180 degrees

Matthew Hall presents a first-hand look at world events from a different angle.

Allies' Afghanistan challenge

07 June 2011, 8:45 AM | Source: Matthew Hall, SBS

The war is a challenge that is not readily going away - for the U.S., Australia, or even Afghans.

Allies' Afghanistan challenge

Allies' Afghanistan challenge

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So let’s state the obvious. War, by its very definition, is a dangerous business. Whether in East Timor or Afghanistan, people die either by accident or design.

To date, 27 Australians have died in Afghanistan, the first casualty in February 2002, which now seems a very long time ago. With each death comes media and public debate about Australia’s role in the country.

This is a good thing but often seems naively cloaked in the idea that Australian soldiers are in Afghanistan for a holiday. A soldier has died doing his perilous job? Well, that’s ruined the day. Better go home.

Every nation engaged in Afghanistan has suffered casualties, including 154 Canadians, 37 Italians, and a South Korean officer shot by another for his “telephone manner”.

Over 1500 Americans have died in Afghanistan, which leads us to the news that it’s not just Australia debating its current and future role in the country. The debate is well and truly alive in the United States.

A sharp reduction in troops – as soon as July – is one option being put to President Obama, according to recent reports, as Robert Gates comes to the end of his time as Defense Secretary.

Gates does not advocate cutting troop numbers. Yet within the Obama administration, presidential advisers and the Vice-President oppose that position calling instead for a rapid exit in exchange for heightening efforts in counterterrorism.

Of course, looming larger on Obama’s GPS is next year’s election. The economy will dominate but policy in Afghanistan is likely to be a hook for potential opponents.

While a final date of 2014 has been flagged for the withdrawal of all foreign troops, Senator John McCain, Obama’s defeated rival in 2008, has called for only a small reduction in June and for another “season” to hammer the Taliban. McCain may be seen as yesterday’s man but retains an important voice on military policy.

Meanwhile, Rangun Spanta, Afghan President Harmid Karzai’s national security adviser, warned the death of Osama Bin Laden does not mean the end of a threats from radical Islamist groups in the region and called for caution in a too-rapid withdrawal.

“My warning would be to be very careful,” Spanta said in an interview with The New York Times.

“Al Qaeda is not only bin Laden. It’s a very dangerous policy to think so. Of course Bin Laden was a charismatic leader for Al Qaeda, a symbol for them who is gone now. But the network he headed is alive and active, and it has a tremendous recruitment potential in this region.”

So, as war is a dangerous business, the politics are delicate and decisions complicated by serious consequences. Afghanistan is a challenge that is not readily going away - for the U.S., Australia, or even Afghans.

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Your Comments

@adelwaheb

Ex Sapper - from Australia, 2 years ago

The role of combat engineers is to conduct roles such as high risk search, ordnance disposal, construct roads and bridges and many other roles including that of an infantry rifleman.the name is historical as they used to operate war engines like catapults. You are right about him making a good contribution to Australia however as I have yet to see the same work ethic applied by many other professions outside of the army as that present in combat engineers.

Mr

Lasantha Pethiyagoda - from Melbourne, 2 years ago

Far from bringing them any notion of “freedom” as the politicians here would have us believe, militaries kill, maim, torture (sorry, use enhanced interrogation techniques), make destitute, starve, poison, deprive, denigrate, confound, oppress, insult and demean in countries where their supremacist ideology can flourish without the need for political correctness. Racism in its most hideous forms are blatantly expressed when the subjugated are at their mercy, with no recourse for self-defence.

Thanks Matt

Mark - from Perth, 2 years ago

Thank you Matt for providing more insight into the complexitiy of the war in Afghanistan. With increased call to pull out because of a "mounting" list of KIA compared to our allies. My question to the "why are we still there" groups is this. If we were to base our efforts on the death toll of Australians how come you don't speak out more vocally on the road toll, or one punch deaths or other deaths for no reason? Im sure the numbers deaths are greater for these in the las 10 years

I think the West is waiting for a miracle to win

abdelwahab - from darwin, 2 years ago

I think the West is arrogant to admit its defeat in Afghanistan.It did it in Vietnam.Its young soldiers are killed everyday and still thinks it could win the war.It is madness.Take for instance Australia it suffers from lack of skilled people like engineer.The latest victim was a young engineer who spent nearly all his life to get his qualification which Australia despeerately needs it to better its economy.I am positive if this young man stayed in Australia he would make a better contribution.

Thanks for the perspective

Mark - from Perth, 2 years ago

Thanks for putting our casualties into perspective Matt. As unfortunate as it is our losses are small compared to our Coalition partners.The calls for withdrawl before an effective transistion can occur by parts of the population whenever we lose a soldier, just shows the lack of conviction many in this nation have. Too many want to cut and run because it appears too hard. The media need to reiterate what our mission in Afghanistan is more often.