On the eve of the 9th anniversary of the start of the Afghan War, Australia's PM has visited troops in Afghanistanand met General David Petraus, the U.S. Commander in Afghanistan. Whilst there there when asked by a soldier whether we would be sending more troops and equipment to Afghanistan that "if we got a recommendation from the CDF [Chief of the Defence Force] into our national security committee that you need something we would deal with that immediately.". This is a clear indication that an esculation of our involvement in Afghanistan is imminent.
This follows the push from the Murdoch press in recent days for more troops after the publishing of an email from a soldier leaked to the Murdoch press which claims the Australian troops are under resourced. Read about this propoganda push in the . The Opposition has recently also called for boosting both personnel and equipment - including tanks, helicopters and artillery.
It is obvious that the Government, Opposition and the corporate press are all spinning the line that more troops are needed to "support our troops" in Afghanistan. This is a transparent attempt to appeal to public good will towards the ADF. It is the last strategy left open to the Government given the consistent and growing opposition to the war from the majority of the Australian people. It also allows discussion of a troop increase to occur without discussing the obvious pressure coming from our real bosses in Washington. Since the Dutch pulled out of Uruzgan Province due ot public pressure in their country, the U.S. has wanted more troops from Australia. The U.S. is also currently esculating the war in Afghanistan and Pakistan as part of its "surge" strategy leading to greater soldier and civilian deaths on all sides. The Government does not feel in the current climate it can say "We need to send more troops because the Yanks want us too" so instead the public is being led to believe that the push for more resources is coming from frontline troops. We are suppose to believe that Australian military and foreign policy is being driven by the opinion of a few grunts on the ground. It would be laughable if the consequences were not so serious.
A number of peace actions are being organised to mark the ninth anniversary of the war in Melbourne and Sydney
The peace movement should also be thinking in advance how it plans to greet what increasingly looks like an imminent escalation of Australia's involvement in this brutal imperialist war of aggression that is destabilising an entire region.
Comments
Re: Is Gillard preparing to send more troops to Afghanistan?
Stick to Gen Jim Moylans figure of 6000 troops on the ground day-to- day, with additional artillery, armour, helicopters and our own support, transport and supply elements and I think that should be about right. Involve more of the ADF, including the reserves, RAN and RAAF, in operational activities - Not just select infantry and SF personnel and that will inspire many of the current un-utilised personnel to actually remain with the ADF long term and get to actually do what they trained for. The AFP would also not go astray be sending an armed force of Federal Agents and Protective Service Officers for protection as it plies it's counter terrorism, drug interdiction and people smuggling agenda there.
Are you dinkum?
So you think it's ok for Australia to be involved? If so, can you argue your case?