The increasing number of casualties being inflicted on Australia’s Forces in Afghanistan is at last attracting criticism from prominent people in our society.
Our invasion of Afghanistan has brought very little but death and wounding, both physical and mental, to our service people and brutal deaths, wounding and suffering to many thousands of Afghan men, women and children.
The last two attacks on our service people came from Afghan men who were under training for inclusion in a future Afghan Brigade that was to be part of that country’s armed forces but it is possible that they were planted by those fighting against our invasion of their country.
The surprising part of these incidents is that the past history of the Afghan people seems to have been put into the background. As has been said, we have inflicted all sorts of brutal acts on these people and from what we have learnt about Afghan society, these acts would normally have been followed at some time by revenge attacks of some description.
Calling these people terrorists seems to be another factor that has clouded the issue. In fact, these people are soldiers even though they have no uniforms; irregular forces have been used in warfare for centuries.
Our Service people carry out their duties in a very professional manner and it is a shame. When these attacks happen their commanders are being very unrealistic and we can only expect more of this type of warfare and casualties while we remain in their country.
G H Gilmour
Stanthorpe
