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NEWS AND VIEWS THAT IMPACT LIMITED CONSTITUTIONAL GOVERNMENT

"There is danger from all men. The only maxim of a free government ought to be to trust no man living with
power to endanger the public liberty." - - - - John Adams

Friday, April 20, 2012

General says Afghanistan deaths in vain





"The Afghan army, which we're supposed to be training, is infiltrated by the Taliban. We've seen them even opening fire on parade and killing Australian troops." - - - Major General Alan Stretton



Australia's sacrifice in Afghanistan has been in vain and the war there has achieved nothing, according to a former high-ranking officer in the Australian Army.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard outlined plans for an early withdrawal from Afghanistan, saying most troops could be home by the end of next year.
But retired Major General Alan Stretton, a former Australian of the Year and Army leader during the Vietnam War, says Australian troops should have been brought home long ago reports ABC News.
"Their original objective was to find and either kill or capture [Osama] bin Laden. Well, that objective has been successful, what the hell are we doing there now?" he asked.
An Australian soldier making the trip home.

"I support retired General (John) Cantwell who questions whether the Australian mission in Afghanistan has been worth the loss of Australian lives."
"I don't think they have been justified at all. And after we've achieved our objective, [it] just doesn't seem right in my view," he said.
He also questioned Australian forces' success in winning the support of the Afghan people.
"What has been achieved?" he said.
"The Afghan army, which we're supposed to be training, is infiltrated by the Taliban."
"We've seen them even opening fire on parade and killing Australian troops. I mean I'm not sure - and further, I don't think we are winning the hearts and minds of the Afghan people."
(ABC News)


A recent fallen ally in Afghanistan

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Captain Bryce Duffy
29 October, 2011
Captain Bryce Duffy, 26, was shot dead by an Afghan soldier after a routine military parade in the southern province of Kandahar. He was from the 4th Field Regiment, Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery (RAA) based in Townsville.
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(List of Australian Casualties in Afghanistan)

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