Fanning the flames

Stories that lack hard facts and unproven incidents,are seized upon by the fanatics to make such remarks as "Australian soldiers deliberately kill muslim civilians", as has happen with the latest terrorist case in Australian.

500 words or less?

Poor reporting Sophie. A distinct lack of research, preparation and quality control. Clearly destined for weather reporting in the near future. Please dont allow such biased and uneducated reporting. Really good work on getting the Brigadier on camera twirling his thumbs. Must have been really getting clsoe to a break through with such direct and intellectual questioning, or maybe he's just wondering how much longer he will be able to stay awake. You can resubmit this one Sophie, fail.

Cool the Jets

Whilst the piece may not be considering every imaginable perspective, it still reports one that isn't often heard. The last I heard of Australian troops was about their complaints on dutch food... It isn't simple for anyone. Civillians haven't choice to be involved, and the troops have difficulty differentiating between friend or foe. This transparency seemed the focus of the report and the source should hence not be attacked

"Increasingly Complex" wars...

Only wars lacking a moral dimension become "increasingly complex". US/NATO is making exactly the same mistakes as the Soviet Union made in Afghanistan; deciding what's best for the inhabitants and attempting to impose it by force. No-one should be even mildly surprised that the Afghanis are resisting - just as Australians would if someone tried that stunt in Oz. The pro-war bluster overlooks the fact that if US/NATO's schemes had any tangible merit Afghanis would have welcomed and embraced them.

Response to A C

Unfortunately warfare is becoming increasingly complex. Long gone are the days of trench warfare, 2 opposing forces meeting head to head on a large field. These days the enemy is not clearly defined; Australia fights 'Terrorism' not the citizens of Afghanistan. The combatants do not wear a uniform for us to target and combatants hide behind the guise of civilians. Be assured Australian or Allied soldiers do not call down air strikes on innocent civilians

AfPak Reality Check

There's an enlightening article on the www entitled "The Taliban Rope-a-Dope" by Franklin Spinney (CounterPunch, 14th July). He begins by introducing the term 'self-referencing' (a polite euphemism for self-deception) and then sets out in unambiguous detail precisely how and why US/NATO's preference for a military solution to Afghanistan's perceived problems was doomed to failure before the first troops tramped into the forthcoming quagmire/debacle.

BRING OUR BEAUTIFUL BOYS HOME NOW!!!

10 Beautiful Aussie boys have been killed, and for what?? Ask Kevin 07, if he would put his two boys on the firing line? The war was started by the "Far Left" just like Vietnam was, and of course Kevin 07 is from the Far Left of politics that took over the "West" in the 60's. His Generation were all the "Far Lefties" as Lenin called them "Western Idiots". George Negus belongs to the same group, ask Georgie whether he would put his two boys on the firing line? KEV BRING OUR BOYS HOME NOW

"40,000 US citizens dead per annum"

I`m less concerned about the poor people in Afghanistan suffering under the Taliban than I am about the slaughter that goes on in the USA everyday under felonious concept of the right to bear arms!