Monday, April 28, 2008

Afghanistan

Australia's participation in the Afghanistan conflict has produced another unpleasant statistic. Another Australian soldier has been killed by the Taliban, and we are hearing the usual condolences about what a great husband and father he was and a great Australian and all the rest of it.

All these are just words to try to justify the unjustifiable and to ease the pain a little for those closest to the dead man.

Here's a link to the Australian newspaper, the Sydney Morning Herald article on the story:
He lived his dream: Aussie commando's widow
http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/commando-lived-dream/2008/04/28/1209234690844.html

Makes you think about war and death and lies and politicians.

2 comments:

Νίκος Λαγκαδινός said...

The tragedy is unworthy of a man. But, τι θέλουν οι Αυστραλοί [και οι Έλληνες] στο Αφγανιστάν;

Dimitris said...

Australia went to Afghanistan because of the USA and Bush and John Howard.
Australia had to contribute because of its alliance with the USA, just like it did with the war in Iraq.
Some people like the Americans, the British, the Australians and others, think they know better and are better equipped to "help" other, less fortunate people, to become "more democratic". So here we all are!
Despite warnings to the contrary, the Australian government, under John Howard, sent troops to Afghanistan and Iraq. The "war on terror" is still going on, despite the "war" having finished years ago.
Thousands of Americans have been killed in the course of duty, and they are still being killed in Iraq and Afghanistan, and an increasing number of Australian soldiers are being killed.
We are all asking why, but the answer is still the same, they will stay there "until the job is done". Whenever that is!