Democrats – Afghanistan – Why are we still fighting?

MEDIA RELEASE

Wednesday, 18 August, 2010

Afghanistan – Why are we still fighting?

It is nearly nine years since Australia first committed troops to military operations in Afghanistan. In that time, our ADF service men and women have, with enterprise and valour, proudly performed the tasks asked of them by their superiors, their country, and their allies. Though there can be no denying that our troops have served their country well, after nine years of occupation there is still no sign of an end to the conflict.

The Australian Democrats have renewed their call to for our troops be brought home. The Government and heads of our defence force have not given a time-frame for a military withdrawal from Afghanistan. It is because they have no idea what the ‘end-game’ is, what conditions what be satisfactory for our troops to come home. Australian Democrats’ Tasmanian Senate candidate, Tim Neal, is very concerned about the direction that the conflict is heading, “It seems to me that our leaders have no idea of what constitutes a success in Afghanistan. It’s beginning to look a lot like another Vietnam. There seemed to be one initial goal, to wipe out the Taliban. Now that the Taliban is not defeated, and seems to be growing stronger, our leaders have lost sight of what they want to achieve in the region.”

Democrats’ lead Senate candidate in Tasmania, Paulene Hutton, has called for our troops to be brought back home, “Why should our troops suffer when those in charge do not have a plan to end the conflict?”

Ms. Hutton realises the stresses and strains of being in a military family; Paulene’s father was a member of our Air Force, while Paulene herself was an ADF reservist, “I understand how harrowing it can be for families who have loved ones in combat zones. How many more tours of duty will be enough? How many more lives will be sacrificed before we have the ‘desired’ outcome?”

The Democrats have a plan. Negotiations with with The Taliban, and with other warlords must commence as soon as possible, in conjunction with an immediate withdrawal of our combat troops. If a peace can be brokered, we must then send in a peace keeping force with additional forces to continue the outstanding rebuilding work that our troops are currently engaged in.

A vote for The Democrats is a vote to save Australian troops from further exposure to an uncertain conflict. Ms. Hutton said, “We do not want to lose another member of our exceptional defence force. Bring them home now.” Plato probably best sums up the situation in Afghanistan, “Only the dead have seen the end of the war.”