want's us to hang up the gloves. He even hung his up because of the war on terror. (see bio)."

The biggest threat, undoubtedly is climate change. The second biggest is US led wars of aggression. To 1.3 million Iraqi's, Afghans and Pakistani's, we're the terrorists. Hang up the gloves? Great idea when you're only killing yourself.

Wrong Greg Rolles

In depends on the wars. Some are for national survival and some, like Iraq and Afghanistan, are Elective for Australia.

If Australia refused to fight the Japanese in World War Two I'm sure we all would learn to love Samurai Swords. It would have left the US to do all the fighting for us.

More historical evidence. If Russians refused to fight the Nazis I'm sure you'd be proud of the German "Living Space" where 150 million dead Russians used to be.

If you're thinking of "better to live on your knees than die on your feet" (variation on "Better Red than Dead) - Hitler types still kill those on their knees.

Pete

HASBEEN...I reckon you're right on the money there !

I can well imagine the result of a long and protracted diplomatic effort by the South Koreans and their allies in the face of the swift invasion of their country by North Korea.
Only the timely intervention of the USA and their friends stopped the invasion and that only after the South Korean territory had been reduced to a fast shrinking area in the far south of the country.

Maybe we did it for the oil?
The fishing rights?
The agricultural land?
An air base or two? (saved the flying time from Japan).

I like to think that the UN stepped in because a small country had been unjustly invaded, but then that's only me justifying my own participation.

I won't be marching on ANZAC Day or taking part in any related activities as it has become something of a media and commercial circus; think I might go and hunt a few foxes, I've got a .220 Swift that needs a tryout.

Four hundred thousand dollars plus would be far better spent on the living and not the hype surrounding this year's Anzac Day, as an eighteen year old in 1954 one was conscripted into the army by Menzies so he had plenty of machine gun fodder if the Korean War and Russian Cold War eventuated into much bigger events, like the young lads who went off to Anzac Cove, France and Belgium we really did not know what we were there for, to be killed never ever entered our heads, one was there to learn how to kill people but who were the people, we were nave like the young men clamouring to board a ship to take them to a far off country to fight someone, but never knowing that they would never ever come back home to Australia, all under the guise of the slogan "Fighting for King & Country," King of all things, every one is going so let's hop on board, adventure awaits us.
I will be marching on Saturday with the Nasho's and at the same time remembering my Uncle killed in WW1, he was killed because of the stupid British Empire, not for any other reason, the British Empire has faded into obscurity now, but we are now facing American,Australian and other Countries Imperalism which will eventually lead to war, still the next lot of eighteen year olds when called up will not wonder why they have been called up, they are not so stupid now as we were back in 1954 and also the lads of WW1, let's hope they see reason.

Ojnab,

"....as an eighteen year old in 1954 one was conscripted into the army by Menzies so he had plenty of machine gun fodder if the Korean War and Russian Cold War eventuated into much bigger events, ...."

Beg to differ, though National Service was introduced in 1951 it was only for short term training and National Servicemen could not be sent overseas, conscription for service outside Australia didn't come in until during the Vietnam war and all those then serving in the CMF were offered the choice of signing up under the new terms of enlistment or of taking an honourable discharge.
Having an intimate knowledge of what was going on in Vietnam I elected to take my discharge.