tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19966255.post1786090992325281613..comments2023-08-23T00:08:03.609+10:00Comments on News Kontent: Soldier killed in 'unwinnable' warkevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05331047626419936198noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19966255.post-80207440846354073392009-07-22T06:28:53.866+10:002009-07-22T06:28:53.866+10:00I am very sorry to hear about your son. It is very...I am very sorry to hear about your son. It is very natural that you would have difficulty with the notion that his death served no purpose but how often in human history is the continuation of a folly is justified in those terms. Your response is also full of unexamined statements like "defending our way of life". I lost readers over the article but I'm happy to state a position. My position is that the afghani government is comprised of and totally compromised by fundamentalists with essentially the same ideological outlook as the Taliban, such as Mujahedin Islami, Jihad Islami, Jimiyat Islami. Plus warlords who leverage the opium trade. <br /><br />Its a defendable and perfectly rational position to regard this war as a mistake and the British, Russians, and Soviets learned that the hard way during the 19th and 20th centuries.<br /><br />Thank you for your comment.kevinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05331047626419936198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19966255.post-25922363714145398742009-07-21T21:47:44.384+10:002009-07-21T21:47:44.384+10:00It is not hard to work out why we are in Afghanist...It is not hard to work out why we are in Afghanistan - providing your look beyond our parochial boundaries - and understand that, unless defended, democracy is easily replaced with despotism.<br />So if this war is "unwinnable" what does Prof White suggest as an alternative? - To leave the sacrifice to the young soldiers of other countries - Canada, similar in dimension to Australia, has assumed a far greater burden in Afghanistan- or have everyone pull out of Afghanistan and leave the country to be the training ground for more terrorist attacks like the one which killed 3 non-combatant Australians in Jakarta on the 17th July.<br /><br />Maybe we should leave Afghanistan to the thugs and megalomaniac despots who choose to ride the wave of fundamentalism to gain personal advantage in wealth and power? Should we allow the delicate balance of democracy to be toppled in nuclear armed countries like Pakistan?<br /><br />I am sure Prof. White does not consider that our Defence forces are for ceremonial purposes only, or that we should start defending our country only when an invasion arrives. <br /><br />My son was killed, like Pvt Ranaudo, fighting in Afghanistan, should the family and friends of the killed and maimed be expected to believe these special dedicated young men eager to do their duty were worthlessly sacrificed? <br />The thousands of Australian defence personnel, and their allies, who have trained so hard to be the last resort in defending our way of life, know only too well the risks they take on our behalf, a task they assume with pride. They deserve support from us back home, not suggestions that their efforts so far are futile. <br /><br />PantherbbAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com