Issy, unfortunately Australia was no more than a sycophantic supporter of the United States in both the Korean and Vietnam Wars. No explanation for the 1.6 million non combatants killed in Korea, maybe you have an explanation for the 1 million non combatants killed in Vietnam.

Now YOU are engaging in name calling (gutless wonder tut tut), seems to be the retreat of the sensitive war minded mob. Why is that? The last bloke who engaged in the name calling of me was also of your like mind, but of a different war. Obviously I would never have known of yours, or his, involvement in those wars unless both of you had not made it public knowledge on this forum. I have made it public knowledge here that I am a pacifist, and opposes all wars.

Is Mise,

All you have to do is get hold of
a copy from your local library of the
book I mentioned earlier. It confirms
what Paul is saying by the veterans
themselves who took part in the conflict.

Foxy,

Does the book state that Australian soldiers threw hand grenades at children, because that's what Paul says.

Do you agree with him?

As for collective responsibility by all soldiers in war, what about those who were conscripted?
The majority of soldiers never see the enemy and never fire a shot, is their position the same as front line soldiers?

Do all homosexual males share responsibility for the actions of homosexual paedophiles; or all Greens share collectively in the guilt of those of their party who err?

Is Mise,

I am not familiar with the accounts given by
veterans of the Korean war. I have not read the book
only the article in The Weekend Australian which
states that both British and Australian
soldiers were - accused of war crimes.

Seeing as you are the one so interested in the subject
why don't you do your own research and find out the
facts for yourself. I've given you a place to
start. The rest is up to you. I really can't help you
any further nor do I feel qualified to make any comments
on the subject as I have not thoroughly researched the matter.

It also is wise to keep in mind when studying any historical
event (especially war) to look at things critically, in
context, and any other such considerations. We don't know
the circumstances involved - and the more we learn, possibly,
the better we will understand what happened and why.

Foxy,

Your above post is a good example of someone who has made a glaring error when you say,

"All you have to do is get hold of
a copy from your local library of the
book I mentioned earlier. It confirms
what Paul is saying"

Do you really think that it confirms what Paul is saying, that Australian soldiers threw bombs at children?

Or are you telling the truth when you say,
"I am not familiar with the accounts given by
veterans of the Korean war. I have not read the book".

One might wonder why you say that the book is confirmation when you have, by your own admission, not read it.

Hi Issy,

Those conscripted (forced into war), should lay down their arms as conscientious objectors. In my case, as I failed to register for the draft during the Vietnam War, I was automatically conscripted. No action was taken by the warmongers to in-prison me, then the election of Whitlam government put an end to all that.

Collective responsibility, examples; all Catholics share in the guilt for the actions of others within the organisation. Those that willingly joined the Nazi Party in Germany were all partly responsible for those things done in their name, "I didn't know" is no excuse . Interesting, in war, to commit a war crime (all acts of war are a crime in my opinion) the defence of "I was following orders" is also unacceptable.