A_C - Free To Be Me

Since the Last Post......

2009-08-02T23:39:00.002+09:30

G'day Reader,

Since I last looked on here so much has happened.
The USA and we Australians as well as many other lands are still involved in Afghanistan and Iraq and although we're hurting for every one of our men and women, sons and daughters who are harmed or suffer the supreme sacrifice at our nations' bidding it's good to know they are still there doing their best. The thing is we who are at home in our varying countries, although it's not front page anymore must keep these people as our personal Front Page. All those serving away from home need to know every day that it's not just their immediate family and friends that cares and supports them, but that we all do.

This has no need to be a long post.

Just REMEMBER to spare a thought for our combined men and women each day.

Images From Operation Slipper

2008-07-18T20:58:00.002+09:30

07 July 2008
Reconstruction Task Force 4 - latest operations

Reconstruction Task Force 4 is expanding its operations north from its base in Tarin Kowt, building a series of patrol bases for use by ISAF and the Afghan National Police and Army. The Task Force is now operating regularly north of Tarin Kowt, an area of great strategic significance to the Taliban Extremists in Oruzgan Province.

A section of mortars fires on likely enemy positions during a night mission at the new joint patrol base north of Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan.
A section of mortars fires on likely enemy positions during a night mission at the new joint patrol base north of Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan.
Who you gonna call? Corporal Shane Brown mans the radio in a sniper hide at the new joint patrol base north of Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan.
Private Shane Cavagnino maintains security as soldiers from the Reconstruction Task Force searches a deserted building north of Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan.
Lance Corporal Simon Eustace from the Reconstruction Task Force searches an abandoned building whilst on patrol north of Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan.
Soldier from the Reconstruction Task Force search an abandoned building whilst on patrol north of Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan.
Soldiers from the Reconstruction Task Force patrol in the Green Zone north of Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan.
Soldiers from the Reconstruction Task Force patrol in the Green Zone north of Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan.
Corporal Russell Page from the Reconstruction Task Force on patrol in the Green Zone north of Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan.
Private Nicolas Espie provide security as soldiers from the Reconstruction Task Force talk to an Afghan Bedouin north of Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan.
A soldier from the Reconstruction Task Force search an abandoned building whilst on patrol north of Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan.
Soldiers from the Reconstruction Task Force search an abandoned building whilst on patrol north of Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan.
A section of mortars fires on likely enemy positions during a night mission at the new joint patrol base north of Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan.

RIP Signaller Sean McCarthy...

2008-07-09T18:15:00.005+09:30

These are the posts that no one ever wants to have to write. When I fire up about something a post will flow and be out in 20 mins but these ones, I just never really know what to say.

For Australians, every loss of a Digger is a devestating blow. Many of us can still name every Soldier lost in combat since 2001. The national news still reports on the losses as does our mainstream media. For a country whose very identity was founded on the legend of the ANZACS and our Diggers, we sometimes find it hard to fathom that our Diggers are people just like us. But each loss reminds us they are human, they fall, they bleed and they do die.

THE Australian soldier killed in a roadside bombing in Afghanistan was a "top bloke" who had been looking forward to returning for his second combat tour of the country, close friends say.

SAS Signaller Sean McCarthy, a 25-year-old rugby-mad soldier from the Gold Coast, was killed when a bomb exploded near his vehicle, the Defence department has said.

Two other Australian special forces soldiers were injured, along with a soldier from another country.

Personnel who served with Signaller McCarthy, also known as "Seano", told NEWS.com.au he was a "bloody good bloke" and a talented soldier.

One army mate, Aaron Pearce, said Signaller McCarthy loved a joke, loved taking care of children and would never let down a friend.

"He was a big family dude - he used to play with my kids when they came around to the barracks,” Mr Pearce said.

“He wasn’t a dad himself, but he certainly carried himself like that." He also had a great sense of humour and was very quick-witted, he said.

Another former colleague told NEWS.com.au: "Sean was a great bloke who was very talented, he rarely complained and did his job to the best of his ability."

Pte of Perth said: "It was nice knowing ya Seano, we will continue the struggle and do you proud. RIP mate."

CPL MJP of Canberra said: "Catch you later Seano. All out love. Certa Cito."

Biography - Sean McCarthy

BIOGRAPHY OF SIGNALLER SEAN McCARTHY
- SIG Sean Patrick McCarthy was born on January 5, 1983 in Auckland, NZ.
- He enlisted into the Australian Defence Force (ADF) on July 10, 2001.
- Posted to 7 Signals Regiment on July 14, 2003.
- Posted to (Special Air Service Regiment) SASR on January 15, 2007 and was an active member of the regiment up until his death.

Operational service includes:
- Special Operations Task Group (SOTG V) Afghanistan, 2007
- Operation Astute in East Timor, 2008
- Redeployed to Afghanistan, 2008

Awards and commendation for service:
- SOCAUST commendation
- Australian Defence Medal for service
- International Coalition Against Terrorism Clasp
- Afghanistan Campaign Medal
- NATO Medal

My deepest condolences to the family and friends of Sean McCarthy. May they find peace in the knowledge that Sean will not be forgotten.

Rest easy Digger...

AC

Another Digger Lost...

2008-07-09T18:15:00.004+09:30

Let us not forget those lost before Signaller Sean McCarthy in Afghanistan...

Australians killed in Afghanistan

2008

2007

2002

Inspiration...

2008-06-28T19:11:00.005+09:30

If you have but one opportunity, make it count.

The strength to persist, the courage to endure.

Continuous effort is the key to unlocking our potential. -Winston Churchill

Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well of ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, to assure the survival and the success of liberty. -John F. Kennedy

See beyond the ordinary.

"Patriotism is not short, frenzied outbursts of emotion, but the tranquil and staedy dedication of a lifetime." - Adlai E. Stevenson

Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well of ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, to assure the survival and the success of liberty. -John F. Kennedy

We will not waver; we will not tire; we will not falter; and we will not fail. Peace and Freedom will prevail. -George W. Bush

True greatness comes when you're tested. -Theodore Roosevelt

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Prosperity..

Together they gave to the nation the undying proof that Americans possess the pride of the patriot soldier.

Gold is tried by fire, brave men by adversity.

The ability to face danger for the greater good.

It is the strongest who prevail.

It takes an extraordinary person to face danger and maintain composure.

The power to impress - the design to conquer & the ability to command respect.

The reward of one duty is the power to fulfill another. –George Elliot

The process of directing one's scattered forces into one powerful channel.

Sharing The Burden Of Deployment...

2008-06-20T22:41:00.002+09:30

Another great share for you...

Trish Grace

There aren’t many Army wives who get to experience what their husbands go through when they’re deployed overseas and conversely not a lot of soldiers know what it’s like to keep the fires burning on the home front for months at a time while a spouse is serving on operations.

David and Trish Grace know what it is like to walk in each other’s shoes, having both served in Iraq over the past year as well as doing a stint alone with their two children on the home front.

David and Trish, both Corporals in the Australian Army, are now based in Darwin; David as a medic with the 5th Battalion The Royal Australian Regiment and Trish in the repair parts store at the 1st Combat Service Support Battalion, a workplace she describes as being “like an Army version of Repco”. Over the past two years, the couple has spent just four months together at home as a family with children Monique (14) and Dylan (10).

Trish is currently deployed as part of Security Detachment Baghdad (SECDET), the combat team which ensures the safety and mobility of Australian Government and Embassy staff in the Iraqi capital. Notice of her deployment came soon after David returned from a six month tour of duty with the Overwatch Battle Group. She was a late replacement for another soldier just weeks before the combat team left for Iraq. She runs SECDET’s spare parts shop out of a demountable hut and shipping container, a role that regularly sees her donning body armour and driving through Baghdad on re-supply missions.

Corporal Trish Grace, currently deployed to Iraq as part of Australia's Security Detachment in Baghdad, inside her repair parts shipping container which she likens to an "Army Repco" store.
Corporal Trish Grace, currently deployed to Iraq as part of Australia's Security Detachment in Baghdad, inside her repair parts shipping container which she likens to an "Army Repco" store.
Corporal Trish Grace, currently deployed to Iraq as part of Australia's Security Detachment in Baghdad, prepares to drive her armoured Unimog truck on a resupply mission.
Corporal Trish Grace, currently deployed to Iraq as part of Australia's Security Detachment in Baghdad, prepares to drive her armoured Unimog truck on a resupply mission.
Corporal Trish Grace, currently deployed to Iraq as part of Australia's Security Detachment in Baghdad, prepares to drive her armoured Unimog truck on a resupply mission.
Corporal Trish Grace, currently deployed to Iraq as part of Australia's Security Detachment in Baghdad, prepares to drive her armoured Unimog truck on a resupply mission.
Corporal Trish Grace, currently deployed to Iraq as part of Australia's Security Detachment in Baghdad, talks to her family back in Darwin while watching them live via web-cam.

Just Another Share

2008-06-20T22:35:00.001+09:30

You know how sometimes I just see things and want to share them with others. This is one of those times. No build up, just the pics...

Women on the front line

Reconstruction Task Force 4 is expanding its operations north from its base in Tarin Kowt, building a series of patrol bases for use by International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and the Afghan National Police and Army. The Task Force is now operating regularly north of Tarin Kowt, an area of great strategic significance to the Taliban Extremists in Oruzgan Province.

Australia has deployed an ADF Reconstruction Task Force (RTF), consisting of a combined arms team, to the Oruzgan Province in Southern Afghanistan as part of Operation Slipper. The RTF is in partnership with the Netherlands Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) and forms part of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force. The RTF has a clearly defined role to work on reconstruction, improvement of provincial infrastructure and community based projects. The RTF also provides trade training to the local population and military engineering training to the Afghan National Army. This type of assistance is designed to benefit the people of Oruzgan Province well into the future and form building blocks of a stable and prosperous community. The RTF contains around 400 ADF personnel from predominately Brisbane and Sydney based units. It includes elements to provide command, security, engineering, and administrative support and is equipped with Bushmaster Infantry Mobility Vehicles (IMV), Australian Light Armoured Vehicles (ASLAVs) and armoured engineer plant equipment. Australia's contribution to ISAF is an important component of the Australian Government's commitment to assist Afghanistan achieve a stable and secure future.

Peek a Boo! Private Lauren Maude becomes a hit with the local Afghan girls during her time on the front line with the Reconstruction Task Force in Afghanistan.
Try this for size. A little Afghan girl finds a new use for Private Lauren Maude Shamarg during her time on the front line with the Reconstruction Task Force in Afghanistan.
Sharing a moment. An Afghan girl becomes fixated with Private Lauren Maude as she meets the locals in Oruzgan Province.
Private Lauren Maude sits with an Afghan farmer’s daughter during her time on the front line with the Reconstruction Task Force in Afghanistan.
Secret girls business. Private Lauren Maude sits with a group of Afghan girls during her time on the front line with the Reconstruction Task Force in Afghanistan.
Setting a trend. Private Lauren Maude lends her ballistic sunglasses to a young Afghan girl during her time on the front line with the Reconstruction Task Force in Afghanistan.
Secret girls business. Private Lauren Maude sits with a group of Afghan girls during her time on the front line with the Reconstruction Task Force in Afghanistan.
Secret girls business. Private Lauren Maude sits with a group of Afghan girls during her time on the front line with the Reconstruction Task Force in Afghanistan.
Hello! A little Afghan girl sneaks a peek in front of Private Lauren Maude as she mixes with a young group of girls during her time on the front line with the Reconstruction Task Force in Afghanistan.
Secret girls business. Private Lauren Maude sits with a group of Afghan girls during her time on the front line with the Reconstruction Task Force in Afghanistan.

New Terrorist Implant..

2008-05-11T14:04:00.000+09:30

THE PATRIOT MICRO CHIP is to be implanted in terrorists. The implant is specifically designed to be installed in their foreheads.

When properly installed, it will allow the implantee to speak toAllah instantly.

It Comes in various sizes:

The Implantee may or may not be allowed to choose the size.

The implant may contain some information or precious metals:

The implant may or may not be painless. Some bleeding and or swelling may occur at the injection site.

Please enjoy the security we provide for you.

Best regards,

U. S.Armed Forces

Reflection...

2008-05-11T13:52:00.003+09:30

You know how sometimes you want to share something just cos.... For no other reason than because you think it might touch someone as much as it touched you??

The following is one of those posts...

Colour WWI photos from the AWM

In the lead up to Anzac Day in this 90th year since the end of World War I NEWS.com.au and the Australian War Memorial open the archives to bring you extremely rare pictures from the nation's photo record.

'An Australian Light Horseman collecting anemones near Belah in Palestine'. Picture: Frank Hurley, 1918

Squadrons of the 4th Australian Light Horse Brigade in formation at Gaza Picture: Frank Hurley, February 1918

Australians of the Imperial Camel Corps form up at Rafa, Egypt. Picture: Frank Hurley, 26 January 1918

The 3rd Australian Light Horse Regiment machinegun in action at Khurbetha-Ibn, Palestine. Picture: Frank Hurley, New Year's Eve 1917

Four camel ambulances attached to the Imperial Camel Corps at Rafa - used as a base for the attack on Gaza. Picture: Frank Hurley, 1918

The 2nd Australian Light Horse Regiment behind the front line barricades at Nalin in Palestine, one man passing across a grenade. Picture: Frank Hurley, January 17, 1918

Australian Flying Corps planes in Palestine. Picture: Frank Hurley, 1918

Waiting the order to fire a camouflaged eight inch gun from the 1st Australian Siege Battery before the main attack on Polygon Wood in Belgium. Picture: Frank Hurley, September 1917

Official photograph at Gallipoli taken in early 1919 for The Australian Historical Mission showing a landing barge, wire and entrenchments. Picture: George Hubert Wilkins

A thigh bone and other skeletal remains near the Turkish war memorial at the Nek are a grim reminder of the fighting in this photo taken February/March 1919. Picture: George Hubert Wilkins

Stretcher bearers of the 13th Field Ambulance resting at a dressing station on Westhoek Ridge on the Western Front. Picture: Frank Hurley, October 1917

Soldiers, mules and carts stopped on a street in the ruined village of Voormezeele on the Western Front in Belgium. Picture Frank Hurley, August 1917

Statue of the Virgin hanging from the Cathedral of Albert in France. Local superstition held that war would end when the Madonna fell. She collapsed in the spring of 1918 under shellfire. Picture: Frank Hurley, September 1917

The derelict hulk of a British tank on the Pozieres battlefield - a battle in which for Australian troops distinguished themselves but suffered heavy losses while taking the French village and ridge from the Germans. Picture: Frank Hurley, 1917

An Australian Light Horse Field Ambulance wagon on the Philistine Plain, Palestine. Picture: Frank Hurley, 1918

French Premier Georges Benjamin Clemenceau on his only visit to the Australian front at the Somme, pictured with 4th Division command including Brigadier General Thomas Blamey, CMG, DSO, second from left. Picture: Unknown, July 7, 1918

Scattered graves marked by simple white crosses on the old Somme battlefields in France. Picture: Frank Hurley, September 1917
'
Thanks to Deb for sending these pics..

AC

Visa's For Diggers Offsiders

2008-04-10T17:10:00.002+09:30

I just got through reading this and I have to say, it is something I wholeheartedly support. While many of us take being an Aussie for granted day in and day out, there are still many who fight, and risk much, for that privelige.

Visas for Diggers' offsiders

IRAQIS who have worked alongside Diggers in the war-battered country will be offered resettlement visas to live in Australia.

The offer to so-called locally engaged employees was made yesterday by Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon and Immigration and Citizenship Minister Chris Evans out of concern for the safety of the Iraqis, many of whom worked as interpreters.

It follows the announcement of the withdrawal by mid-year of the 515-strong Overwatch Battle Group from al-Muthanna and Dhi Qar provinces - a key policy pledge of the Rudd Government.

"Anti-coalition forces have deliberately targeted individuals working with Australian troops and their partners in southern Iraq," Mr Fitzgibbon said last night.

"In response, the Australian Government will adopt a new visa policy to enable the permanent resettlement in Australia of locally engaged employees (LEEs) and their families at risk because of their engagement with the Australian Government."

The policy is similar to one offered to South Vietnamese who helped Australian forces during the Vietnam War. It is expected that up to 600 visas will be granted to former Iraqi employees and their families.

Visas will be offered first to those deemed to be at the greatest risk following the withdrawal of the Australian troops from the south of the country.

These Iraqis had repeatedly shown their commitment to Australia's security and reconstruction operations in Iraq, Mr Fitzgibbon said.

Senator Evans said the LEEs and their families would be granted permanent humanitarian visas after undergoing strict health, character and national security checks.

You Aint Gonna Like Losing....

2008-04-10T12:51:00.003+09:30

AI just finished reading the following piece and really felt it hit home with alot of my own thoughts about this war.

I have often sat and back and marvelled at the level of ignorance that is displayed today. Yes people, the world is war. It's a simple fact. Just because we haven't stood up and called it a World War, doesn't mean it isn't one. We live in societys drowning in complacency. We all truly believe that we have the bigger Military force, the better weapons, more money and more capability. We ASSUME this to be the case because apparently, there were no WMD's in Iraq. Hell, they can't be a threat if they don't have WMD's right??

WRONG!!!

What they do have is highlighted in the following text. They have a force of true believers. Regardless of what we believe about their cause, they believe it in it so wholeheartedly that they will die for it. How many people do you know would strap on a vest and blow themselves up in the middle of a crowd. I can't think of a single person.

And so we watch the news on tv (doesn't anybody read anymore), we channel surf cos who really cares what's happening in Iraq anyway, and we remain oblivious to a threat that has been here as long as we have. We remind ourselves that the Soldiers knew what they were getting into when they enlisted so we really shouldn't lose sleep over it. And hell, they get paid for it right??

And we wrap ourselves up nice and snug in our cocoon of ignorance, because the war is happening on other shores and we can still maintain it doesn't affect us...

America is not at war.

The military is at war.

America is at the mall.

This is a different war than any we have ever fought before and we did not anticipate it ending up as a global war on terrorism.

This war is being fought against an enemy that will kill even their own family and friends to achieve its end.

In Iraq, especially, our men are risking their lives to save the people who would normally be safe from attack by the enemy. Asymmetric guerilla warfare with this enemy is different from our experience and should be considered in evaluating our military performance in Iraq and Afghanistan.

President Bush did make a bad mistake in the war on terrorism. But the mistake was not his decision to go to war in Iraq.

Bush's mistake came in his belief that this country is the same one his father fought for in WWII.

It is not.

Back then, they had just come out of a vicious depression. The country was steeled by the hardship of that depression, but they still believed fervently in this country. They knew that the people had elected their leaders, so it w as the people's duty to back those leaders.

Therefore, when the war broke out the people came together, rallied behind, and stuck with their leaders, whether they had voted for them or not or whether the war was going badly or not.

And war was just as distasteful and the anguish just as great then as it is today. Often there were more casualties in one day in WWII than we have had in the entire Iraq war. But that did not matter The people stuck with the President because it was their patriotic duty Americans put aside their differences in WWII and worked together to win that war.

Everyone from every strata of society, from young to old pitched in. Small children pulled little wagons around to gather scrap metal for the war effort. Grade school students saved their pennies to buy stamps for war bonds to help the effort.

Men who were too old or medically 4F lied about their age or condition trying their best to join the military. Women doubled their work to keep things going at home. Harsh rationing of everything from gasoline to soap, to butter was imposed, yet there was very little complaining.

You never heard prominent people on the radio belittling the President. Interestingly enough in those days there were no fat cat actors and entertainers who ran off to visit and fawn over dictators of hostile countries and complain to them about our President. Instead, they made upbeat films and entertained our troops to help the troops' morale . And a bunch even enlisted.

And imagine this: Teachers in schools actually started the day off with a Pledge of Allegiance, and with prayers for our country and our troops!

Back then, no newspaper would have dared point out certain weak spots in our cities where bombs could be set off to cause the maximum damage. No newspaper would have dared complain about what we were doing to catch spies.

A newspaper would have been laughed out of existence if it had complained that German or Japanese soldiers were being 'tortured' by being forced to wear women's underwear, or subjected to interrogation by a woman, or being scared by a dog or did not have air conditioning.

There were a lot of things different back then. We were not subjected to a constant bombardment of pornography, perversion and promiscuity in movies or on radio. We did not have legions of crack heads, dope pushers and armed gangs roaming our streets.

No, President Bush did not make a mistake in his handling of terrorism. He made the mistake of believing that we still had the courage and fortitude of our fathers. He believed that this was still the country that our fathers fought so dearly to preserve.

It is not the same country. It is now a cross between Sodom and Gomorrah and the land of Oz. We did unite for a short while after 9/11, but our attitude changed when we found out that defending our country would require some sacrifices.

We are in great danger. The terrorists are fanatic Muslims. They believe that it is okay, even their duty to kill anyone who will not convert to Islam. It has been estimated that about one third or over three hundred million Muslims are sympathetic to the terrorists cause... Hitler and Tojo combined did not have nearly that many potential recruits.

So... we either win it - or lose it - and you ain't gonna like losing...

Thanks to Curt from myspace

The ANZAC On The Wall

2008-03-05T23:29:00.000+10:30

The Anzac on the Wall

Author Unknown

I wandered thru a country town 'cos I had time to spare,
And went into an antique shop to see what was in there.
Old Bikes and pumps and kero lamps, but hidden by it all,
A photo of a soldier boy - an Anzac on the Wall.

"The Anzac have a name?" I asked. The old man answered "No,.
The ones who could have told me mate, have passed on long ago.
The old man kept on talking and, according to his tale,
The photo was unwanted junk bought from a clearance sale.

"I asked around," the old man said, "but no one knows his face,
He's been on that wall twenty years, deserves a better place.
For some one must have loved him so, it seems a shame somehow."
I nodded in agreement and then said, "I'll take him now."

My nameless digger's photo, well it was a sorry sight
A cracked glass pane and a broken frame - I had to make it right
To prise the photo from its frame I took care just in case,
"Cause only sticky paper held the cardboard back in place.

I peeled away the faded screed and much to my surprise,
Two letters and a telegram appeared before my eyes
The first reveals my Anzac's name, and regiment of course
John Mathew Francis Stuart - of Australia's own Light Horse.

This letter written from the front, my interest now was keen
This note was dated August seventh 1917
"Dear Mum, I'm at Khalasa Springs not far from the Red Sea
They say it's in the Bible - looks like Billabong to me.

"My Kathy wrote I'm in her prayers she's still my bride to be
I just cant wait to see you both you're all the world to me
And Mum you'll soon meet Bluey, last month they shipped him out
I told him to call on you when he's up and about."

"That bluey is a larrikin, and we all thought it funny
He lobbed a Turkish hand grenade into the Co's dunny.
I told you how he dragged me wounded in from no man's land
He stopped the bleeding closed the wound with only his bare hand."

"Then he copped it at the front from some stray shrapnel blast
It was my turn to drag him in and I thought he wouldn't last
He woke up in hospital, and nearly lost his mind
Cause out there on the battlefield he'd left one leg behind."

"He's been in a bad way mum, he knows he'll ride no more
Like me he loves a horse's back he was a champ before.
So Please Mum can you take him in, he's been like my brother
Raised in a Queensland orphanage he' s never known a mother."

But Struth, I miss Australia mum, and in my mind each day
I am a mountain cattleman on high plains far away
I'm mustering white-faced cattle, with no camel's hump in sight
And I waltz my Matilda by a campfire every night

I wonder who rides Billy, I heard the pub burnt down
I'll always love you and please say hooroo to all in town".
The second letter I could see was in a lady's hand
An answer to her soldier son there in a foreign land

Her copperplate was perfect, the pages neat and clean
It bore the date November 3rd 1917.
"T'was hard enough to lose your Dad, without you at the war
I'd hoped you would be home by now - each day I miss you more"

"Your Kathy calls around a lot since you have been away
To share with me her hopes and dreams about your wedding day
And Bluey has arrived - and what a godsend he has been
We talked and laughed for days about the things you've done and seen"

"He really is a comfort, and works hard around the farm,
I read the same hope in his eyes that you wont come to harm.
Mc Connell's kids rode Billy, but suddenly that changed
We had a violent lightning storm, and it was really strange."

>"Last Wednesday just on midnight, not a single cloud in sight
It raged for several minutes, it gave us all a fright
It really spooked your Billy - and he screamed and bucked and reared
And then he rushed the sliprail fence, which by a foot he cleared"

"They brought him back next afternoon, but something's changed I fear
It's like the day you brought him home, for no one can get near
Remember when you caught him with his black and flowing mane?
Now Horse breakers fear the beast that only you can tame,"
"That's why we need you home son" - then the flow of ink went dry-

This letter was unfinished, and I couldn't work out why.
Until I started reading the letter number three
A yellow telegram delivered news of tragedy
Her son killed in action - oh - what pain that must have been
The Same date as her letter - 3rd November 17

This letter which was never sent, became then one of three
She sealed behind the photo's face - the face she longed to see.
And John's home town's old timers -children when he went to war
Would say no greater cattleman had left the town before.

They knew his widowed mother well - and with respect did tell
How when she lost her only boy she lost her mind as well.
She could not face the awful truth, to strangers she would speak
"My Johnny's at the war you know , he's coming home next week."

They all remembered Bluey, he stayed on to the end
A younger man with wooden leg became her closest friend

And he would go and find her when she wandered old and weak
And always softly say "yes dear - John will be home next week."
Then when she died Bluey moved on, to Queensland some did say
I tried to find out where he went, but dont know to this day

And Kathy never wed - a lonely spinster some found odd
She wouldn't set foot in a church - she'd turned her back on God
John's mother left no will I learned on my detective trail
This explains my photo's journey, that clearance sale

So I continued digging cause I wanted to know more
I found John's name with thousands in the records of the war
His last ride proved his courage - a ride you will acclaim
The Light Horse Charge at Beersheba of everlasting fame

That last day in October back in 1917
At 4pm our brave boys fell - that sad fact I did glean
That's when John's life was sacrificed, the record's crystal clear
But 4pm in Beersheba is midnight over here.......

So as John's gallant sprit rose to cross the great divide
Were lightning bolts back home a signal from the other side?
Is that why Billy bolted and went racing as in pain?
Because he'd never feel his master on his back again?

Was it coincidental? same time - same day - same date?
Some proof of numerology, or just a quirk of fate?
I think it's more than that, you know, as I've heard wiser men,
Acknowledge there are many things that go beyond our ken

Where craggy peaks guard secrets neath dark skies torn asunder
Where hoof beats are companions to the rolling waves of thunder
Where lightning cracks like 303's and ricochets again
Where howling moaning gusts of wind sound just like dying men
Some Mountain cattlemen have sworn on lonely alpine track
They've glimpsed a huge black stallion - Light Horseman on his back.

Yes Sceptics say, it's swirling clouds just forming apparitions
Oh no, my friend you cant dismiss all this as superstition
The desert of Beersheba - or windswept Aussie range
John Stuart rides forever there - Now I don't find that strange.

Now some gaze at this photo, and they often question me
And I tell them a small white lie, and say he's family.
"You must be proud of him." they say - I tell them, one and all,
That's why he takes the pride of place - my Anzac on the Wall.

Aussieness!!!!

2008-03-02T12:54:00.001+10:30

Love the words to this song...

Ohhhh Hindsight.....

2008-02-11T09:34:00.000+10:30

While walking down the street one day a US senator is tragically hit by a truck and dies. His soul arrives in heaven and is met by St. Peter at the entrance.

'Welcome to heaven,' says St. Peter. 'Before you settle in, it seems there is a problem. We seldom see a high official around these parts, you see, so we're not sure wh at to do with you.'

'No problem, just let me in,' says the man.

'Well, I'd like to, but I have orders from higher up. What we'll do is have you spend one day in hell and one in heaven. Then you can choose where to spend eternity.'

'Really, I've made up my mind. I want to be in heaven,' says the senator.

'I'm sorry, but we have our rules.'

And wit h that, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell. The doors open and he finds himself in the middle of a green golf course. In the distance is a clubhouse and standing in front of it are all his friends and other politicians who had worked with him.

Everyone is very happy and in evening dress. They run to greet him, shake his hand, and reminisce about the good times they had while getting rich at the expense of the people. Th ey play a friendly game of golf and then dine on lobster, caviar and champagne.

Also present is the devil, who really is a very friendly guy who has a good time dancing and telling jokes. They are having such a good time that before he realizes it, it is time to go.

Everyone gives him a hearty farewell and waves while the elevator rises...

The elevator goes up, up, up and the door reopens on heaven where St Peter is waiting for him.

'Now it's time to visit heaven.'

So, 24 hours pass with the senator joining a group of contented souls moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing. They have a good time and, before he realizes it, the 24 hours have gone by and St. Peter returns.

'Well, then, you've spent a day in hell and another in heaven. Now choose your eternity.'<>
The senator reflects for a minute, then he answers: 'Well, I would never have said it before, I mean heaven has been delightful, but I think I would be better off in hell.'

So St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell.

Now the doors of the elevator open and he's in the middle of a barren land covered with waste and garbage. He sees all his friends, dressed in rags, picking up the trash and putting it in black bags as more trash falls from above. The devil comes over to him and puts his arm around his shoulder.

'I don't understand,' stammers the senator. 'Yesterday I was here and there was a golf course and clubhouse, and we ate lobster and caviar, drank champagne, and danced and had a great time. Now there's just a wasteland full of garbage and my friends look miserable. What happened?'

The devil looks at him, smiles and says, 'Yesterday we were campaigning...... Today you voted.

Empty Words...

2008-02-03T13:00:00.000+10:30

Much has been made in recent years of the concept of support for our troops. Some of the blogs that I have read were almost laughable to me. One statement in particular has always stood out... "Supporting the troops means eating PB sanwiches for a week so I can afford to send more care packages". Would you really do that?? I'd be sick by the end of the week, certainly sick of PB sandwiches!!

I spent a considerable portion of my offline time mulling this over. I began to speak to refugees new to our country and a realisation came over me. I am 100% behind supporting the troops, I don't think I need to explain myself there. Yes, I believe a bumper sticker or pin is supporting the troops if that is what you can afford. Of course, I believe that eating PB sandwiches for a week is also supporting the troops, but how many of us support what they are actually doing??

Last year the UN called on the west for a 19,000 strong force to assist in areas including the Sudan, where there is violence on an almost incomprehensible scale. The call was declined by then Prime Minister Howard and will not likely be heeded by Rudd after he has finished slashing the Defence budget to pieces. The simple realities for many of our countries leaders at that time was that we are already stretched way to thin, primarily across the Middle East, to support this request. I have since followed the situation in the Sudan with sadness and pure frustration. If ever we were to question the true meaning of human misery, we have only to look in that direction and see for ourselves. I get to see it every day. In my line of work we have daily contact with Sudanese, Lebanese and Middle Eastern refugees. One mother told me of growing up in a constant war zone, watching people die, homes burn and people roaming the streets with guns for the first 10 years of her life.

Every war is like any story in that each has 2 sides. There is the conflict and then there are the innocent victims. EVERY Soldier I have spoken to speaks of the heartbreaking sights they witness on a daily basis, displaced families, children killed and maimed or at risk of their lives for venturing outside. We have witnessed Community Centres and schools opened to support the local population as all around them their lives are torn apart by attacks from their own countrymen. How many of us have sent packages in support of these ventures?? I'm guessing there wouldn't be many among us who have not supported these causes in some way.

A couple of weeks ago I was at the plaza doing some shopping before meeting a friend to catch a movie. As I walked down a walkway, window shopping I spotted a stall for UNHCR. I stood for a moment watching them try in vain to catch the attention of people walking by. I must have watched for close to 5 minutes as each person who walked past dropped their head or averted their eyes as they walked past. I actually looked at the bags in my hands and thought about my reason for being there. How good is my life that I have these options?? And so I walked straight to the stall and told them to sign me up. Now, we all know I am no great fan of the UN but this made such an abundance of sense to me. I could send food parcels or clothing or whatever I felt was needed but what I can do with $25 a month and what they can do is so different. This from the UNHCR website......

Single donation

$105 can provide enough blankets for seven families

$142 can provide a household kit for a displaced family in Darfur

$325 can provide fuel efficient stoves for 50 families as well as training on their usage

To become an Action Partner and provide ongoing protection and assistance to refugees, please complete details below.

	$25 per month can provide 50 mosquito nets to protect against malaria
	$30 per month can provide clean safe water for refugees
	$50 per month can provide all season tents for 5 families

I have always been sceptical of these aide organisations and in the past it has prevented me from donating, but I can now ask refugees and find out for myself that our donations DO help these people.

This is one of the many refugee camps stretching across areas such as Chad, Sudan, Ethiopia, Uganda, Rwanda, Angola and Zambia.

Many of these camps are surrounded by barbed wire to protect it's inhabitants from Militia and rebel forces.

The War in Darfur (called by some as Darfur Genocide) is a military conflict in the Darfur region of western Sudan. Unlike the Second Sudanese Civil War, the current lines of conflict are seen to be ethnic and tribal, rather than religious.^[1] One side of the armed conflict is composed mainly of the Sudanese military and the Janjaweed, a militia group recruited mostly from the Arab Baggara tribes of the northern Rizeigat, camel-herding nomads, who are opposed to religions other than Islam. The other side comprises a variety of rebel groups, notably the Sudan Liberation Movement and the Justice and Equality Movement, recruited primarily from the land-tilling non-Arab Fur, Zaghawa, and Massaleit ethnic groups. The Sudanese government, while publicly denying that it supports the Janjaweed, has provided money and assistance to the militia and has participated in joint attacks targeting the black African tribes from which the rebels draw support.^[2] The conflict began in February of 2003. Read more here

Iraq Appeal

Situational Overview

The humanitarian situation in Iraq continues to be dire.

UNHCR estimates there are some 2.0 million Iraqis displaced internally, and up to 2.2 million in neighboring states, particularly Syria and Jordan. The internal rate of displacement is continuing at a rate of some 40,000 to 50,000 a month.

Many were displaced prior to 2003, but an increasing number are fleeing now. Large numbers of Iraqi refugees are poor and live in low income areas. There are reports of women and young girls forced to resort to prostitution or survival sex and children forced into labour or other forms of exploitation in order to survive.

Australia for the UNHCR has launched its Iraq appeal in aid of those displaced by the conflict and ongoing unrest.

So the question I asked myself in those moments before signing up was 'What would $25 a month mean to me'??

If I was a smoker, 2 packets of cigarettes (so I would be healthier for helping)
If I was a drinker, that would be 2 1/2 cans of Jacks at the pub (once again I would be healthier for helping)
2 large pizzas
A TShirt
A latest release cd or dvd
Half a pair of jeans
2 tickets to see a movie

I think I can do without any one of these things to help people.

Success in any one of these regions needs to be a partnership between our military forces and ourselves. Every one of us can become a part of this partnership by assisting in the support of the people injured, displaced and traumatised by the conflicts in their regions. As our forces stabilise their regions, we can assist to stabilise their lives.

AC

Because Some Things Are Just To Funny Not To Pass On

2008-02-01T16:37:00.001+10:30

YOU MAY BE A TALIBAN IF….......

1. You refine heroin for a living, but you have a moral objection to beer.

2. You own a $3,000 machine gun and $5,000 rocket launcher, but you can’t afford shoes.

3. You have more wives than teeth.

4. You wipe your butt with your bare left hand, but consider bacon “unclean.”

5. You think vests come in two styles: bullet-proof and suicide.

6. You can’t think of anyone you HAVEN’T declared Jihad against.

7. You consider television dangerous, but routinely carry explosives in your clothing.

8. You were amazed to discover that cell phones have uses other than setting off roadside bombs.

9. You’ve ever uttered the phrase, “I love what you’ve done with your cave.”

10. You have nothing against women and think every man should own at least one.

11. You bathe at least monthly whether necessary or not.

12. You’ve ever had a crush on your neighbor’s goat.

A Time To Stand

2007-11-18T08:16:00.000+10:30

Thousands of years ago a young man chose to die a painful death to atone for the sins of many. It was an honorable death, albeit one which occured in the most dishonorable of circumstances. A betrayal, an unecessary uprising that amounted to little more than a witch hunt, a slanted court that allowed this man to be prosecuted by an angry mob and a conclusion that would have led many to openly breathe a sigh of relief. The man who would be the King of Kings was gone, and no longer a threat to those who would rule, perhaps not through the most legitimate of avenues.

Through history we have witnessed this scene play out a thousand and more times. In the majority of cases the reasoning behind that which makes them the threat has changed from one of religious belief to one of political standing.......Until now.

It is interesting to note how closely linked Religion and Politics are. In Australia some years ago there was a campaign by a number of Politicians to stamp out Abortion. We have all seen this, every country has their politicians who are anti abortion. The scene played out as it always has and will always do. The rights of a woman to make the decision about what happens with her own body against the rights of an unborn child to take that first breath. Interestingly all of these Politicians were male and therefore would not have a womans understanding of the need for that right to make often painstaking decisions about whether to terminate that life. The other point that was interesting to note was that all of these men held strong religious conviction. All were actively involved in their churches and making political decisions based on those religious convictions. Now, I am not here to make a judgement over whether they were right or wrong in their beliefs. Each of us is born with the inherent responsibility to make decisions for ourselves about our beliefs, our lives and how our actions will impact on those around us.

Personally, I believe your relationship with your God is a personal matter between you and them and is best kept that way. Yes, I am the first to admit I am rude to any person that stands on my doorstep offering me Salvation and to lead me on the path to eternal life. Quite simply, if I held a desire to attend church I would do so.

And this is where my issue with organised religion stems from. More often than not we are born into religion. The beliefs of our parents and family become our own, sometimes willingly, sometimes not. Those who follow organised religion will often be the first to persecute the religions of others because their beliefs differ from their own. Centuries have changed organised religion, pacified it to a small degree. Never again did we believe we would witness the bloody crusades or the enforced acceptance of one religion and it's beliefs. At one time I myself would have fallen victim to the religious beliefs of some due to my looks. Women with red hair, blue eyes and prominent birthmarks were routinely persecuted in the belief that they were witches attempting to lure righteous men from their homes and their wives and enslave them. We can look upon these beliefs now and laugh because the concept of terminating a person based on their looks and your religious beliefs is a now a crime.

And yet, we are now seeing a resurgence in religious fanaticism that has caught us effectively unaware. This is not a new war, simply the latest battle. Christians and Muslims have been at war since the beginning of time. While neither can realistically claim the title of the Religion Of Peace, both believe so strongly in what they stand for that they would die for it. The most prominent difference seems to be that one will die defending their religion while the other will die enforcing it. While one religion glorifies life, the other glorifies death.

Religion has never been the underlying factor with regard to war. That is predominantly greed that is simply masked by religion. If we look at this latest of battles we see the likes of Osama Bin Laden preach the word of Allah to the weak minded and glorify them as they take their own lives and those of innocent victims whilst he hides, amassing a fortune. And all in the name of the Religion of Peace.

Many with no understanding of religion at all will come together to protest against our elected officials and their decision to take a stand against the Middle East. They will further display their ignorance by comparing these elected officials to the likes of Adolf Hitler. These actions merely serve to demonstrate that they also lack any knowledge of history as well. Whether we are willing to accept it or not, religion and politics have become entertwined. All around us those with the courage and conviction to fight deploy to face the enemy on their own soil. Each has their own set of beliefs and convictions, their own reason to fight. These reasons are as individual and personal as the men and women themselves. And yet, they fight for our right to choose our own religion or indeed, our right not to choose religion at all. Their personal beliefs and convictions are so strong that they would die defending them. Their belief in the fundamental right to choose, overwhelms their fear of battle. Their belief in, and love of, their country and their way of life fuels their desire to win.

Each day, these brave warriors face an enemy who equally believe in their religion and their struggle. While the enemy destroys their own cities and murders their own countrymen and women, these warriors will lay down their lives to defend them. They will leave their families, their lives and everything they fight so hard to defend and travel across the world to fight for those persecuted by their own people. They will display on a daily basis, the belief, the hope and the possibility of self sacrifice that many attribute to the Chrisitan faith.

But to many, this is not a fight for religious conviction, merely a struggle for humanity. It is a war fought on many levels, from the battles in the streets of the Middle east, to the random acts of terrorism on our home soil, from the riots in the streets across the world from those who believe they are being persecuted based on their religion, to the enforced lessons on Islam in our childrens schools, from the so called 'Electronic Jihad' that has been threatened in recent months to the propaganda wars in our media. The stark reality here is that no one will escape this struggle. From the innocent victims of these random acts of terrorism and their families to those left behind when Soldiers deploy. To the grieving family and friends of fallen warriors to our children witnessing the war through the media.

In every country, despite religious or political conviction, every person will be touched in some way by this struggle.

Perhaps it is time for us to lay aside our misgivings about our countries Leaders, our reasons for being at war, our lack of faith in those around us. The time for ignorance and denial is long past. We can not allow the senseless bloodshed to continue and through our stubborn denial of the realities of this war, that is exactly what we are doing. If we can educate our children about Islam in our schools, surely we can educate them as to the reasons why people are fighting for them. It is time to show unslanted, fact only views and information. Now is the time for people to seek real answers.

The outcomes of this war need to become the responsibility of everybody.

AC

Just Makin the Point.....

2007-11-10T08:00:00.000+10:30

Now, anyone who knows me, knows I'm not a great fan of the UN. I'm still at a loss as to what these people actually do, apart from mouthing off...Like this guy.

Diggers in Iraq symbolic: Blix

John Lyons | November 07, 2007

FORMER chief UN weapons inspector Hans Blix has described the 500 Australian troops in Iraq, at the centre of the political debate between the two major parties, as being of "political and symbolic value".

Hans Blix, who will receive the Sydney Peace Prize from Paul Keating, says Australian troops in Iraq are of "political and symbolic value". Picture: Alan Pryke

The reference came yesterday when Mr Blix was asked whether there was any real difference between the policies on Iraq put forward by John Howard and Kevin Rudd.

Asked whether 500 soldiers could make a crucial difference to the future of a country such as Iraq, the former Swedish diplomat said: "I don't think so. They (the US) have over 140,000 people in Iraq and then on top of that presumably a lot ofcontracted people, so I don't see quite that it has more than the political and symbolic value."

Last night, Labor defence spokesman Joel Fitzgibbon said he would never describe Australia's troops as symbolic but added: "I am not surprised by his comments."

"I think Hans Blix has vindicated the Labor Party's position on Iraq," he said. "There is no doubt these resources could be better utilised elsewhere."

Mr Blix was the UN weapons inspector who warned against an invasion of Iraq after his team was unable to find any weapons of mass destruction from about 700 searches at 500 different sites.

He is in Sydney to receive the Sydney Peace Prize tomorrow. It will be presented by former Labor prime minister Paul Keating.

The Opposition Leader has said Labor, if elected, would withdraw the 500 soldiers in the overwatch battle group based at Talil in southern Iraq and move them to neighbouring countries. The Prime Minister has said those troops would be kept in Iraq but dispersed to other parts of the country.

"I would have thought the presence of foreign (non-American) troops in Iraq, the value of it is that it somewhat improves the appearance of a multilateral operation, rather than anything else," Mr Blix said.

Current operations

Current ADF deployments. Deployments of over 1000 personnel are coloured red, deployments of between 999 and 101 personnel are coloured orange and deployments of 100 or fewer personnel are coloured blue.

In July 2007 around 3850 Australian Defence Force personnel were deployed on overseas operations. An additional 450 personnel were also deployed on domestic maritime security tasks.^[23] While these deployments have placed pressure on some elements of the military, and particularly the Army, the ADF is not currently 'overstretched'.^[24]

The ADF currently has two-large scale deployments in the Middle East. The ADF's contribution to the rehabilitation of Iraq, Operation Catalyst, forms the largest ADF deployment. As of July 2007, 1575 ADF personnel were deployed to the Middle East as part of this operation. The other main ADF operation in the Middle East is Operation Slipper, Australia's contribution to the international coalition against terrorism. In July 2007 approximately 970 ADF personnel were also deployed as part of this operation.^[25] The Australian force in Afghanistan will be expanded to more than 1000 personnel over 2007 and 2008.^[26] The ADF also maintains three small contributions totalling 52 personnel to peacekeeping operations in the Middle East and Africa. Read more here

So Mr Blix, whatever the reason the Diggers are there as part of the Multi National Force. They're doing their jobs and they're doing them well. Australia is contributing what they can, where they can and their efforts are far from 'symbolic' for those of us waiting at home for their return. To us, be it 5 or 500, they are heroes. They have our respect and gratitude for any and all of their contributions to our countries future well being.

AC

A Genuine Aussie Hero - Matthew Locke

2007-10-28T08:05:00.000+10:30

Australia has lost another of its Diggers this week, Sargeant Matthew Locke of the SASR Unit. Sgt Locke died as a result of small arms fire while fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan.

Leaders salute 'genuine

hero' of SAS

GENERALS and politicians alike yesterday paid tribute to SAS Sergeant Matthew Locke, killed in Afghanistan on Thursday, hailing him as an inspirational leader and a genuine Australian hero.

A two-tour veteran of Afghanistan and a Medal of Gallantry winner, the father of one from Perth was fatally wounded in the chest while leading a patrol of SAS soldiers against the Taliban.

"The nation today has lost a genuine hero. The army has lost a gallant and respected soldier," said Chief of Army Lieutenant General Peter Leahy.

"Our Special Air Service Regiment have lost a comrade and a mate and his family have lost a loving husband and father."

Sergeant Locke, who leaves behind a wife, Lee, and a 13-year-old son, had extensive experience in East Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan and was one of the finest soldiers in the army, said Australian Defence Force Chief Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston.

Sergeant Locke joined the army in 1992, was posted to the 5/7th Battalion and joined the SAS in 1997, where he quickly earned the respect of his fellow soldiers.

"His attention to detail was incredible," one trooper told Sydney's Daily Telegraph. "Matty was one of those blokes that everyone in the army seemed to know -- he was one of those blokes who got on with everyone.

"He was a quiet achiever, a good team player and a very smart bloke."

The death of the SAS patrol leader -- the second Australian combat fatality in Afghanistan in less than three weeks and the third since 2002 -- will not change the Howard Government's commitment to stay the course in Afghanistan or Iraq.

Expressing sorrow at the death of a "very courageous soldier", John Howard said yesterday there would be no weakening of his Government's resolve to continue the war on terror.

Taking a pause from campaigning, Mr Howard and his wife, Janette, made a private visit to Campbell Barracks at Swanbourne in Perth, the home base of the SAS Regiment.

The Prime Minister said Sergeant Locke, aged in his 30s, had died "fighting for his country in a just cause". "It's not going to alter the attitude of the Government towards the commitment in Afghanistan," he said.

"It's very important we contain terrorism in that country, it's very important we contain terrorism in Iraq, and the worst thing this country could do is say it's all too hard and give up."

Earlier, Labor leader Kevin Rudd said the thoughts, prayers and condolences of the nation were extended to Sergeant Locke's family. "I have conveyed to the Special Air Service Regiment commander the condolences of the Opposition
over the loss of one of their own," he said. "This is a tragedy for the family and a great loss to the nation."

Defence Minister Brendan Nelson praised Sergeant Locke as a highly decorated soldier but echoed Mr Howard's comments, saying: "Under no circumstances should the Taliban think this will weaken our resolve."

Governor-General Michael Jeffery, a former SAS commander, described the soldier as an "absolute professional".

Last December, Major General Jeffery awarded Sergeant Locke the Medal for Gallantry.

Sgt Lockes death has served as a stark reminder of the risks our Service Personnel take every day and yet, the Deaths of Trooper Pearce and Sgt Locke - just 3 weeks apart - have not served to strengthen the resolve of the Australian people. Instead of uniting int heir support of our forces, the country seems to be calling for them to be returned home. How does this honour those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for their country??

TO BE AWARDED THE MEDAL FOR GALLANTRY

SERGEANT MATTHEW LOCKE
Campbell Barracks, SWANBOURNE, WA, 6010

For gallantry in action in hazardous circumstances
as the second-in-command of a Special Air Service
Regiment patrol in the Special Forces
Task Group whilst deployed on Operation SLIPPER,
Afghanistan, in 2006.

During the conduct of an operation, a patrol, with
Sergeant Locke as second-in-command, were tasked
with establishing an Observation Post in extremely
rugged terrain over looking an Anti-Coalition
Militia sanctuary. After an arduous ten hour foot
infiltration up the side of the mountain, the
patrol was called into action to support elements
of the Combined Task Force Special Forces patrol
that were in contact with the Anti-Coalition
Militia in the valley floor to their north.
After the engagement, Sergeant Locke’s patrol
remained in their location and was the only
coalition ground element with visibility of
the target area.

During the course of the next day the patrol
continued to coordinate offensive air support
against identified Anti-Coalition Militia
positions in order to further disrupt and
degrade the enemy’s morale. During the afternoon,
the Observation Post became the focus of the
Anti-Coalition Militia who made repeated attempts
by day and night to overrun and surround the
position. In one such incident the Anti-Coalition
Militia attempted to outflank the Observation Post
and Sergeant Locke without regard for his own
personal safety, led a two man team to locate and
successfully neutralise the Anti-Coalition
Militia in order to regain the initiative and
protect his patrol from being overrun.

This particular incident was followed by another
Anti-Coalition Militia attempt to manoeuvre to
attack the patrol Observation Post from another
flank. Sergeant Locke, again with little regard
for his personal safety, adopted a fire position
that was exposed on high ground which dominated
the planned Anti-Coalition Militia assault.
Whilst deliberately exposing himself to intense
rifle and machine gun fire from the Anti-Coalition
Militia, he again neutralised the lead assaulting
elements whilst suppressing other Militia until
the arrival of offensive air support.

Whilst still under sustained fire, Sergeant Locke
then directed indirect fire to effectively
neutralise another Anti-Coalition Militia advance
on his patrol’s position.

The courageous and gallant actions of Sergeant
Locke were instrumental in regaining the
initiative from the Anti-Coalition Militia
and allowing the successful exfiltration of
the patrol on foot prior to first light
the next day.

Sergeant Locke’s actions of gallantry whilst
under enemy fire in extremely hazardous
circumstances, displayed courage of the
highest order and is in keeping with the finest
traditions of Special Operations
Command-Australia, the Australian Army and the
Australian Defence Force.

Sgt Locke returns home....

CPA 408/07 Wednesday, 31 October 2007

SERGEANT LOCKE RETURNS HOME

Fallen SAS soldier, Sergeant Matthew Locke,
was returned to Australia today to be met
by family and colleagues at RAAF Base, Pearce
in Western Australia.

In a solemn and dignified ceremony, soldiers
from Sergeant Locke’s SAS battalion formed
a Guard and Bearer Party on the tarmac where they
met the C-130 Hercules aircraft and carried the
casket to a private room.

The private occasion allowed those close to Sergeant
Locke to pay their personal respects to this brave
soldier.

The Chief of Army, Lieutenant General Peter Leahy,
and Commander Australian Special Forces, Major
General Michael Hindmarsh, attended the ceremony
and paid tribute to Sergeant Locke on behalf of the
Australian Army.

“We in the Army extend our heartfelt sympathies to
Matthew’s family during this difficult time,” said
Lieutenant General Leahy.

“The Army has lost a courageous soldier, a respected
colleague and a mate.  We will miss him.”

Major General Hindmarsh described Sergeant Locke as
a professional and dedicated soldier who was a
valuable member of the SAS.

“Matthew has made the ultimate sacrifice for the
nation.  His loss will be felt by all members of
the SAS community and he will never be forgotten,”
said Major General Hindmarsh.

Members of the Special Air Service Regiment carry the casket of their colleague Sergeant Matthew Locke to his family for a short ceremony,after his arrival under escort from Afghanistan.

Sgt Locke is laid to rest...

THE FUNERAL OF SERGEANT

MATTHEW LOCKE

Mourners congregated at Perth’s Karrakatta cemetery
today for the funeral of Sergeant Matthew Locke, who was tragically killed in Afghanistan last week.

Sergeant Locke’s wife and young son were joined by their
large circle of family and friends and by past and present
members of the Perth-based Special Air Service Regiment.

On hand to pay their respects to the SAS soldier were His Excellency Major General Michael Jeffrey, Governor
General of the Commonwealth of Australia, The Hon.
John Howard MP, Prime Minister of Australia; Mr Kevin
Rudd MP, Leader of the Opposition; The Hon. Bruce
Billson MP, Minister Assisting the Minister for Defence
and Mr Joel Fitzgibbon MP, Shadow Minister for Defence.

The Chief of Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Angus
Houston, The Chief of Army, Lieutenant General Peter
Leahy and the Special Operations Commander Australia,
Major General Mike Hindmarsh, were also present to pay
their respects to a fallen hero.

During his 16-year military career, 10 years of which
was spent in the elite Special Air Service Regiment,
Sergeant Locke completed active service in a number
of operational theatres as well as being awarded the
Medal of Gallantry last year for his gallantry in hazardous circumstances.

The cortege carrying Sergeant Locke’s coffin was met at
Karrakatta cemetery by an SASR honour guard.
At the conclusion of the sombre service, the honour guard fired three volleys and a bugler played
the Last Post in tribute to the passing of one of
the nation's finest soldiers.

And to truly do Sgt Matthew Locke honor, John Williamson sang 'True Blue'

Hey True Blue, don't say you've gone Say you've knocked off for a smoko And you'll be back later on Hey True Blue, Hey True Blue
Give it to me straight Face to face Are you really disappearing, Just another dying race, Hey True Blue.
True Blue, is it me and you? Is it Mum and Dad, is it a cockatoo? Is it standing by your mate When he's in a fight? Or will she be right? True Blue, I'm asking you...
Hey True Blue, can you bear the load? Will you tie it up with wire, Just to keep the show on the road? Hey True Blue, Hey True Blue, now be Fair Dinkum
Is your heart still there? If they sell us out like sponge cake Do you really care? Hey True Blue.
True Blue, is it me and you? Is it Mum and Dad, is it a cockatoo? Is it standing by your mate When she's in a fight? Or will she be right? True Blue, I'm asking you... True Blue, is it me and you? Is it Mum and Dad, is it a cockatoo? Is it standing by your mate When he's in a fight? Or will she be right? True Blue ... True Blue. True Blue Steadfast loyal Australian who displays the Aussie ideals of a fair go for all, mateship, having a go, and solving problems.

Rest easy Soldier, knowing you will not be forgotten by a grateful nation.

My deepest condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Sgt Locke

AC

Hotel Rwanda

2007-09-27T17:47:00.000+09:30

One of the most often refuted aspects of the War in Iraq is the Wests and specifically Americas reason for being there. The arguement of Liberation versus Occupation, Blood for Oil, the Bush Legacy and on it goes. I wonder, does anyone ever stop to think what would have happened to many who found themselves in the midst of Ethnic Cleansing if the West had never intervened??

For those who found themselves at the wrong end of Ethnic Cleansing the 'Occupation' by America and Coalition Forces is a light, an ongoing reminder that others are aware of their struggle and are willing to intervene. That we will not repeat the mistakes of 1994 when up to a million Tutsi and moderate Hutu men, women and children were slaughtered during a 3 month ethnic cleansing rampage in Rwanda.

I watched the movie 'Hotel Rwanda' tonite. For me it was particularly hard as I looked at the faces of the children on the screen and thought of the Sudanese children I see in my line of work. The 4 year old who told me of the night the police took his father away or the 6 year old who remembers seeing his father shot. The parents who collect their children covered in horrific scars. For those who have no idea what I am talking about here is some information.

The Rwandan Genocide was the 1994 mass killing of hundreds of thousands of ethnic Tutsis and moderate Hutu sympathizers in Rwanda and was the largest atrocity during the Rwandan Civil War. This genocide was mostly carried out by two extremist Hutu militia groups, the Interahamwe and the Impuzamugambi, during about 100 days from April 6 through mid-July, 1994. At least 500,000 Tutsis and thousands of moderate Hutus died in the genocide. Some estimates put the death toll between 800,000 and 1,000,000.

In the wake of the Rwandan Genocide, the international community, and the United Nations in particular, drew severe criticism for its inaction. Despite international news coverage of the violence as it unfolded, most countries, including France, Belgium, and the United States, declined to prevent or stop the massacres. Canada continued to lead the UN peacekeeping force in Rwanda, United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda (UNAMIR). Despite specific warnings and requests from UNAMIR's commanding officers in Rwanda, before and during the genocide, the UN Security Council refused to send additional support, declined UNAMIR's request for authorization to intervene, and even scaled back UNAMIR's forces and authority. The only foreign entity to directly intervene was the French government, which sent troops not to stop the genocide, but rather to protect the genocidal Rwandan armed forces from the invading rebel force that ultimately ended the bloodshed. Link

Essentially the world sat back while up to 1 million people were needlessly slaughtered. One man attempted to take a stand and was responsible for saving the lives of over 1200 Tutsi and Hutu people. His name was Paul Ruseabagina. This unlikely hero became the Manager of the Hotel Des Milles Collines when the previous Manager fled in the wake of the attacks. Desperate to spare his wife and children who were all Tutsi (Paul himself was of mixed heritage being both Tutsi and Hutu), he brought them and some of his neighbours to the hotel. As more fled the war torn country the hotel was left to the refugees. They had little food and anything of value was used to bribe the police forces into protecting them or the Hutu Militia men into sparing their lives. Still, Paul never gave up, he fought for these men, women and children when no one else would.

Paul Rusesabagina (born June 15, 1954, pronounced [ɾusesabagina] or [ɾusesabadʒina]) is a Rwandan who has been internationally honored for saving over 1,000 civilians during the Rwandan Genocide. He was the assistant manager of the Hôtel des Mille Collines, before he became the manager of the Hôtel des Diplomates, both in Kigali, Rwanda. During the 1994 Rwandan genocide, Rusesabagina used his influence and connections as temporary manager of the Mille Collines to shelter over 1,260 Tutsis and moderate Hutus from being slaughtered by the Interahamwe militia. His story was the basis of the Academy Award-nominated film Hotel Rwanda (2004). He currently lives in Belgium with his wife Tatiana, 3 children, and adopted nieces. He drove a taxi in Brussels, and three years after he arrived in the Belgian capital, he opened a trucking company. Link

So with all this in mind did we do the right thing when we entered Iraq??

Bill Clinton later remarked in an interview that he believed sending in a force of up to 5500 Peacekeepers may have saved the lives of up to 500,000 people. His inaction allowed the ethnic cleansing to continue for 100 days.

Faced with the same dilemma some years later a somewhat more astute President Bush decided to intervene and become an active part of attempting to end the ethnic cleansing and genocide in Iraq. It has cost the lives of many brave men and women and saved the lives of countless others. It has given people a sense of hope in a country where fear and despair are a way of life. At least this time we did not take the road of complacency. The West did not turn a blind eye as people died needlessly.

AC

Update: Indigenous Elders Threaten to Hold Tourism Hostage...

2007-06-26T21:41:00.000+09:30

Indigenous Elders have threatened to with hold the rights for tourists to climb Ayers Rock (known to them as Uluru) in reponse to Prime Minister Howards plan to save their communities.

I have to tell you, I am having trouble processing the attitude of those with the most to gain from this plan... The Indigenous Communities themselves. The Government is funding the plan to regain control so the Communities will not be out of pocket. In fact, they will gain necessary services that will ensure ongoing support and care to the women and children and rehabilitation, substance misuse support and counselling to those in need and a safe environment for all.

This was the response from the Communities...

Welfare groups accuse Howard of welfare 'land grab'

Patricia Karvelas
June 26, 2007

WELFARE and indigenous groups have accused John Howard of using child sex abuse as a smokescreen to cover a land grab in its effort to resume control of Aboriginal lands in the Northern Territory.

A group of ninety organisations and individuals yesterday described the Prime Minister's move to take control of NT indigenous communities to crack down on child sex abuse as a Trojan horse and said it was possible to deal with the problem without seizing control of land.

They voiced their concerns in a letter delivered yesterday to Indigenous Affairs Minister Mal Brough.
It came as Mr Brough began to flesh out his plans for the takeover of 60 indigenous communities and as West Australian Premier Alan Carpenter was left as the last state leader not supporting after it was backed by Queensland Premier Peter Beattie.

Mr Howard announced his planned indigenous intervention last week, declaring abuse of children in indigenous communities a national emergency.

Pat Turner, a former head of the now defunct Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission and a former senior bureaucrat in the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, today warned that Mr Brough was drawing too heavily on his military background to implement the government's plan.

“We believe that this government is using child sexual abuse as the Trojan horse to resume total control of our lands,” Ms Farmer said.

“No compensation will ever, ever replace our land ownership rights.

“We are totally against tying serious social needs to our hard fought land ownership and land tenure.”

Link

It is beyond disgusting that 'Land Rights' are being put above the safety and welfare of the children of these Communities. Just so those from other countries understand, few of the people who are up in arms right now about the 'Land Rights', actually live on the land. There are also significant amounts of money paid out in mining and tourism royalties to the 'Traditional Land Owners' each year. The Government and Mining Companies have been in consultation and negotiation with the Indigenous Communities for years over these land right claims.

Quite simply, the Indigenous Communities seem to want to do little to assist with the Prime Ministers plan. This plan is radical and imposing but is designed to stamp out a scourge that is either killing or emotionally and physically harming children. It is a situation that has been around for so long it almost seems normal to some and that attitude needs to be turned around.

While Youthworking in the town where I live I dealt with something that has stayed with me. The children and youth have very little regard for life. One 10 year old I was familiar with fell between two train carriages one night while he and some mates were jumping off a train bridge onto a moving train. A third of his body was ripped away, he lost a leg and part of his bowel. 2 nights later, while his life still hung in the balance, I caught his mates back on the same bridge. One of the kids, a 12 year old I knew quite well, came over when I called out. I asked what the hell he thought he was doing and he laughed. They were having fun and had no regard for what had happened to their friend.

These young people see abuse and death on a regular basis and sadly, seem to have become immune. I personally, was thrilled to hear of the Prime Ministers plan and will continue to hold out hope for the children.

A_C

PM Howrds Seeks To Rectify Australias 'Shame'.

2007-06-25T14:41:00.000+09:30

Radical new laws and severe crackdowns in Aboriginal Communities across the Northern Territory, which include a prescence by both the Australian Defence Force and Australian Federal Police, are due to begin this week amidst public outrage and accusations of racial discrimination.

These crackdowns include a system that ensures children are adequately fed, clothed and have recieved medical checks from welfare money that is designated for their care, a ban on alcohol and hardcore pornography, compulsory regular health checks for children, regular attendance at school and severe punishments for those who molest, abuse or physically and emotionally harm a child in anyway. Makes sense right....?

Well, apparently not. Australia is now facing a state of emergency with an added dilemma... Our Aboriginal Communities are in dire straits. Women and children are being routinely abused and assaulted, welfare money designated for the care of children is being used to buy alcohol, cigarettes and other substances, children are poorly fed, not clothed against the weather, poorly supervised and uneducated and this is the least of their problems. Their biggest problem is those who insist on calling this the next 'Stolen Generation'.

The use of the term 'Stolen Generation' is undoubtedly the reason this has continued for so long. While there are some who see fit to criticise the timing of PM Howards radical new crackdown, the simple fact is that the issues surrounding the original 'Stolen Generation' still abound and still haunt our government. While PM Howard withstood public pressure to 'Say Sorry' to the 'Stolen Generation', many others bowed. This set up a culture, whereby this criminal behaviour was allowed to continue because politicians were aware of the likely outcomes. That is that those 'stolen' would int he future, seek financial restitution from the government from the 'pain and suffering' caused by being removed.

My opinions on this matter stem largely from my own experiences with the people and children from these communities. Yes, I have worked in Aboriginal Communities all over South Australia through different agencies and in differing capacities. I also personally know members of the 'Stolen Generation'. Men and women who went on to become Lawyers, Teachers and Health Proffessionals. Those who do not believe our Prime Minister owes them an apology but more so, that they owe those who came before him a debt of gratitude.

The 'Stolen Generation' debate is one that will likely continue for years to come. My greatest issue with this is that it impedes the implementation of bans and laws that can literally save childrens lives. That is wrong. Every day we procrastinate another child is raped, another young girl impregnated, another child beaten or forced to witness their mother being beaten.

From the Australian Newspaper....

Federal police to begin abuse crackdown tomorrow

June 24, 2007

AUSTRALIAN Federal Police officers will arrive in the Northern Territory tomorrow as the first step in a radical plan to stop child abuse in indigenous communities.

And more police, backed up by Australian Defence Force (ADF) troops, will be in the NT within a week as part of the federal government's sweeping attempts to restore law and order.

Prime Minister John Howard and Indigenous Affairs Minister Mal Brough, who developed the strategy to take control of the troubled NT communities, said making the communities safe and law-abiding places to live was the first priority.

Medical examinations of all children under 16 would follow once violence was under control and alcohol and X-rated pornography were removed from the communities.

"The biggest single problem in these communities is that the women and the children are scared to death of complaining about the violence and the molestation," Mr Howard told the Ten Network.

"And unless you get police on the ground, unless you establish the atmosphere of physical security, or a greater atmosphere of physical security, nothing is going to change and that is the first and most important requirement."

Link

Nurse Anne Shepherd talks to Geoffrey Barnes in Geyulkan yesterday while Rosaleen, left, and Jake look on. Picture: Peter Eve

Town at the coalface in fear of overflow

Ean Higgins
June 23, 2007

AS a nurse working in the Northern Territory, Anne Shepherd found herself driven to distraction at the failure of authorities to crack down on sexual abuse of Aboriginal children.

"I had indigenous women come to me and tell me their stories," Ms Shepherd told The Weekend Australian.

"I passed that information on, but nothing was done about it despite many attempts.

"They made me feel like I was being interrogated. I hit a blank every time."

Now, Ms Shepherd is Mayor of Katherine. She loves her town of about 10,000, which she says is a great place where most people, black or white, are law-abiding.

But she says there is still too much child sexual abuse in her town, particularly black-on-black molestation fuelled by alcohol.

The Territory Government has, despite her repeated entreaties, been almost useless in providing more resources to help her cope with grog and drug problems and ensuing violence, particularly among Aborigines who flock in from remote communities.

"I sincerely believe that the Chief Minister wants action," Ms Shepherd said.

"Unfortunately, all we get from most Northern Territory government departments are excuses and endless reasons why things can't happen."

Ms Shepherd is not a member of a political party.

In principle, she applauds the Howard Government's proposal to shut off the "rivers of alcohol".

But she fears Mr Howard's alcohol ban will, given the reality on the ground, not work on its own, and is more likely to exacerbate problems, including child sexual abuse.

Ms Shepherd points out that part of the problems of her town ironically stem from existing alcohol bans in the dry Aboriginal communities around Katherine, ranging from 50km to 600km away. With Katherine their regional hub, Aborigines come in for shopping and medical services, and many buy grog they can't get in dry communities.

Some don't make it back.

"At any time we can have 300 or more visitors from Aboriginal communities sleeping in doorways and drains, many severely affected by alcohol," Ms Shepherd said.

There is a town camp owned by the Territory Government and leased to an Aboriginal-run community organisation, but it's a dangerous hell-hole with tension between those who live there permanently and visitors from other clans.

"It has not been properly managed in the past, and although the current manager is doing his best, it needs to be safe for temporary residents," Ms Shepherd said, adding that she worried for the children there.

When Ms Shepherd visited a camp called Geyulkan yesterday, there was no one sober enough to string together more than a sentence. But the message still came through as she talked to Geoffrey Barnes, who pounded his breast, saying "I'm hurting in here".

"They are expressing their grief, their loss and the fact that they don't like living like this," Ms Shepherd said.

The federal Government's policy of imposing further prohibitions on drinking in the communities would only displace more of the problem to Katherine, Ms Shepherd said.

In some respects, the dangers of alcohol abuse and violence are then even worse, because the discipline and lawfulness imposed by traditional leaders in some well-run remote communities have no effect when their people come to Katherine.

Katherine remains hopelessly under-resourced to deal with the alcohol problem as it is and needs federal government help, Ms Shepherd said.

Alcohol has to be attacked, but as part of a broader indigenous strategy, she said.

"It's homelessness, dispossession, and the hopelessness of their lives."

Ms Shepherd observed that whites in the Territory were also notorious drinkers, and even though she feared she might be "run out of town" for proposing it, the answer might lie in restricting alcohol consumption across the board through reduction of licences, opening hours and so on.

"We may all have to feel a bit of pain," she said.

This is the full report (yes, all 320 pages of it)

Ampe Akelyernemane Meke Mekarle
“Little Children are Sacred”
In our Law children are very sacred because they carry the
two spring wells of water from our country within them

As leaders spar, Red Centre ready to save children

Jamie Walker
June 25, 2007

ASK Stuart Gaykamangu about his life and his hopes for the future in Australia's Red Centre, and he'll tell you what the politicians don't want to hear.

He doesn't particularly care if John Howard is right and the premiers are wrong as they pursue their escalating turf war over indigenous affairs.

He's a proud Amata man, who's standing tall with his year-old daughter, Talish, perched on his shoulders as that "Rann fella" talks the talk about all the money his state Government has put into the school and a new pool for the kids.

Mr Gaykamangu will tell you, in his shy and hesitant way, that these are good for Amata and the surrounding APY (Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara) lands of northwestern South Australia, and that it matters not a jot whether it's the Prime Minister or Premier Mike Rann who does the honours at their opening.

He'll say people are grateful the petrol sniffers are off the streets, and that a drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre is finally being built on the township's dusty outskirts.

"Yeah, it's a bit better here," he says, before handing the littlegirl to his partner, Samara Burton, 23.

She kisses the squirming child and says: "We want better for her, eh."

On that much the PM and the Labor premiers would agree.

Yet the states have been cool - arctic, actually - in their response to the federal takeover of Northern Territory responsibilities for indigenous child protection, and Mr Howard's call for them to follow his lead with a raftof new measures to curb alcohol abuse and its disastrous flow-on to remote communities such as Amata.

Mr Rann says the only way forward is through co-operation between his Government, Mr Howard's and the communities.

The PM insists it's action that matters - from Canberra, if need be - when indigenous children are at risk of unspeakable harm from sexual predators.

The 300-odd residents of Amata are among the most disadvantaged Australians, ravaged by the hydra-headed scourge of the grog, drugs and petrol sniffing, as well as family violence and sexual abuse that wouldn't be tolerated in the wider community. Although the APY lands are notionally dry, the grog pours in from Alice Springs and the pub at Mintabie, five hours' drive to the south of Amata, where the young blokes load up on beer, bourbon and marijuana.

Which is one thing that hasn't changed, says Mr Gaykamangu, 25. "It's hard to keep away from all that stuff."

Amata community chairman Leonard Burton says there's little tolerance for petrol sniffing these days - though it still happens, even after the state Government introduced unsniffable Opal fuel and increased penalties for trafficking in petrol five-fold.

Now that the issue of child sex abuse is out in the open, and investigators from SA's Mullighan inquiry are on the APY lands, Mr Burton says the community will confront that evil, too.

"We have to," he says. "It's for our kids."

Asked what he thinks of the PM's proposal to quarantine for food and rent up to half the government benefits paid to indigenous community residents in the Territory, Mr Burton nods: "That's a really good idea."

He supports the move to enforce school attendance by linking it to income support and family assistance payments.

"We want our kids to come to school every day," he tells the crowd of mainly women and children, which has gathered for the school opening by Mr Rann.

The Premier has flown from Adelaide with a media contingent, rarely allowed on the desert lands on both sides of the Northern Territory-South Australia border.

He says the new pool, built with $2million of federal funds and a commitment from the state Government to pay the running costs, is a good example of how things should work with Canberra.

The state also paid $17million to wire into the electricity grid a new, federally funded power station outside the administrative centre of Umuwa.

"My message to the Prime Minister is: work with us in a constructive way," Mr Rann told The Australian. "Work with us in a bipartisan way ... but also work with the local communities as well, because that's the only way to get real progress.

"Do something that does good, rather than sounds good."

The reality of the situation is that this is a culture slowly killing itself. Sexually Transmitted Infections are rife within these communities, many due to a lack of education and irregular health checks. Girls are becoming pregnant at younger ages than would be considered acceptable in mainstream communities, some are still primary school aged.

By not intervening, we as a country are allowing this cycle of abuse, substance misuse and poor health to perpetuate itself. Having seen much of the abuse perpetuated on children in these communities, I am shocked and apalled, yet sadly not suprised, by the level of negative outcry to the Prime Ministers plan. This plan is the childrens greatest hope. Those who support the women and children of these communities, will support this plan. Undoubtedly, there will be initial mistrust and fear at the Military and Police prescence, however, this should indicate the level of seriousness in this situation. Basically, this plan will not succeed without them.

Please take the time to read some of the reports from the Australian Newspaper. Parts of Australia are in crisis and it is time to act.

For the childrens sake...

A_C

PM Howard Says No To Diggers In Darfur...

2007-06-19T20:01:00.000+09:30

It's interesting to look at how the world percieves Aussies. We're the 'Lucky Country', the small island with the big heart, etc, etc.

It is also a well known, well established fact that we have amongst the best Soldiers in the world. Our greatest issue seems to be we can not supply in line with the demand on our government and ADF.

With an already overstretched commitment, Australia has been approached by the UN to contribute to a 19,000 strong peace keeping force for Darfur.

Diggers in Darfur 'would have cost Iraq'

Cameron Stewart
June 15, 2007

JOHN Howard says Australia would have been forced to pull troops out of Iraq or Afghanistan to meet a United Nation's request to send Diggers to Darfur.

“It's very fair to say that we are very heavily committed at the present time," Mr Howard said today.

“In order to meet a commitment, a sizable commitment in Darfur, we would have to pull forces out of other parts of the world to send them there.

“And we have commitments there; once you make commitments, you have obligations not to arbitrarily terminate them.”

But Opposition leader Kevin Rudd blamed the Government's open-ended commitment to Iraq for its decision to reject the UN's plea for help in the war-ravaged western Sudan.

"If you've got so many troops tied down in Iraq and Mr Howard has no exit strategy from Iraq, that means we don't have the capacity to assist in humanitarian crises like Darfur - thats the problem," Mr Rudd said.

The Australian revealed today that the Government had rejected a UN request to send Diggers to Darfur, fearing it would overstretch the nation's defence force.

The UN asked Australia for as many troops as it could reasonably spare for a new joint African Union-United Nations peacekeeping force of up to 19,000 for Darfur.

Sudan this week agreed to accept non-African troops into Darfur for the first time as part of a hybrid African Union-UN force to help stop fighting that has killed more than 200,000 and displaced 2.5 million since 2003.

Link

One thing I have to point out is you really shouldn't pay to much attention to what Kevin Rudd has to say. We are in the middle of the lead up to Elections and he would argue black was white if he thought it might help his chances of becoming Prime Minister.

I have been following the situation in Darfur for some time and believe it is amongst the most horrific we are currently seeing in the world. The problem is that now we are already fighting major conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as supporting other countries fighting for democracy and peace. The African Governments have actively fought to keep Western forces out of their country. I believe it is quite significant progress that they are now allowing a peace keeping force to work alongside them in restoring stability to their region, I just wonder where they expected to find that force. Australia and America are both over committed as it is. Australia had a decision to make - Pull troops out of Iraq to support Darfur or keep our troops in Iraq to see that fight through to it's end.

Australias military retention rates are low. Unlike America, we are not exceeding our expectations here. We are seeing more personnel leave than we can replace. While the situation in Darfur has reached crisis point, and it deeply saddens me that we can not contribute forces, there really is only so much we are able to do.

Well Done PM Howard for standing strong.

AC

Child Soldiers

2007-06-16T16:14:00.001+09:30

It is a fact. In more than 25 countries in the world children as young as 7 are being actively recruited or forced into Militias and Revolutionary Armies. As young as 7. Children barely old or tall enough to hold a weapon are being coerced, or in some cases forced, to not only hold a weapon, but to aim it at men, women and other children and pull the trigger.

Children as young as 7 are being torn from the arms of screaming, begging parents and watch as the parents are then killed. They are herded onto trucks, terrified and alone, and taken to training facilities. They are stripped of every shred of humanity, fear and the loyalty they once held for their families and loved ones. They are, in some cases, given access to alcohol, drugs and various forms of entertainment. In places that do not condone the use of such substances, they are simply brainwashed. Force fed a new love, a new loyalty to death and mayhem.

Sometimes this can take as little as a week. Children exposed to war and conflict from birth are now on the other side of a weapon. They hold the power of life and death in their hands. What they once feared and cowered from is now their source of strength. Those who lack the ability to reason, to consider the consequences of their actions, are given the resources to take life at random.

Girls, who were once used as little more than domestic and sex slaves in Militia and Revolutionary Army camps, are now also being recruited to fight. One can barely imagine the shock of recoil as children fire automatic weapons and RPG's. Girls are routinely raped and beaten, de humanised and degraded as they suffer the demands and physical needs of the boys and men of the camps. Often they are left to raise the babies born of this abuse with no support.

Rarely do they understand their mission, what they fight for, what they kill and die for. They show little fear and understanding, they simply fight.

Finally, the world is taking a stand. Humanitarian Agencies are forcing the governments of free and democratic countries to act. Organisations such as Africa Recovery are attempting to free the Child Soldiers and restore their childhood, their opportunity for a free and fullfilling life. They are attempting to reintegrate, re educate and re establish links to family and community for these Children.

More than 500,000 children worldwide have been recruited, either voluntarily or forcefully, for Militias and Revolutionay Armies. The scope of this issue is immense. Half a million children need saving, need de programming, need love, security and opportunity. If you are asking yourself what you can do, that this issue is to big, or to far away for you to make a difference, think again.

In our every day lives we use products that fund these Militias and revoultionary Armies. Diamonds, rubber, oil, ivory are amongst the leading products that contribute to the needs and ongoing means of support for these groups. Start to question what you are buying, where it is coming from and whether these products are contributing to conflict, war and ultimately the death of both innocents and innocence.

Support those who can make a difference. Our Militaries, our Governments and Humanitarian Organisations can make a difference here. Take the time to research how you can personally make a difference. Support those who support the missions to free these children and stabilise their countries.

Ultimately, as we stabilise these countries, these Militias and Revolutionary Armies will be disbanded. They will be hunted as the illegal Armies they are, the children removed from their grip and the adults punished. We must believe in our Forces abilities to stabilise these regions, in the Support Organisations abilities to rehabilitate and in our Governments abilities to ensure ongoing support.

These children need us.....

A_C

The Search For MIA Diggers Continues...

2007-06-09T20:37:00.000+09:30

What an amazing time in Australias Military history. Years after wars ended, Soldiers previously listed as Missing In Action or Killed In Action, Body Not Recovered are being found.

These articles over the last couple of weeks...

Pit may be grave for 160 Diggers

Mark Day
June 09, 2007

GROUND-PENETRATING radar will be used to investigate the suspected grave of more than 160 Australian soldiers near the Anzacs' bloodiest World War I battlefield of Fromelles, in northern France.

The suspected grave site has been identified after a scientific survey confirmed the presence of a series of pits.

Veterans Affairs Minister Bruce Billson yesterday described the evidence as "compelling". He said it was possible more than 160 Australians had been buried by the Germans after the Fromelles battle on July 19, 1916. Mr Billson said ground-penetrating radar could provide additional evidence as to the presence of soldiers' remains.

Military historian Colonel Graham Fleeton (ret), one of the leaders of The Australian's Our Other Anzac Day tour of the Western Front next April, said the Fromelles battle represented the blooding of Australian troops after the Gallipoli campaign of 1915.

"It was a tragedy of astonishing scale, not only because of the 5533 casualties we took in a single night - more than the entire Boer, Korea and Vietnam wars put together - but also because the whole battle was utterly unnecessary," he said.

Additional reporting: AAP

Hard to find more Diggers

Paul Maley and Ashleigh Wilson
June 06, 2007

THE bodies of the four Australian servicemen still missing in Vietnam will be much harder to recover than those of two Diggers whose remains were returned to Darwin yesterday, an expert on the conflict says.

Australian War Memorial senior historian Ashley Ekins said the four were lost in circumstances that would make finding their remains, if they still existed, very difficult.

Mr Ekins's comments came as the bodies of Lance Corporal Richard Parker and Private Peter Gillson, killed in Vietnam in 1965, arrived in Darwin to be met by members of both families.

Of the four still missing, Pilot Officer Robert Carver and Flying Officer Michael Herbert were believed killed when their Canberra bomber disappeared off radar during a night mission in 1970.

Mr Ekins said the reason was probably a mid-air explosion caused by a hung bomb caught in the plane's release rack, a finding rejected by an air force inquiry.

"There'd be very little chance of finding any remains from 20,000 feet," he said.

In 1969, SAS trooper David Fisher fell 30m on a helicopter mission. An air and ground search failed to find him, although unconfirmed press reports said his radio was found two years later.

The fourth MIA, Lance Corporal John Francis Gillespie, was lost in a fiery helicopter crash in 1971.

Jim Bourke - founder of Operation Aussies Home. the organisation that led the search for Parker and Gillson - said it could still be possible to recover the four. Searches of Vietnamese and US records could yield new information, and the remains could be in better condition than expected.

Mr Bourke said his team had found Gillespie's crash site and had expert advice that some remains could have survived.

"Five years ago people said we had no hope on Parker and Billson. You don't know until you try," he said.

Yesterday, the families of Parker and Gillson spent a quiet day away from the spotlight ahead of an official ceremony today at Richmond air base, west of Sydney.

Moving ceremony for repatriated diggers

John Stapleton
June 06, 2007

TWO Australian soldiers missing in action for 42 years after being killed during the Vietnam conflict have been offically welcomed back to Australian soil in a moving repatriation ceremony at Richmond airbase in Sydney.

After being transported on board a Hercules military aircraft from Hanoi via Darwin, the coffins of Lance Corporal Parker and Private Peter Gillson, who both served in South Vietnam with the First Battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment, were carried through a guard of honour to be placed before tearful family members, officials and hundreds of Vietnam veterans.

The coffins were draped with the Australian flag and decorated with a reef of banksias and an army slouch hat.

Both men were posthumously awarded Infantry Combat Badges.

Veterans Affairs Minister Bruce Billson said the day of collective mourning, denied for four decades, provided closure for family and friends.

"For the soldiers involved with that tragic contact, bound by an enduring brotherly bond known best by those who have served, made vital and vivid by the unconditional interdependency of mortal combat, this was not and could not be the end of the story," he said.

"Mates lost: battles passed. But soldiers carried the weight and worry, without respite, of an invisible and unimaginable 'backpack' of unfinished business, of mates not returned."

Mr Billson said a grateful nation could now fulfil its moral obligation to those who had done all heir country asked of them and in doing so, had paid the ultimate price.

He paid tribute to the many people who had worked tirelessly to locate and then repatriate the bodies, thus allowing the country to fulfil a mission more than 41 years in the making, to return two soil of their homeland "back amongst the mates whose thoughts and brotherly bond never left them or faded."

An emotional Lieutenant Robert Gillson, who was four months old when his father died and said to have an uncanny resemblence to him, never thought he would be able to bring his father home.

He described the event as "a great day for the family, the country and for Vietnam veterans".

"The family are just so happy that someone stood up against insurmountable odds to find this needle in a haystack, my dad."

A lone bugler played the Last Post as two Iroquois helicopters flew over the coffins, followed by a minute's silence.

An army band played Waltzing Matilda as hundreds of serving and former servicemen along with family members formed a guard of honour as the coffins were taken off the base in silver hearses.
The funeral for Lance Corporal Richard Parker will be held at Woden in the ACT on the 12th.

Private Peter Gillson is to to be buried in Melbourne the following day

I have lost track of how many times I have asked the question 'How long is forever'?? When a Soldier see's a mate fall and calls out they wont leave them behind, they will come back for them one day, who really would have thought they would return 40 years or even 90 years later?? Every day, every minute someone comes into or leaves our lives. Let's face it, sometimes we miss them like crazy, sometimes they come and go and we barely notice. But sometimes, sometimes a promise made is so important to a person that they will stop at nothing to keep it.

In the case of the Vietnam Veterans, it is their mates who chose to continue the search until they could fullfill their promise to their fallen mates. I can not for a second imagine what it felt like to bring Private Gillson and Lance Corporal Parker home after all those years. But I will remember for a long time watching one of those Vets tell a reporter the exact amount of time he has waited to do this, down to the day. Exactly how many days it took him to keep a promise to a fallen mate.

With the finding of the grave in France, it is possible that a story that had been passed down through generations of families may finally come to an end. A fallen Soldier who never returned from the foreign soil where he fell may be given the chance to be honourably laid to rest.

From where I sit, when a Soldier makes a promise to a comrade, then forever truly is forever. They will not stop until that promise is fullfilled.

We could all learn a lesson from this...

AC

What Will It Take??

2007-06-05T12:24:00.000+09:30

I've been having a bit of a look at the the Australian (Newspaper) this morning and have been left wondering exactly what it will take for the blissfully unaware to realise what is happening in the world. I have often heard people who think the worlds media is being over dramatic or it's only a small group of extremists. Let me tell you, this situation has become deadly serious.

I've become a bit of a fan of the Greg Sheridan Blog on the Australian. While I don't always agree with everything he writes he is well informed and unbiased. Here are a couple of his latest blogs...

Bombs as levellers

OPINION
Greg Sheridan, foreign editor
May 26, 2007

THE future of warfare, like its past, will be very ugly. I saw that future inside the Defence Intelligence Organisation headquarters in Canberra this week, the building behind the high wire fence at Russell North.

There I met Brigadier Phil Winter and his team. Winter heads the counter improvised explosive device taskforce located in DIO.

You've heard of IEDs, the explosives rigged as booby traps by the side of the road, or ready to go off under coalition vehicles, or stuffed inside dead dogs, or strapped in vests to suicide bombers.

They have caused 70 per cent of allied casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan.

This year, according to the US Defence Department, of 377 US service members killed in Iraq, about 265 were killed by IEDs.

You are right to be concerned about IEDs, and not just on behalf of our troops. They have become the terrorist weapon of choice. They are used now by terrorists all over the world, in Thailand, India and the southern Philippines as well as in Iraq and Afghanistan.

It was a landmine, a kind of commercial first cousin of the IED, that caused the one combat death so far of an Australian soldier, Sergeant Andrew Russell, in Afghanistan.

Link

Extremists winning war of words, too

A dangerous minority of Muslims in the Western world poses a growing threat to society, writes foreign editor Greg Sheridan
May 31, 2007

SIX years after the 9/11 terror attacks that destroyed the World Trade Centre in New York and killed almost 3000 people, a majority of American Muslims do not believe the attacks were carried out by Arabs. And more than one-quarter of young US Muslims believe suicide bombings can be justified in some circumstances.

These shocking and tragic findings, which come from the Pew Research Centre, tell us much about why the war against Islamist terror is going to last for generations.

The West is losing the information and propaganda war against Islamist extremism. It is not losing because it is being insufficiently kind to Muslims at home or in the Middle East.

As Britain's Tony Blair wrote in The Sunday Times: "Extremism will be defeated only by recognising that we have not created it ... pandering to its sense of grievance will only encourage it."

Blair confronted the argument that Muslims hate the West because it has taken military action in Afghanistan and Iraq: "Tell me what exactly they feel angry about? We remove two utterly brutal and dictatorial regimes; we replace them with a UN-supervised democratic process. And the only reason it is difficult still is because other Muslims are using terrorism to try to destroy the fledgling democracy and, in doing so, are killing fellow Muslims. Why aren't they angry about the people doing the killing?"

Link

What is maybe one of the most infuriating aspects of this worldwide terror situation is the blatant complacency and lack of understanding on the part of many people. The 'It's not happening in my neighbourhood' mentality that will, eventually, lead to it happening in EVERY neighbourhood.

Muslim students seek clerics' jihad advice

Richard Kerbaj
June 05, 2007

AUSTRALIAN Muslim university students eager to become jihadis are regularly seeking advice from Islamic spiritual leaders in the hope of winning religious approval to travel overseas and fight.

Leaders have warned that the obsession among some young Muslims to become holy warriors was also driving them to "shop around" for fatwas - religious rulings - should their initial request be turned down.

Moderate Sydney-based Islamic cleric Khalil Shami said young Muslims, "predominantly university students", frequently asked his advice on travelling to war-torn countries to fight in the name of Islam.

This comes two years after hardline Islamic university students were involved in the London bombings that killed 52 people and injured 700 others.

It also follows The Australian's revelations in January that a 25-year-old Somali Australian, Ahmed Ali, died fighting alongside Islamists in his country of birth in December last year.

Sheik Shami said he always warned aspiring Islamists against fighting because he believed Muslim countries were being run by corrupt leaders who were more interested in making money and advancing their political profiles than liberating their people.

Link

It would seem that no amount of newspaper articles or news reports is enough to make Australians understand this truly is our fight too. These things are happening here. The terrorists now openly boast about their plans to rule the world, so much has their confidence grown. Their confidence has grown for a reason....They know that our complacency is fuelling their plans for world domination. They realise this, don't you think it's time we woke up??

AC

Diggers at War

2007-06-04T10:06:00.000+09:30

I have to tell you, I`m getting a little tired of hearing about the Aussies not doing anything in Iraq and Afghanistan. VERY tired actually. There seems to be alot of people under the misguided opinion that the Aussies are suffering less casualties because they are not in dangerous areas. Some have taken this theory of theirs a step further and told me of how the Diggers are `living it up` in the Green Zone while they are doing all the shit work. Firstly I would like to make something very clear....My government does NOT send Soldiers to theatres of war to drink beer and sit around a pool. Anytime the negators think they can do without the Aussies, just remember the role the Aussies played in the initial invasion...

SAS flew straight into battle

By Tom Allard, Defence Writer
May 10 2003

Members of Australia's Special Air Service regiment spent the first days of the war closer to Baghdad than any other coalition soldiers, it was revealed yesterday.

They were flown in by US helicopters in a nerve-racking 600 kilometre journey, much of it at low altitude and some of it under Iraqi anti-aircraft fire, just hours after the Prime Minister, John Howard, declared Australia was formally at war.

The main mission was to find and destroy suspected Iraqi ballistic missile sites because of fears they would deliver chemical and biological weapons on troops and neighbouring states.

To that end, command and control facilities and radio relay stations were identified by the SAS and destroyed, typically by calling in US and British fighter jets after the SAS had "painted" the target for laser-guided bombs to home in on.

The incursion deep into Iraq, and a simultaneous insertion by land into western Iraq from a larger contingent of SAS, marked the beginning of an "exceptionally heavy" first week in Iraq for the special forces, according to one of their commanders.

"Virtually every day the SAS was in some of heavy contact with the enemy," said Colonel John Mansell, chief of staff at special operations command in Sydney. Those coming by land faced fire within an hour of entering Iraq.

The daily firefights were "no accident", said Colonel Mansell.

"The enemy was clearly seeking out the Australian force in a co-ordinated and well-drilled fashion."

While many Iraqis were killed in the battles, the SAS have begun returning home with no injuries, let alone deaths.

But they won't be marching in victory parades scheduled for the end of the month in Sydney and Perth - their identities must be kept secret.

The public won't see them, but will be able to view an Iraqi MiG jet captured by the SAS, which will be displayed at the Australian War Memorial.

SAS role in Iraq revealed

May 9 2003
Australian SAS troops were involved in one of the first ground attacks of the Iraq war, fighting and capturing Iraqi soldiers more than a day before the first US bombs slammed into Baghdad, it was revealed today.

SAS commanders talked for the first time of the clandestine operations mounted by the elite special operations troops, revealing their main mission had been to destroy Iraqi Scud missile sites.

A large force of vehicle-mounted SAS troops entered Iraq on the night of March 18 after Prime Minister John Howard gave the go-ahead for military operations that morning.

The first allied bombs did not fall on Iraq until the early hours of Thu March 20, when the US attempted a so-called decapitation strike on Saddam Hussein and the Iraqi leadership at a suspected hideout in Baghdad.

The bombing was the first signal to the world that war had started.

Special Operations Command chief of staff Colonel John Mansell said a large SAS group entered Iraq under the cloak of darkness as soon as possible following the government's decision.

"The intent was to insert clandestinely and get deep into the assigned area before the sun came up," he said.

He said that meant skirting enemy positions and trenches, while at the same time a second group of SAS troops travelled more than 600km by helicopter to take up positions in Iraq's western desert.

The first group ran into trouble just 30km inside the Iraqi border, running into a group of Iraqi vehicles.

The SAS, who Col Mansell said had been determined to take the fight to the enemy, immediately opened fire on the Iraqis and took several prisoner, later releasing them.

"This was one of the first ground attacks of the war," he said.

The helicopter insertion was also completed successfully, with the SAS travelling on US helicopters at near-ground level, skirting Iraqi missile defences and battling poor weather.

"When our people hit the ground, they were at that time by far and away the closest coalition ground elements to Baghdad, and they remained that way for a number of days," Col Mansell said.

He said through subsequent operations the SAS engaged in heavy fighting, harassing Iraqi forces and targets while preventing the movement of any Scuds through the Australian-controlled area.

"Virtually every day the SAS were in some form of heavy contact with the enemy," he said.

"This was no accident. The enemy was clearly seeking out the Australian force in a coordinated and well-drilled fashion."

In one engagement, SAS troopers called in air strikes on an enemy stronghold and in another destroyed at least half a dozen Iraqi armoured vehicles.

The SAS also defeated a force of more than 50 Iraqi irregulars in civilian vehicles and trucks, firing on them with javelin anti-armour missiles and heavy machine guns, before calling in air support.

But their biggest triumph was the capture of the giant Al Asad air base west of Baghdad, which they achieved with support from RAAF F/A-18 fighter-bombers.

Col Mansell said the operations, which were conducted without any Australian casualties, highlighted the skills of the SAS, which has also won high praise from US president George W Bush.

The first of the SAS troops are expected home within weeks.

AAP

Print Email

Last Update: Tuesday, April 24, 2007. 10:01am (AEST)

Two Australian soldiers have been wounded after a roadside bomb attack on their convoy in Iraq (ADF)

Diggers wounded in Iraq blast

Two Australian soldiers have been wounded after a roadside bomb attack on their convoy in Iraq overnight, the Department of Defence has confirmed.

The department says the soldiers were in the first of two Australian Light Armoured Vehicles (ASLAVs) carrying out a routine patrol in Dhi Qar province when they were attacked.

One man suffered wounds to his lower legs while the other suffered less serious injuries in the explosion, which heavily damaged their ASLAV. The vehicle was then destroyed by the ensuing fire.

Four other soldiers in the patrol were not injured, while the second ASLAV was too damaged to move.

The soldiers were treated at the site of the attack before being evacuated by helicopter to a US hospital at the Tallil airbase.

They could be transferred to Baghdad if further treatment is needed but it is not yet known whether they will be forced to return to Australia.

The soldiers were based in Darwin before being sent to Iraq. Family members have been informed of the attack.

Defence spokesman Brigadier Gus Gilmour says similar attacks are common in Iraq.

"This is not the first time an attempted IED (Improvised Explosive Device) attack against Australians has occurred," he said.

"Indeed our people in Iraq and Afghanistan face these sorts of threats on a regular basis."

It is not yet known who was responsible for the attack.

Meanwhile a wave of up to 15 explosions were heard in Baghdad before dawn (local time), apparently coming from the city's outskirts.

A US military spokesman said he was not aware of any operation taking place at the time. The blasts sounded like mortar shells or artillery.

Story of Digger heroism emerges from Iraq

Wednesday - 9 May 2007 - news.com.au

THE Australian army's anonymous new hero in Iraq is a raw, young infantryman who leapt into a blazing armoured vehicle to provide cover for his wounded mates.

Australia's commander in southern Iraq says he is humbled by the freshly qualified gunner's "incredible" courage and professionalism.

But the brave Digger, whose patrol took fire four times in two days, does not want to be named.

He was in a 50-vehicle convoy hit by light arms fire and rocket propelled grenades in two different villages as it returned to base at Tallil two weeks ago.

But worse was to come 15km from home when his light armoured vehicle was hit by a remotely controlled roadside bomb.

The vehicle's driver suffered a broken ankle and burnt legs and is recovering in Darwin. The commander and another crewman suffered concussion and minor injuries, but have since returned to duty.

As the vehicle exploded into flames and careered off the road into a swamp, the gunner helped his wounded mates onto stretchers before leaping back to his turret to provide covering fire.

In doing so he faced danger from the flames as well as two further explosions from remotely detonated bombs and the possibility of enemy fire.

He returned with his patrol undeterred the following day to recover the damaged vehicle and exchanged shots in a firestorm with insurgents.

"The gunner was quite incredible because he had been exposed to that (first) blast, too," said Lieutenant Colonel Tony Rawlins, commander of Australia's 540 troops in southern Iraq, who was also travelling near the head of the column.

"He got back in and did what he was expected to do, and just that little bit more.

"He was exhibiting symptoms of shock afterwards but he was lucid and being a very professional soldier.

"There was no time to give formal orders or appraise the situation.

"These guys all acted instinctively in a disciplined manner and knew exactly what to do. "They stepped up to the plate.

"They did things that I would have expected from more experienced soldiers.

"There was no grandstanding, nothing like that, just thorough, professional behaviour and it humbles me."

Captain Tony Copley, commander of the second vehicle who raced out to try to extinguish the fire in the first, said: "It was a very courageous thing for him to jump back into a vehicle which had just been hit and was on fire. I can't say enough about him."

He also praised decisive action by his own crew, saying: "I'm very lucky to have the chance to lead such fine young men."

Lt-Col Rawlins noted the restraint shown by Australian troops who returned to collect the burnt-out vehicle the next day, inflicting an unknown number of casualties among up to 30 insurgents.
"They weren't just out there to get revenge," he said.

"The criminals hid themselves amongst innocent civilians in order to protect themselves, and we used only the force that was necessary without causing widespread collateral damage."

"We could have unleashed hell," said Lance Corporal Nathan Jones, a gunner on the second armoured vehicle who took it upon himself to radio for help after the roadside bombing.

His action helped ensure that US helicopters were on the scene quickly to evacuate the wounded.
"It was just 18 minutes from flash to dash," said Lt-Col Rawlins. "That's phenomenal.

"I have nothing but respect for them (the American pilots) because they landed those helicopters on the road next to the vehicle that was cooking and could have taken fire themselves."

Diggers under fire in Iraq

Tuesday - 8 May 2007 - ABC News Online

Australian troops serving in southern Iraq have come under attack during a routine security mission in Samawah City, the capital of Al Muthanna province.

Lieutenant Colonel Tony Rawlins, the commander of the Australian battle group in southern Iraq, says the troops were not hurt during the attack.

"As they were leaving the provincial joint operations centre, coming out through the back gate, down a side alley, they were engaged by two to three people," he said.

"[There was] one rocket-propelled grenade and a small burst of fire from an AK-47."

Lt Col Rawlins says the Australians fired about five shots at their attackers but did not hit them.

"They fired around five rounds of small arms fire. They only caught them as they were fleeing the scene," he said. "We'll now hand it over to the authorities to investigate."

Digger slightly injured in Afghanistan

Wednesday - 4 May 2007 - CPA 119/07

A Reconstruction Task Force soldier was slightly wounded during an apparent suicide-bombing attack in Oruzgan Province on Thursday evening, Australian Eastern Standard Time.

An Afghan national, identified as the attacker, was killed during the incident.

The wounded soldier was provided immediate first aid at the scene and has undergone further examination and treatment at the nearby Dutch Military Hospital in Tarin Kowt.

All Australian soldiers in Afghanistan have been accounted for and are continuing with their operations.

Details of the wounded soldier will not be released. The soldier’s next of kin has been informed of the incident.

No further information concerning the attack is available at this time. Defence will provide further details once initial reporting is confirmed and the situation is clarified.

There are just the first couple of stories I pulled up when I did a search. There are many, many more. There are alot of countries actively participating in this war. This war does not belong to one country because it's troops outnumber all others.

Right up until all this crap started I always considered the Coaltion to be one force, one team with many players. Now both myself and other Aussie supporters are finding we are constantly defending the Diggers and their roles in Iraq and Afghanistan.

While we understand others countries sense of loss over fallen Soldiers (and we do share this, I have lost a few Soldiers I had written to or chatted to online), we do feel that the Aussie role is being undervalued. Not one of the Coalition countries can fight this war alone, it's that simple.

So don't you think it's about time we supported the Coalition as a whole??

AC

Ignorance Deserves An Ass Beating

2007-05-30T11:47:00.000+09:30

I got this in an email a while ago and thought it was hilarious....

Dear Civilians...

"We know that the current state of affairs in our great
nation have many civilians up in arms and excited to join
the military. For those of you who can't join, you can
still lend a hand. Here are a few of the areas where we
would like your assistance:

(1) The next time you see an adult talking (or wearing a hat)
during the playing of the National Anthem---kick their ass.

(2) When you witness, firsthand, someone burning the American
Flag in protest---kick their ass.

(3) Regardless of the rank they held while they served, pay
the highest amount of respect to all veterans. If you see
anyone doing otherwise, quietly pull them aside and explain how
these veterans fought for the very freedom they bask in every
second. Enlighten them on the many sacrifices these veterans
made to make this Nation great. Then hold them down while a
disabled veteran kicks their ass.

(4) (GUYS) If you were never in the military, DO NOT pretend
that you were. Wearing battle dress uniforms (BDUs), telling
others that you used to be "Special Forces," and collecting
GI Joe memorabilia, might have been okay when you were seven
years old. Now, it will only make you look stupid and get your
ass kicked.

(5) Next time you come across an Air Force member, do not ask
them, "Do you fly a jet?" Not everyone in the Air Force is a
pilot. Such ignorance deserves an ass-kicking (children are
exempt).

(6) If you witness someone calling the US Coast Guard
'non-military', inform them of their mistake---and kick
their ass.

(7) Next time Old Glory (the US flag) prances by during a
parade, get on your damn feet and pay homage to her by
placing your hand over your heart. Quietly thank the military
member or veteran lucky enough to be carrying her---of course,
failure to do either of those could earn you a severe
ass-kicking.

(8) Don't try to discuss politics with a military member
or a veteran.. We are Americans, and we all bleed the same,
regardless of our party affiliation. Our Chain of Command
is to include our Commander-In-Chief (CinC). The President
(for those who didn't know) is our CinC regardless of
political party. We have no inside track on what happens
inside those big important buildings where all those
representatives meet. All we know is that when those
civilian representatives screw up the situation, they call
upon the military to go straighten it out. If you keep
asking us the same stupid questions repeatedly, you will get
your ass kicked!

(9) 'Your mama wears combat boots' never made sense to
me---stop saying it! If she did, she would most likely be a
vet and therefore, could kick your ass!

(10) Bin Laden and the Taliban are not Communists, so stop
saying 'Let's go kill those Commies!' And stop asking us
where he is! Crystal balls are not standard issue in the
military. That reminds me---if you see anyone calling those
damn psychic phone numbers, let me know, so I can go kick
their ass.

(11) 'Flyboy' (Air Force), 'Jarhead' (Marines), 'Grunt' (
Army), 'Squid'(Navy), 'Puddle Jumpers' (Coast Guard), etc.,
are terms of endearment we use describing each other.
Unless you are a service member or vet, you have not earned
the right to use them. That could get your ass kicked.

(12) Last, but not least, whether or not you become a member
of the military, support our troops and their families.
Every Thanksgiving and religious holiday that you enjoy with
family and friends, please remember that there are literally
thousands of sailors and troops far from home wishing they
could be with their families. Thank God for our military and
the sacrifices they make every day. Without them, our country
would get its ass kicked."

"It is the soldier, not the reporter who has given us the
freedom of the press.
"It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us the
freedom of speech.
"It is the soldier, not the campus organizer, who gives us
the freedom to demonstrate.
"It is the soldier who salutes the flag, who serves beneath
the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag, who
allows the protester to burn the flag."

(Please pass this on so I won't have to kick your ass!) :-)
"If you can read this, thank a teacher"
"If you are reading it in English, thank a veteran

2007-05-28T12:33:00.000+09:30

I read this editorial today with some interest......

Editorial

Darfur showdown

Thursday, March 15, 2007

RWANDA, Kosovo and Cambodia were recent instances of genocidal slaughter that made an on-looking world promise never to allow a repeat.

Yet, it is happening in the Darfur region of Sudan, where 200,000 have died and more than 2 million have been made refugees. Despite steady diplomacy, public rallies and worldwide pressure, the Sudanese government refuses to allow peacekeepers in or to call off its murderous militia in the province.

A new U.N. report, one of the toughest ever by the world body, should break this stalemate. Intervention, sanctions and war-crimes prosecution are in order, the human-rights report says. Sudan's overseas funds, such as oil revenues, should be frozen, its leaders sould be barred from leaving the country and a beefed up military force should be sent in to restore peace, the panel added.

It's a welcome, though overdue, plan. The real question is whether the United Nations will do anything, starting with its Human Rights Council, which ordered the study.

The council was remade from the ashes of the prior and widely discredited commission, which included notable human-rights abusers such as Libya, Zimbabwe and Sudan. Since its creation last year, the new council has cited Israel as a human-rights violator and no other nation.

Sudan -- rest assured -- will play the delay game, calling in favors from allies such as Russia and China, which have fended off calls for action. It's past time for talks and negotiations with a nation that kills its own people and menaces a region of northern Africa.

The new U.N. Human Rights Council is due to take up the study this week, with the final stop being the Security Council. It's time for both bodies and the world community to end the killing in Darfur.

Darfur on Their Radar

By Jackson Diehl

Monday, April 2, 2007; Page A15

For months it's looked like the genocide in Darfur has fallen off the agenda of a White House desperately fighting fires in Iraq and throughout the Middle East. Yet last Monday President Bush's anger rocked the Oval Office when aides presented him with a plan for sanctions against the Sudanese government. Raising his voice, he demanded that his special envoy for Darfur, Andrew Natsios, and national security adviser Stephen Hadley come up with something stronger.

Or so I'm told. The result, according to several sources, is that the United States and Britain may finally make an effort, beginning this month, to push for serious punishment of the regime of Omar Hassan al-Bashir at the U.N. Security Council -- and to shame the governments, such as China's, that have blocked multilateral action. Britain takes over Security Council chairmanship this week from South Africa, another resister of action on Darfur, while the United States' turn follows in May.

Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair have been feeding each other's passion on Darfur. They've decided "to stop watering down U.N. resolutions before they are even introduced," one official said. "This time they will ask for what they want," including both economic and military sanctions. As for China, which buys Sudan's oil and invests in its industry while shielding the government from international pressure, the official predicted: "There will be an international campaign against countries that are obstructing action by the council."

In the meantime, Bush is expected to approve more unilateral U.S. sanctions against Sudan, probably sometime after Easter. Among other steps, these will target assets of three Sudanese leaders and prohibit business in dollars with several dozen Sudanese companies, including an oil services firm. The United States could also help to rebuild former rebel forces in southern Sudan, which signed a peace deal with the government in 2005.

Why the tough action now? In part, Bush is said to be out of patience with Bashir, who has refused to accept a U.N. plan to deploy peacekeepers in Darfur to help protect the hundreds of thousands of refugees bottled up in camps. Under pressure from Arab leaders at a summit in Riyadh late last week, Bashir hinted that he would reconsider parts of the plan -- but most likely he's stalling for time.

Bush and Blair are also feeling the effects of an international campaign for action on Darfur that has ranged from appeals from Hollywood stars and European intellectuals to petition drives and newspaper ad campaigns. The two leaders have talked about Darfur several times in recent weeks; at a European summit a week ago Blair declared the situation "intolerable" and the actions of the Sudanese government "unacceptable." He said the imposition of a no-fly zone over Darfur should be reconsidered -- a step that could appear in the new Security Council resolution.

Curiously, the resolve of the two leaders has hardened at a moment when the situation in Darfur may be softening. Attacks by the Sudanese military have fallen off during the past several months -- since Feb. 8 the United Nations has recorded only one, with no casualties. Assaults by government-backed janjaweed militias against civilians have also appeared to slacken. U.S. government and other Western analysts believe that Bashir has backed off from military operations, at least for now, because his army was unexpectedly bloodied by Darfur rebels in fighting in the fall.

Outside experts, such as John Prendergast of the International Crisis Group, think Bashir has not changed his scorched-earth policy for Darfur, merely his tactics. In recent weeks inter-communal fighting has erupted around the province, sometimes between rival Arab clans; Prendergast thinks the government has encouraged it. Though the level of mass killing is down, refugees are still pouring into camps -- more than 80,000 since the beginning of this year, according to the United Nations. Meanwhile the government has been severely restricting the activity of aid organizations, a tactic it has used in the past to starve opponents into submission. Last week a new aid agreement was struck with international groups after the United Nations raised alarms; yet to be seen is whether Bashir will respect it.

It's possible that Bashir perceives the possibility of concerted international sanctions that could harm Sudan's booming oil industry, or a Western military intervention imposing a no-fly zone, and is trying to head them off. His country is vulnerable to sanctions; their use forced the settlement of the earlier civil war in the south. A U.N. envoy will be in Khartoum this week to test, again, the government's willingness to accept the plan for U.N. peacekeepers. If there's no breakthrough, we'll see if Bush and Blair can translate their passion into serious action.

The authors of these editorials calls for an end to the killing in Darfur and asks what President Bush and Prime Minister Blair plan to do about it. So apparently, we can agree that something needs to be done right??

Is it just me, or is anyone else having flashbacks to the Saddam Regime?? Hundreds of thousands of people murdered or displaced, starving, being subjected to unjustifiable incarcerations and torture simply because of their religion, culture and ethnicity.

Reading about the situation in Sudan and particularly Darfur sickens me and I am the first to agree that something does need to be done. But I am forced to wonder if we are going to see a repeat of Iraq here. Are our countries Leaders going to face political backlash and persecution for supporting the victims of yet another tyrannical regime simply because it involves another oil rich country?? Are those who have grown weary of the War in Iraq (that would be the people sitting comfortably at home nowhere near the conflict) going to protest and actively engage in slander campaigns against our countries Leaders if they attempt to intervene in Darfur??

For those of us who live in the Western worlds the answers to these questions should be obvious. Those of us who are free to live where we chose, work to earn a living, eat the food of our choice and live in free and democratic societies should be outraged by the events in Darfur, in Iraq, in Afghanistan and every other country that struggles against tyranny and actively supporting our Leaders in their attempts to intervene. Yet we grow tired, we the people sitting at home watching the war on the 6pm news become 'battle weary'. What apathetic (or simply pathetic) people are we that we become bored with the suffering of others and wish to withdraw because their plight no longer holds our interest.

We need to make a choice and be prepared to stand by that choice til the end.... Do we want to help these people or do we simply want to stand by while these thugs and terrorists become empowered by their successes??

A_C

The Religion Of Hypocrisy

2007-05-28T09:16:00.000+09:30

I have come to the conclusion that any religion that can be so easily misinterpreted to represent one sex is just that - a Religion of Hypocrisy. But after doing some reading I have found in many areas it really is little more than a joke. Islam is a religion that claims to sanctify life, yet it openly condones torture and death as a punishment for transgressions upon Sharia Law. Islam claims it's follower are the 'Faithful' ones, while other religions are full of liars and pretenders, yet it feels the need to have enforced and barbarous 'deterrents' and punishments for anyone who breaks their laws. I find it laughable that a religion that claims to be so peaceful is actually incredibly violent. The deliberate misinterpretaition of the word 'Jihad' is a classic example of this.

I read the following article this morning..

By ALFRED de MONTESQUIOU, Associated Press Writer 1 minute ago

KALMA, Sudan - The seven women pooled money to rent a donkey and cart, then ventured out of the refugee camp to gather firewood, hoping to sell it for cash to feed their families. Instead, they say, in a wooded area just a few hours walk away, they were gang-raped, beaten and robbed.

Naked and devastated, they fled back to Kalma.

"All the time it lasted, I kept thinking: They're killing my baby, they're killing my baby," wailed Aisha, who was seven months pregnant at the time.

The women have no doubt who attacked them. They say the men's camels and their uniforms marked them as janjaweed — the Arab militiamen accused of terrorizing the mostly black African villagers of Sudan's Darfur region.

Their story, told to an Associated Press reporter and confirmed by other women and aid workers in the camp, provides a glimpse into the hell that Darfur has become as the Arab-dominated government battles a rebellion stoked by a history of discrimination and neglect.

Now in its fourth year, the conflict has become the world's worst humanitarian crisis, and rape is its regular byproduct, U.N. and other human rights activists say.

Sudan's government denies arming and unleashing the janjaweed, and bristles at the charges of rape, saying its conservative Islamic society would never tolerate it. Link to the rest of this story.

Rape a strategy of war?? In a country where the victim is protected, rape may be an unfortunate by product of war but it is certainly not a strategy. The Janjaweed and those like them, are only able to utilise rape as a tool of war because they are aware the consequences are falling squarely on the victims. After some reading I uncovered the following somewhat startling fact...

If a woman is raped, she runs a high risk of being charged with zina, particularly if she becomes pregnant. In order to prove an absence of consent, however, a woman is required to provide four witnesses to the rape, a near impossible task. Link

Now what do you think the repercussions would be for any person who came forward as a witness to incriminate a rapist??

According to Zina, two people looking into each others eyes can be considered an act of lust and therefore a transgression of this law. In a country where it is respectful to look into the eyes of another person I find this quite shocking. Is it possible an unplanned, harmless glance could be misinterpreted and lead to punishment under this law??

And then there was this....

Under the form of Sharia law that is practiced in Sudan, "the stones thrown during the execution should not be so large that the offender dies after a few strikes, nor so small as to fail to cause serious injury."

A conviction normally requires a minimum of four witnesses who directly observed the sexual activity at the same time, or a freely-given confession by the defendant. However, as noted below, the former requirement is not always followed. If the woman is pregnant and either unmarried or divorced, she may be assumed to be guilty, if she is tried under the conservative Maliki Law School form of Sharia. ₈Under "an obscure tenet of Islamic law,...an embryo can 'sleep' for years before swelling a woman's belly." ₉Thus, it is believed that an interval of up to seven years can pass between conception and birth. This means that a woman who is pregnant and has been divorced for fewer than seven years can theoretically claim that the father of the fetus is her former husband.

Problems sometimes arise when an unmarried or divorced woman becomes pregnant as a result of a rape. Some Sharia courts do not recognize DNA testing or the evaluation of possible paternity by other blood tests. The case often results in a "she-said, he said" situation. Sometimes, the alleged rapist is found not-guilty because his involvement cannot be proven. But if an unmarried woman becomes pregnant, she can be assumed to be guilty of extra-marital sexual activity and can be executed. If she claims that she was raped and is unable to prove her case, then she will probably receive severe punishment, because she would be assumed guilty of making a false accusation.

Sharia law is only applicable to Muslims. Christians and other non-Muslims are supposed to be exempt from the provisions of the law -- a provision that is ignored in the Sudan.

Link

So in other words, those responsible for the punishment take deliberate care to inflict as much pain and suffering as possible. This is particularly cruel when you consider that often the women involved are victims.

An embryo can sleep inside the womb for 7 years?? I know a little something that might dispute that claim....it's called Medical Science!! This is exactly where I have an issue with taking Sharia Law seriously. It isn't necessary to prove a woman is guilty before she is killed but she can claim an embryo slept inside her for 7 years before it developed and that's ok??

The victim of rape should always find comfort and support from their family and support services, not be made to feel like a criminal themselves. That women are being ostracised as a consequence of the actions of others is a reflection on the laws and beliefs that allow this.

I find it interesting that this is a religion that condemms the actions of the West snce the 9/11 attacks on America, yet it was these actions that highlighted the plight of the female victims of such laws. The Western Worlds War on Terrorism might just have a positive impact on the rights of women in countries where they previously had none.

A_C

Are We Ready To Listen Yet??

2007-05-26T23:08:00.002+09:30

No palatable options left in Iraq: Downer

Geoff Elliott, Washington correspondent
May 26, 2007

THERE were no "palatable options" left in Iraq, Foreign Minister Alexander Downer admitted yesterday, acknowledging that al-Qa'ida was "politically astute" in influencing US public opinion.

Mr Downer, speaking after touring Silicon Valley technology companies with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, was responding to comments from George W. Bush in which the US President warned of escalating violence in Iraq before a critical military report to Congress in September on progress in the country.

"The President's argument is that particularly al-Qa'ida in Iraq may try to maximise disruption before the September report," Mr Downer said.

"It's a point I often make to the Americans: it never ceases to amaze me how politically astute they (al-Qa'ida) are. They are completely tuned into what's happening in the United States."

Mr Downer said spectacular terrorist attacks played into the US media "which in turn plays into the American political debate".

He added coalition forces were not faced with easy choices in Iraq.

"I think the least palatable of all of the options is just to get out of there, and leave ... The Baghdad area is bad enough as it is. You would leave the whole country a complete bloodbath."

The Democratic-controlled Congress yesterday grudgingly approved new funding for the Iraq war, dropping a demand for a timeline for troop withdrawal. However, ongoing political support for the war remains shaky.

I wonder, are we ready to listen yet?? It has been reported often enough that Al Qaeda ARE watching our countries, they are well aware of what is happening politically and they realise that they are, in fact, winning the 'Propaganda War'.

This is exactly the reason why I can't understand the statement 'I support the Troops but not the war'. By not supporting the war you are simply adding your support to the Al Qaeda led 'Propaganda War'. If you wish to see into the future and look at the outcomes those people and those who blatantly support the Terrorists are influencing, start with a history lesson. Take yourself back to the Vietnam War. The war we WON for all intents and purposes, but were too busy fighting to be able to fight the 'Propaganda War' on the home front. Those who remained at home, unburdened by the war effort, were left to negate and destroy the efforts of those who fought. They then had the gall to disrespect and assault returned Soldiers who were forced to face 'defeat' on the homefront.

There is no room for middle ground when the Terrorist world is watching. It has been repeatedly acknowledged that they are well aware of which way our political winds are blowing and they actively seek to further inflame the anti government sentiment. And there are actually people out there stupid enough to buy the words of the monsters responsible for the deaths of so many innocent civillains and Soldiers.

It's time we fought back. It's time for people to recognise there is no middle ground. You cannot support the Soldiers without supporting the war. By negating the war you are negating their efforts. That is simply not support...

A_C

Black Hawk Down...

2007-05-20T15:02:00.000+09:30

Over the years much has been made of Hollywoods 'Sensationalism' of true events that occurred in times of war. From movies such as Bridge Over The River Kwai, The Great Escape, Hamburger Hill and Platoon to Tears Of The Sun and Black Hawk Down, civillians have had what amounts to little more than a glimpse of life in a warzone. Personally, I know that watching these and similar movies motivated me to further research the events they were based on, which in turn, led to some pretty amazing history lessons.

While many condemm Hollywoods use of real life events to make movies, I believe that anything that encourages people to take a look at what is happening in the world, to look at their history and to acknowledge the acts of those brave Personnel who have, do or will fight for them is a positive thing. As long as Writers and Directors can stick to the story and base their movies on fact, this can be an important medium for educating people on current world events.

I have actually spoken to 2 Veterans who were present for the battle the Black Hawk Down movie was based on and both verified the accuracy of the movie.

Here are some facts about this mission...

The Battle of Mogadishu or for Somalis Ma-alinti Rangers (“The Day of the Rangers”) was a battle that was part of Operation Gothic Serpent that was fought on October 3 and 4, 1993, in Mogadishu, Somalia, by forces of the United States supported by UNOSOM II against Somali militia fighters loyal to warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid. The battle is also referred to as the First Battle of Mogadishu to distinguish it from the later Second Battle of Mogadishu.

Task Force Ranger, which consisted of an assault force made up of Army Delta Force, 4 US Navy SEALs, and Ranger teams, an air element provided by the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, and members of the Air Force Pararescue/Air Force Combat Controllers, executed an operation which involved traveling from their compound on the outskirts of the city to capture leaders of Aidid's militia. The assault force was composed of nineteen aircraft, twelve vehicles and 160 men. During the operation, two U.S. MH-60 Black Hawk helicopters were shot down by rocket-propelled grenades, and three others were damaged. Some of the soldiers were able to evacuate wounded back to the compound, but others were trapped at the crash sites and cut off. An urban battle ensued throughout the night. Early the next morning, a joint task force was sent to rescue the trapped soldiers. It contained soldiers from Pakistan, Malaysia, and U.S. soldiers of the 10th Mountain Division. They assembled some 100 vehicles, including Pakistani tanks (American-made M48s) and Malaysian Condor armored personnel carriers, and were supported by U.S. A/MH-6 Little Bird, and MH-60 helicopters. This task force reached the first crash site and led the trapped soldiers out. The second crash site was overrun and pilot Mike Durant, the lone surviving American, was taken prisoner but later released.

Somali casualty figures are unknown, but American estimates are that between 1,000 and 1,500 Somali militiamen and civilians lost their lives in the battle, with injuries to another 3,000-4,000. The book Black Hawk Down: A Story of Modern War estimates more than 700 Somali militiamen dead and more than 1,000 wounded. Eighteen American soldiers died and 73 were wounded (another American soldier, Delta team leader SFC Matt Rierson was killed in a mortar attack two days later). Among UN forces, 1 Malaysian soldier died and 7 were wounded, along with 2 Pakistanis.

To read the links go Here

Mike Durant's helicopter Super Six-Four heading out over Mogadishu on 3 October 1993

Background to the battle

In January 1991, the dictator of Somalia, Mohammed Siad Barre, was overthrown by a coalition of opposing clans, called the United Somalia Congress. After this revolution, the coalition divided into two groups. One was led by Ali Mahdi Muhammad, who became president; and the other, by Mohammed Farah Aidid. In total, there were four opposing groups: the United Somali Congress (USC), Somali Salvation Democratic Front (SSDF), Somali Patriotic Movement (SPM), and Somali Democratic Movement (SDM), which continued to fight over the domination of Somalia. In June 1991, a ceasefire was agreed to, but failed to hold. A fifth group, the Somali National Movement (SNM), had already seceded from the northwest portion of Somalia in June. The SNM renamed it the Somaliland Republic, with its leader Abdel-Rahman Ahmed Ali as president.

To read all of this and follow the links go Here

Operation Gothic Serpent

See Timeline of the Battle of Mogadishu for a detailed chronology from a U.S. Army perspective

Map of key sites in Mogadishu during the battle

Rangers under fire in a Somali street near Irene’s target building on October 3, 1993. This is the only known photograph taken by American forces from the ground during the battle.

On October 3 1993, Task Force Ranger, a U.S. Special Operations Forces composed mainly of Rangers, Delta Force (1st SFOD-D) operators, and aviation support from the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) (the Night Stalkers), attempted to capture Aidid's foreign minister, Omar Salad Elmi, and his top political advisor, Mohamed Hassan Awale^[2]. The plan was to fast rope from hovering MH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, capture the targets, and load them onto a ground convoy for transport back to the U.S. compound. Four Ranger chalks, also inserted by helicopter, were to provide a secure square perimeter on the four corners of the operation's target building.

Go Here to read more and follow links

Links with al-Qaeda

There have been allegations that Osama bin Laden's Al-Qaeda movement was involved in training and funding of Aidid's men. In his 2001 book, Holy War, Inc., CNN reporter Peter Bergen
interviewed Bin Laden who affirmed these allegations. According to Bergen, Bin Laden asserted that fighters affiliated with his group were involved in killing American troops in Somalia in 1993, a claim he had earlier made to the Arabic newspaper Al-Quds Al-Arabi. According to CNN, al-Qaeda claimed to have supplied a large number of Soviet-designed rocket-propelled grenade launchers (RPGs) to Aidid's fighters, and instructed them in ways to modify the RPGs to make them more effective against helicopters.

Four and one half years after the Battle of Mogadishu, in an interview in May 1998 [2], bin Laden disparaged the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Somalia, after eighteen American soldiers were killed and two of them had their bodies dragged through the streets. Some interpret his statements^{[citation needed]} to mean that these events inspired his elaboration of later large-scale terrorist actions such as the the bombing of U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, Khobar Towers, USS Cole, and the 9/11 attack

Go Here to follow links

United States Casualties

Name	Action	Medal
Delta Force
SFC Randy Shughart	killed defending the crew of Super Six 4 (Michael Durant)	Medal of Honor (posthumously) ¹
MSG Gary Gordon	killed defending the crew of Super Six 4 (Michael Durant)	Medal of Honor (posthumously) ¹
MSG Tim "Griz" Martin	killed on the Lost Convoy
SFC Earl Fillmore	killed moving to the first crash site
SSG Daniel Busch	crashed on Super Six 1 and was killed defending the downed crew	Silver Star
SFC Matt Rierson	killed on Oct. 6 by a mortar which landed just outside the hangar
160th SOAR (Nightstalkers)
CWO Raymond Frank	copilot of Super Six 4	Silver Star, Air Medal with Valor Device
SSG William Cleveland	crew chief on Super Six 4	Silver Star, Bronze Star, Air Medal with Valor Device
SSG Thomas Field	crew chief on Super Six 4	Silver Star, Bronze Star, Air Medal with Valor Device
CWO Clifton "Elvis" Wolcott	pilot of Super Six 1 and died in crash	Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star, Air Medal with Valor Device
CWO Donovan Briley	copilot of Super Six 1 and died in crash	Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star, Air Medal with Valor Device
75th Ranger Regiment
SGT Casey Joyce	killed on the Lost Convoy	Bronze Star with Valor Device
SPC James Cavaco	killed on the Lost Convoy	Bronze Star with Valor Device
CPL Jamie Smith	bled to death with the pinned-down force around crash site one	Bronze Star with Valor Device
SGT Dominick Pilla	killed on Struecker's convoy	Bronze Star with Valor Device
PFC Richard Kowalewski	killed on the Lost Convoy	Bronze Star with Valor Device
SGT Lorenzo Ruiz	killed on the Lost Convoy	Bronze Star with Valor Device
10th Mountain Division
SGT Cornell Houston	killed on the rescue convoy	Bronze Star with Valor Device, De Fleury medal
PFC James Martin	killed on the rescue convoy	Purple Heart

Link

While many would disagree, I believe there is a chance that these movies have the potential to provide an effective tool to assist in educating people to the hard work, sacrifice and dedication of our Military Personnel.

3 of my personal favourites are Gallipoli, The Lighthorseman and Kokoda, all based on the Australian forces in numerous battles. After much research inspired by watching these movies I learnt some incredible facts about my countries Military History.

So, while I don't necessarily agree with taking the movie as gospel, I do believe that if it encourages people to research facts, they can prove an effective tool. Often people don't know exactly what to research and these movies give enough detail to allow for searches.

A_C

Hicks Returns To Adelaide

2007-05-20T12:56:00.000+09:30

The Newspapers have called it Hicks's 'Return home'. I wont call it that. I don't feel that someone who chose to join the enemies of Australia has the right to call this country home anymore.

However, here is an update for you all...

Hicks touches down in Australia

May 20, 2007

AFTER five years in Guantanamo Bay, David Hicks has touched down at an Adelaide air base, and will be transferred shortly to a South Australia jail to serve the rest of his nine-month sentence.

The confessed supporter of terrorists boarded a government-chartered Gulfstream G550 jet at the American base yesterday amid heavy security, sources said.

Sky News reported that the chartered plane landed at the Edinburgh RAAF base, in South Australia, at 9.50am (Adelaide time).

Also on board the plane were Hicks' lawyer, David McLeod, Australian Federal Police officers, Correctional Services officers and officials from the Attorney-General's department.

The plane flew back to Australia via a long route becaue the US would not allow the Guantanamo Bay detainee Hicks to fly into its airspace.

Hicks will now be transferred to the Yatala Labour Prison to complete his sentence for providing material support for terrorism.

Link

And I added a few related stories for you..

No soft landing

Facing a new prison regime when he comes home will be easy for David Hicks, compared to dealing with his infamy and his many detractors, write Jamie Walker and Verity Edwards
May 18, 2007

TERRY Hicks says his son might yet salvage something from the five lost years he spent in Guantanamo Bay prison. He believes David is a very different person from the feckless young man who left Adelaide in search of excitement, who embraced Islamic extremism and ended up on the wrong side of the war on terror.

He's resolved to rebuild the life he nearly squandered when he threw in his lot with

al-Qa'ida and the Taliban in Afghanistan, his father says. Hicks is keen to complete the high school correspondence course he started while imprisoned by the Americans in their controversial Cuban terrorism jail and to qualify for university.

He wants to revive his relationship with the two children he abandoned - teenagers now, who are estranged from his side of the family.

Terry Hicks, perhaps daring to hope, says his boy seems determined to make a fresh start.

"He just wants to get on with his life ... to get back here, live normally ... that's what he's really focused on now. It's the difference I see in David," he tells The Australian from his home in Adelaide's north.

Link

One of the downsides to living in this country is we often appear all to happy to let bygones be bygones. Rarely do we hold a grudge even when it seems entirely appropriate. Well, in this case the government has barely let up with their obvious dislike for this would be Terrorist. While Terrry Hicks repeatedly calls for Australians to 'give David a chance' the politicians serve as a constant reminder for what this man stood for. He chose to fight alongside our countries enemies. Never should he call Australia home again. Though he may choose to reside here he has given up the right to consider it his home.

This part of that editorial really got to me..

If the AFP applies for a control order against Hicks it is likely to be under the category of "a person who has received training from a listed terrorist organisation", informed sources say.

Terry says that would be the ultimate injustice for his son.

After all that's happened, he still won't accept that Hicks did anything wrong when he teamed up with the Taliban. "David's got nothing to apologise for ... or to be remorseful about as far as I'm concerned," he says, speaking with a father's unqualified love.

"He was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. It could happen to anybody."

When I was growing up my mother instilled in me and my brothers the importance of personal responsibility. Be big enough to admit your mistakes then try to rectify them. I think this is perhaps one of the greatest lessons she ever taught me. I learnt when to shut up and take the consequences to my actions, but also that when I was in the right I needed to defend my position.

What Terry Hicks seems unable to comprehend is that David's treatment is neither unfair nor unjust. It is the consequences to his actions.

Stop slurring my son: Hicks dad

Jeremy Roberts and Mark Dodd
May 14, 2007

TERRY Hicks has challenged the Rann Government to stop calling his son David a "convicted terrorist" ahead of his imminent transfer to a South Australian prison.

"All the statements from the Rann Government show they haven't really looked at the charges," Mr Hicks said.

"There's nothing in the charges that say he pled guilty or that he's a terrorist. There's nothing that says David tried to hurt anyone."

In March, Hicks was sentenced to seven years' jail, with all but nine months suspended, after pleading guilty to a charge of providing material support for terrorism at a trial by a US military commission.

The Adelaide-born Muslim convert, captured among Taliban forces in Afghanistan in December 2001, admitted having trained with the al-Qa'ida terrorist network. But the plea followed US military prosecutors dropping a charge of attempted murder.

Link

Somehow it has just never seemed to have sunk in to Terry Hicks that his son is the enemy of this country. Anyone with any level of intelligence will simply not adopt a 'Live and let Live' attitude in this situation. This man was convicted of aiding our enemies. There are no slurs here, the politicians are simply calling it as they, and a rather large percentage of this country, see it.

Mr Hicks's challenge was in response to the latest attack on his son by the Rann Government. On Friday, Acting Premier and Treasurer Kevin Foley labelled him a "convicted and self-confessed terrorist".

"He will be brought back to Adelaide, to Yatala labour prison, with thehighest possible security," Mr Foley said. "As (Premier Mike Rann) has said, we have serious and grave concerns about how the federal Government intends to monitor Mr Hicks when he leaves prison."

Asked to clarify his statement on Hicks's record, he said: "Somebody who provides material support for a terrorist, in my book is a terrorist."

It would also appear, that the politicians will stand fast with their opinions and comments, as well they should. This is one of those rare occassions where they do actually speak for most Australians.

A_C

ADF - Current Operations and Deployments....

2007-05-18T17:54:00.001+09:30

As of May 2007 approx 3850 ADF Personnel are deployed overseas...

AFGHANISTAN

Australian and Afghan soldiers prepare to depart on a joint patrol in September 2005.

Operation Slipper is the Australian Defence Force (ADF) contribution to the International Coalition against Terrorism. The operation commenced in late 2001 and is ongoing. ADF participation included two major activities centred on Afghanistan and the Persian Gulf.

Go Here to see links

First phase

A No. 33 Squadron B-707 refueling a US Navy F/A-18 in 2002.

Australian participation in Afghanistan included a Special Forces Task group and two Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing 707 air-to-air refuelling aircraft from No. 33 Squadron. These aircraft and associated support personnel operated from Manas Air Base in Kyrgyzstan and provided support to coalition aircraft operating in Afghan airspace. RAAF C-130 Hercules transport aircraft were also involved in providing logistic support for deployed forces. The initial ADF commitment in Afghanistan concluded in December 2002 when the Special Air Service Task Group was withdrawn. Following this date Australia’s total contribution to efforts in Afghanistan was a single officer attached to the Coalition’s mine clearing force.

Australian SAS Squadron deployments

Note: all dates are approximate

1 Squadron Group, SASR (October 2001-April 2002)
3 Squadron Group, SASR (April 2002-July/August 2002)
2 Squadron Group, SASR (July/August 2002-November 2002)

A Troop from the Special Air Service of New Zealand was attached to each Australian SAS Squadron Group. It’s unclear whether the New Zealand SAS Troop was rotated at the same times as the Australian units.

Go Here to read links

Second phase

An Australian Surveillance Reconnaissance Vehicle (SRV) patrols outside the perimeter of a forward operating base in Afghanistan on September 17, 2005.

An Australian Special Forces Task Group was re-deployed to Afghanistan in August or September 2005. This Task Group consisted of elements from the SASR, 4th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (Commando), the Incident Response Regiment and logistic support personnel. As well as heavily modified land rovers, the Special Forces Task Group was also equipped with some Bushmaster infantry mobility vehicles. A detachment of two CH-47 Chinook helicopters from the 5th Aviation Regiment was deployed to Afghanistan in March 2006 to support the Special Forces Task Group. The Australian Special Forces Task Group was withdrawn from Afghanistan in September 2006 and the helicopter detachment returned to Australia in April 2007.

Go Here to read links

Third phase

A Reconstruction Taskforce based around the 1st Combat Engineer Regiment with protective elements from the 5th/7th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment and 2nd Cavalry Regiment began arriving in Orūzgān Province in southern Afghanistan in early September 2006. The Australian Reconstruction Taskforce forms part of a Dutch-led Provincial Reconstruction Team.

Prime Minister John Howard has announced plans to deploy 300 special forces to support the Reconstruction Taskforce. In addition to radar crews, logistics and intelligence officers, and security personnel, this will bring the number of Australian forces in Afghanistan up to about 950 in mid-2007 and 1000 by mid-2008.^[1]

Go Here to read Links

Now, quite a while ago (back in february) I had a little rant on Tanker Brothers. It was in retaliation to a Troll who, like all other Trolls, had all the 'Facts'. Ever wonder why we are in Afghanistan??

Well here are some facts for you....

Al-Qaeda or Al-Qaida or Al-Qa'ida (Arabic: القاعدة al-qāʕida, trans. 'the base') is the name given to an international alliance of militant Islamist organizations established in 1988 by Osama bin Laden. Al-Qaeda's ideology can be placed within the salafist strain of Sunni-Islam, but also has been heavily influenced by wahabism. Osama bin-Laden oversees al-Qaeda's finances and, with Ayman al-Zawahiri, provides ideological and strategic guidance. Al-Qaeda's objectives include the elimination of foreign influence in Muslim countries, eradication of those deemed to be "infidels", elimination of Israel, and the creation of a new Islamic caliphate.^[1]

Link

Ok, you DID read that right.

Al-Qaedas objectives:

Elimination of foreign influence in Muslim Countries
Eradication of those deemed to be infidels (that's us guys!!)
Elimination of Israel
The creation of a new Islamic Caliphate.

Al Qaeda Training Camps in Afghanistan and the Pakistani border regions are alleged to have trained militant Muslims from around the world. Despite the perception of some people, al-Qaeda members are ethnically diverse and connected by their radical version of Islam. An ever-expanding network of supporters thus enjoyed a safe haven in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan until the Taliban were defeated by a combination of local forces and United States air power in 2001

These would be the camps that David Hicks was found at.

In 1996, Osama bin Laden moved to Afghanistan from Sudan. When the Taliban came to power, bin Laden was able to forge an alliance between the Taliban and his Al-Qaeda organization. It is understood that al-Qaeda-trained fighters known as the 055 Brigade were integrated with the Taliban army between 1997 and 2001. The Taliban and bin Laden had very close connections, which were formalized by a marriage of one of bin Laden's sons to Omar's daughter. During Osama bin Laden's stay in Afghanistan, he had helped finance the Taliban.

Ok, no link between Al-Qaeda and the Taliban huh?? I beg to differ.

On September 20, 2001 after an investigation by the FBI the U.S. concluded that Al Qaeda and Osama bin Laden were behind the September 11, 2001 attacks. The U.S. made a five point ultimatum to the Taliban:

Deliver to the US all of the leaders of Al Qaeda;
Release all imprisoned foreign nationals;
Close immediately every terrorist training camp;
Hand over every terrorist and their supporters to appropriate authorities;
Give the United States full access to terrorist training camps for inspection.^[17]

The Taliban rejected this ultimatum on September 21, 2001, stating there was no evidence in their possession linking Bin Laden to the September 11 attacks.

So, the 'Religious Taliban Government', chose to protect Al-Qaeda, a recognised Terrorist Organisation as opposed to working in conjunction with the US to rid their country of this terrorist scourge.

In 1996, al-Qaeda announced its jihad to expel foreign troops and interests from what they felt were Islamic lands. Bin Laden issued a fatwa^[39], which amounted to a public declaration of war against the United States and any of its allies, and began to focus al-Qaeda's resources towards attacking the United States and its interests.

On February 23, 1998, Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri, a leader of Egyptian Islamic Jihad, along with three other Islamist leaders, co-signed and issued a fatwa (binding religious edict) under the banner of the World Islamic Front for Jihad Against the Jews and Crusaders (al-Jabhah al-Islamiyya al-'Alamiyya li-Qital al-Yahud wal-Salibiyyin) declaring:

“

[t]he ruling to kill the Americans and their allies- civilians and military— is an individual duty for every Muslim who can do it in any country in which it is possible to do it, in order to liberate the al-Aqsa Mosque (in Jerusalem) and the holy mosque (in Makka) from their grip, and in order for their armies to move out of all the lands of Islam, defeated and unable to threaten any Muslim. This is in accordance with the words of Almighty Allah, 'and fight the pagans all together as they fight you all together,' and 'fight them until there is no more tumult or oppression, and there prevail justice and faith in Allah'.^[40]

”

Neither bin Laden nor al-Zawahiri possessed the traditional Islamic scholarly qualifications to issue a fatwa of any kind; however, they rejected the authority of the contemporary ulema (seen as the paid servants of jahiliyya rulers) and took it upon themselves.^[41] 1998 was also the year of the first major terrorist attack reliably attributed to al-Qaeda- the U.S. embassy bombings in East Africa, resulting in upward of 300 deaths. A barrage of missiles launched by the U.S. military in response devastated an al-Qaeda base in Khost, Afghanistan, but the network's capacity was unharmed.

Now, I understand that the TERRORISTS perception of what is fair and just in relation to Non Muslims occupying traditionally Muslim countries and areas is going to be different to that of a Westerner. However, the concept of a Caliphate Rule is not. The idea here is that these terrorist organisations, with the support of certain governments, such as the former Taliban government, will slowly take back control of all traditionally Muslim countries to start with. When they are strong and sufficiently backed financially, the plan is to unleash Jihad on the Western World. This is not a new concept, infact it has it's foundations in the very beginnings of civilisation. I also think it is important to remember that while the majority of the population of these countries is Muslim, not ALL the people are. However, if these terrorist organisations are successful, that will be a right these people will no longer retain. It will be convert or die.

This isn't about 'Westernising' the world. It is about world domination. The world under a Caliphate Rule. As terrorists groups become braver they are sending out both written and recorded messages warning of their intent to eradicate 'Western Dogs'.

On September 22, 2001, the United Arab Emirates and later Saudi Arabia withdrew their recognition of the Taliban as the legal government of Afghanistan, leaving neighboring Pakistan as the only remaining country with diplomatic ties. On October 4, 2001, it is believed that the Taliban covertly offered to turn bin Laden over to Pakistan for trial in an international tribunal that operated according to Islamic Sharia law.^[23] Pakistan, recently recast as an ally of the west, is believed to have rejected the offer (even though they did still recognize Afghanistan). On October 7, 2001, before the onset of military operations, the Taliban made an open offer to try bin Laden in Afghanistan in an Islamic court.^[24] This counter offer was immediately rejected by the U.S. as insufficient.

Ok, nobody formally printed invitations. When the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia withdrew their support of the Taliban Government in Afghanistan it paved the way for a Coalition enterance, with the support of local (non Taliban) government and the Northern Alliance.

Shortly afterward, on October 7, 2001, the United States, aided by the United Kingdom, Canada, and supported by a coalition of other countries including several from the NATO alliance, initiated military actions in Afghanistan, code named Operation Enduring Freedom, and bombed Taliban and Al Qaeda related camps.^[25]^[26] The stated intent of military operations was to remove the Taliban from power because of the Taliban's refusal to hand over Osama bin Laden for his involvement in the September 11 attacks, and disrupt the use of Afghanistan as a terrorist base of operations.^[27] On October 14 the Taliban openly counteroffered to hand bin Laden over to a third country for trial, but only if the Taliban were given evidence of bin Laden's involvement in 9/11.^[28] The U.S. rejected this offer as an insufficient public relations ploy and continued military operations.

The ground war was mainly fought by the Northern Alliance, the remaining elements of the anti-Taliban forces which the Taliban had routed over the previous years but had never been able to entirely destroy. Mazari Sharif fell to U.S.-Northern Alliance forces on November 9, leading to a cascade of provinces falling with minimal resistance, and many local forces switching loyalties from the Taliban to the Northern Alliance. On the night of November 12, the Taliban retreated south in an orderly fashion from Kabul. This was sufficiently orderly, that on November 15, they released eight Western aid workers after three months in captivity (see Attacks on humanitarian workers). By November 13 the Taliban had withdrawn from both Kabul and Jalalabad. Finally, in early December, the Taliban gave up their last city stronghold of Kandahar and retired to the hilly wilderness along the Afghanistan - Pakistan border, where they remain today as a guerrilla warfare operation, drawing new recruits and developing plans for a restoration of power.

So, it was not by the invitation of the Taliban (for obvious reasons) that the Coalition entered Afghanistan. However, neither does it equate to a US initiated 'Invasion'. The US had worked with the Northern Alliance to assist them in removing Al Qaeda networks and their support networks, including the Taliban from within Afghanistan.

As for the progress in Afghanistan try reading....

09 August 2006

TRANSCRIPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER
THE HON JOHN HOWARD MP
STATEMENT TO PARLIAMENT ON THE AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE FORCE COMMITMENT TO AFGHANISTAN,
PARLIAMENT HOUSE, CANBERRA

E&OE…

The purpose of this Statement is to inform the House of the Government’s decision to send to Afghanistan an additional 150 troops of the ADF to reinforce the Reconstruction Task Force and to provide enhanced force protection. The Statement will also provide the Parliament with the Government’s latest assessment of the security situation in Afghanistan and the challenges facing the Karzai Government and the Coalition.

The Afghan people are working to achieve stability, peace and democracy, after many years of violence and extremism. For Afghanistan, the path to security will be long and hard, with many challenges lying ahead. But Afghanistan will not have to face these challenges alone. Australia, along with many others in the international community, is there to assist the Afghan people.

We have already witnessed what happens when the global community turns its back on extremism. Afghanistan was neglected for too long, condemning the Afghan people to decades of war and poverty. But the world is now much more aware of the dangers of ignoring extremism and fundamentalism. The stability of Afghanistan has wider implications for global security and it is for this reason that the Australian Government is committed to ensuring that Afghanistan achieves long term peace.

Afghanistan’s social indicators remain sobering. At 46 years, Afghan life expectancy is one of the world’s lowest, and at least 20 years lower than that of all Afghanistan’s neighbours. One in five children still die before the age of five, and the country has some of the world’s lowest literacy rates. In addition, 3.4 million Afghans remain outside their country and there is much room for improvement in the country’s human rights situation.

Afghanistan is still one of the world’s poorest countries. Decades of war destroyed much of the country’s infrastructure and severely disrupted economic activity, including in agriculture. Criminal and terrorist activity continues to hamper economic growth, and the expansion of the drug trade remains of very deep concern. Sustained economic growth will be required to make a significant dent in the country’s chronic poverty.

These problems are complex and will not be solved quickly. But Australia cannot and will not abandon Afghanistan. We need to remain committed to supporting this fledgling democracy.

Through our aid programme we are working with Afghans, international organisations including the United Nations, and our other international partners to support Afghanistan’s transition from conflict to stability, peace and democracy.

At the London Conference in January 2006 the Government committed $55 million in development assistance to Afghanistan through to 2007. This is part of a commitment of up to $150 million over the next five years. These funds will go towards improving security, rebuilding institutions, protecting human rights, especially for women and girls, and improving the delivery of essential services to ordinary Afghans. It builds on the $110 million we have disbursed since 2001 to assist in reconstruction and development.

Our efforts, and those of our coalition partners, are bearing fruit. Afghans have embraced democracy and open, democratic institutions are developing. Afghanistan now has a democratic constitution and a democratically elected president and parliament. The country’s first parliamentary elections in 30 years were held in September 2005. 6.4 million Afghans, representing over 50 per cent of registered voters, turned out to elect representatives to the Lower House, and the 34 provincial councils.

In an encouraging sign for the inclusiveness of Afghanistan’s burgeoning civil society, women featured prominently in these elections. 68 women were elected to the Lower House, taking 27 per cent of available seats. 121 women were elected to provincial councils, representing almost 30 per cent of available seats at this level.

The Afghan Government has made education of women and girls a priority in an effort to overcome the legacy of the Taliban. With the entry of women into Afghanistan’s parliament and provincial councils, Afghans now have an additional opportunity to address the injustices of the past.

Just as democracy is becoming more deeply rooted in Afghanistan, economic recovery is providing new economic opportunities. Real GDP is expected to grow by almost 12 per cent in 2006. This builds on strong growth rates over the past few years, even if from a low base.

The ordinary people of Afghanistan are benefiting directly from these developments. Since the fall of the Taliban in 2001 a UNICEF immunisation programme has vaccinated over 2.3 million children under the age of five against polio, almost eradicating that disease.

The indicators of progress in Afghanistan are promising, but significant challenges remain. Afghan society is still predominantly rural in character and the country’s democratic institutions, though developing, remain fragile. And the struggle against extremists continues.

The level of violence has increased in Afghanistan in recent months as the Taliban and other terrorist groups, including Al Qaida, seek to chip away at the credibility of the Afghan government and prevent reconstruction taking place. Security beyond Kabul, particularly in the east and south, is the worst since the Taliban fell. Suicide bombings have increased.

Australia, as the House will know, made a significant contribution to Coalition operations in Afghanistan following the terrorist attacks on New York in Washington in September 2001. With the completion of that particular task, our forces returned home, with the thanks of all Australians. It is worth noting in light of the negative and opportunistic comments now being made by some in the Opposition that at the time that decision was made the then Leader of the Opposition, Mr Crean, warmly welcomed the Government’s decision, arguing that it was a vindication of his call for Australia to fight terrorism closer to home, in our region, in Australia. They were the words of the then Leader of the Opposition, welcoming the Government’s decision to bring home our forces then, and it gives the lie to the opportunistic comment emanating, as is apparent from his interjection, from the Member for Griffith at this time.

Following a reassessment of the security situation in Afghanistan by the Coalition in 2005, the Government decided to again send troops to Afghanistan. We now have about 200 personnel serving in the Special Forces Task Group in Afghanistan. This Task Group is providing reconnaissance, surveillance and other specialised capabilities to the Coalition's operations against Al Qaida and the Taliban, who continue to threaten Afghanistan’s fragile stability. In dangerous circumstances, the Special Forces have, as always, done a magnificent job.

Two ADF Chinook helicopters and about 110 personnel are also currently operating in Afghanistan. This capability provides aero-medical evacuation, air mobility and logistic support to Australian troops and Coalition partners. As I announced in May, the Chinooks will continue to operate in Afghanistan until April 2007 providing vital airlift support.

But the struggle against the Taliban and its fundamentalist allies is far from over. The international community, including Australia, continues to have a crucial role to play in assisting the Afghan government meet its security challenges. The security challenge is twofold: first to provide a secure environment to allow Afghans to rebuild their society free from violence and extremism; and secondly to strengthen Afghanistan’s institutions so that they can provide a stronger framework for democratisation, religious tolerance and economic growth.

Of course, the two elements are linked. Removal of the immediate dangers facing the Afghan people is essential, but so too is ensuring that Afghanistan has the infrastructure and institutions to support its democratically elected government and dealing with those who may attempt to threaten Afghanistan’s democracy and security in the future. It is because of this that the Australian Government has committed an ADF Reconstruction Task Force to support the Netherlands led Provincial Reconstruction Team. The ADF will work with the Netherlands as part of Phase III of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force expansion into southern Afghanistan.

This Reconstruction Task Force will work in Oruzgan Province, in southern Afghanistan, on reconstruction and community based projects with the aim of building the long-term viability of Afghan communities. The Task Force will undertake construction projects, provide project management skills, and deliver trade training for the local population. These activities will ensure that the benefits of the deployment continue long after our personnel have returned.

The Reconstruction Task Force will be in Afghanistan at the invitation of the Government of Afghanistan. It will work in Oruzgan for a period of two years.

The Reconstruction Task Force will perform a vital role in what is a dangerous environment. The Government is aware of the risks faced by the Australian Defence Force in Afghanistan and is committed to ensuring that the Reconstruction Task Force is fully equipped and resourced to conduct this highly important task.

After careful consideration, the Government has decided to increase the size of the Reconstruction Task Force from 240 personnel to 270. This will enhance the security, robustness and flexibility of the Task Force.

The Government has also decided that the Reconstruction Task Force deployment will include an infantry company group of about 120 personnel to provide enhanced force protection. After six months, the security situation in Oruzgan will be reviewed and the Task Force structure will be reconsidered in the light of that review. The additional deployments will bring the total Reconstruction Task Force strength to approx 400.

The Reconstruction Task Force will be made up of a number of elements - command, security and protection, engineering, administrative support and tactical intelligence services. The force will be equipped with a number of Bushmaster Infantry Mobility Vehicles and a number of Australian Light Armoured Vehicles (ASLAVs). The Reconstruction Task Force will be drawn primarily from the 1st Brigade in Darwin and will be under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Mick Ryan.

The Australian Task Force will have its own headquarters and will operate under the national command of Australia’s Joint Task Force in the Middle East Area of Operations. ADF units and personnel deployed in Afghanistan remain under Australian national command.

The Reconstruction Task Force will work closely with the Netherlands and other NATO partners. The Government is very pleased with Dutch planning and preparations and very impressed with the military capability of the Dutch forces that are being deployed to Afghanistan. We are very confident that we will be able to work closely with them.

Advance elements of the Reconstruction Task Force will start to deploy into Afghanistan during this August to commence preparation of base facilities and logistic support infrastructure. These elements will be followed by the majority of the Reconstruction Task Force deploying in September with the final elements expected to deploy in November of this year.

Afghanistan remains a dangerous place, and any military operation conducted there carries significant risks. The possibility of ADF casualties cannot be discounted. I ask all Australians to support the members of the Australian Defence Force who are serving their country by helping to create an environment of security and stability in Afghanistan. I understand that this is a difficult time for them and their families and I ask all of you to keep these brave and dedicated men and women in your thoughts and prayers.

Ok, so I know this was a long post, sorry bout that.

A_C

For Your Viewing Pleasure...

2007-05-18T16:06:00.000+09:30

Australian Defence Force

Australian Military

To The Families Of Fallen Heroes...

2007-05-18T09:00:00.000+09:30

This ones a real tear jerker...... Thanks Deb

A_C

Don't Feed The Trolls....

2007-05-17T23:12:00.000+09:30

Games over, everyones bored. Please don't feed the Trolls!!

The Guaranteed Mufti Muzzler

2007-05-17T15:48:00.000+09:30

Ok, you have to watch it a bit, but the ending makes it all worthwhile...

Ungrateful People That We Are....

2007-05-17T13:54:00.000+09:30

I found this on Myspace and had to repost. I think it's very well said...

"The other day I was reading Newsweek magazine and came across some poll data I found rather hard to believe. It must be true given the source, right?

The Newsweek poll alleges that 67 percent of Americans are unhappy with the direction the country is headed and 69 percent of the country is unhappy with the performance of the president. In essence 2/3s of the citizenry just ain't happy and want a change.

So being the knuckle dragger I am, I started thinking, ''What we are so unhappy about?''

Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day, 7 days a week? Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter? Could it be that 95.4 percent of these unhappy folks have a job? Maybe it is the ability to walk into a grocery store at any time and see more food in moments than Darfur has seen in the last year?

Maybe it is the ability to drive from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean without having to present identification papers as we move through each state? Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would find along the way that can provide temporary shelter?

I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from around the world is just not good enough. Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show up and provide services to help all and even send a helicopter to take you to the hospital.

Perhaps you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a home. You may be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of a fire, a group of trained firefighters will appear in moments and use top notch equipment to extinguish the flames thus saving you, your family and your belongings.

Or if, while at home watching one of your many flat screen TVs, a burglar or prowler intrudes , an officer equipped with a gun and a bullet-proof vest will come to defend you and your family against attack or loss. This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or militias raping and pillaging the residents. Neighborhoods where 90 percent of teenagers own cell phones and computers.

How about the complete religious, social and political freedoms we enjoy that are the envy of everyone in the world? Maybe that is what has 67 percent of you folks unhappy.

Fact is, we are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats the world has ever seen. No wonder the world loves the U.S. , yet has a great disdain for its citizens. They see us for what we are. The most blessed people in the world who do nothing but complain about what we don't have , and what we hate about the country instead of thanking the good Lord we live here.

I know, I know. What about the president who took us into war and has no plan to get us out? The president who has a measly 31 percent approval rating? Is this the same president who guided the nation in the dark days after 9/11? The president that cut taxes to bring an economy out of recession? Could this be the same guy who has been called every name in the book for succeeding in keeping all the spoiled u ungrateful brats safe from terrorist attacks?

The commander in chief of an all-volunteer army that is out there defending you and me? Did you hear how bad the President is on the news or talk show? Did this news affect you so much, make you so unhappy you couldn't take a look around for yourself and see all the good things and be glad?

Think about it......are you upset at the President because he actually caused you personal pain OR is it because the "Media" told you he was failing to kiss your sorry ungrateful behind every day.

Make no mistake about it. The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have volunteered to serve, and in many cases may have died for your freedom. There is currently no draft in this country. They didn't have to go.

They are able to refuse to go and end up with either a ''general'' discharge, an ''other than honorable'' discharge or, worst case scenario, a ''dishonorable'' discharge after a few days in the brig.

So why then the flat-out discontentment in the minds of 69 percent of Americans? Say what you want but I blame it on the media. If it bleeds it leads and they specialize in bad news. Everybody will watch a car crash with blood and guts. How many will watch kids selling lemonade at the corner? The media knows this and media outlets are for-profit corporations. They offer what sells , and when criticized, try to defend their actions by "justifying" them in one way or another. Just ask why they tried to allow a murderer like O.J. Simpson to write a book about how he didn't kill his wife, but if he did he would have done it this way......Insane!

Stop buying the negativism you are fed everyday by the media. Shut off the TV, burn Newsweek, and use the New York Times for the bottom of your bird cage. Then start being grateful for all we have as a country. There is exponentially more good than bad.

We are among the most blessed people on Earth and should thank God several times a day, or at least be thankful and appreciative."

A_C

More Evidence Of Saddam-Al Qaeda Ties

2007-05-17T11:09:00.000+09:30

Well worth a read..

More Evidence of Saddam-al Qaeda Ties
By Ray Robison

An al Qaeda document newly released by the Combating Terrorism Center (CTC) of the United States Military Academy provides an extraordinary new connection to a previously reported order by Saddam Hussein to support al Qaeda attacks upon US forces in Somalia. It corresponds with other documents that show Saddam Hussein was using Islamic terrorists as proxies to attack US interests. The document was part of a US Army report on al Qaeda in Africa. That study contends that although al Qaeda managed to train other Islamic fighters in Africa, it did the organization no long term good, as it failed to bend the region to al Qaeda doctrine.

The al Qaeda document is entitled The Ogaden File: Operation Holding (Al-Msk). Its' name refers to a tribal region of Ethiopia extending into Somalia (Ogaden) and 'al-Msk' is an acronym for the Mission to hold Somalia and Kenya. The file is a personal log about a group of al Qaeda terrorists sent to Somalia in 1993 to provide military training to local Islamic militants. Islamic fighters trained by al Qaeda would later kill 18 Army Special Forces soldiers in what has become know as the Battle of Mogadishu which was portrayed in the popular movie Black Hawk Down. The US government confirmed the involvement of al Qaeda and Usama bin Laden in a 1998 indictment against him for the Somali attacks.

The al Qaeda document itself provides a fascinating look at training operations of an expeditionary nature in hostile territory. It lists several terrorists who subsequently became high ranking al Qaeda leaders (most were later killed or captured by US forces). Many of them were Egyptians with the Egyptian Islamic Jihad (EIJ) terror group led by al Qaeda number two man Ayman al Zawahiri. The log was written by an al Qaeda terrorist named Saif al-Islam al Masri who was known to be a leader of al Qaeda in Somalia and an EIJ leader. He is now in US custody.

Saif writes that on the 20th of January, 1993 he and his men were ordered to drop everything (marriage plans, travel) and report to a man named Abu Hafs in Peshawar, Pakistan. This deployment to Somalia heralded a major escalation of al Qaeda activities in Africa. Abu Hafs is also known as Mohammed Atef. Mohammed Atef was the number two man in the EIJ under Ayman al Zawahiri and also part of Usama bin Laden's inner circle. He was included in the 1998 indictment for attacking US forces in Somalia and was considered the number three man in al Qaeda. He was killed by US forces shortly after 9/11.

Saif describes how he and his men were ordered by Atef to go Somalia and set up training camps. The fighters they trained would ultimately grab power in Somalia, only to be driven out by Ethiopian and American Special Forces action last year.

The date of Atef's order for them to go to Somalia is very significant because it corresponds with an order by Saddam Hussein to do just that. A different set of documents, provided by the Cyber News Service (CNS) in 2004 and reported on here, are purported to be from a cache of documents captured in Iraq. CNS stated they were given to them by a member of the Iraqi Survey Group. Those documents - which have not yet been verified by the US government but do match secret information from other known Saddam documents and have been confirmed by several experts - are memorandums between Saddam and his intelligence service.

Saddam Hussein ordered his intelligence service to "hunt the Americans" in Somalia via Afghan mujahideen proxies including the EIJ on January 18th, 1993 just two days before EIJ leader Atef ordered his best men to Somalia. The CNS memoranda also show that Saddam's intelligence service was meeting with the leader of the EIJ (almost certainly Ayman al Zawahiri) to give him the assignment.

Saddam wanted his intelligence service to work with mujahideen (Islamic fighters) displaced from Afghanistan in 1992, which likely also included Usama bin Laden's followers, the EIJ (the two groups would officially merge together to become al Qaeda) and another associated terror leader, Gulbuddin Hekmatyar. The order provided funding to the mujahideen and drew precedent from operations with the EIJ against the Egyptian government because it sided with the UN coalition against Iraq in the Gulf War.

This new al Qaeda document, when combined with the CNS documents, provides a sequential timeframe for the events and the human linkages to carry out the order from Saddam to his intelligence service to Ayman al Zawahiri to Mohammed Atef and then to his terror trainers.

The revelation about Mohammed Atef comes just days after former CIA Director George Tenet caused a political and media stir with the release of his new book At the Center of the Storm: My Years at the CIA. Tenet devotes a portion of the book to discussing al Qaeda-Saddam ties. In it he writes about the case of Ibn Sheikh al Libi, "a senior military trainer for al-Qa'ida in Afghanistan." Al Libi told his interrogators that

"a militant known as Abu Abudullah had told him that...al-Qa'ida leader Mohammed Atef had sent Abu Abdullah to Iraq to seek training in poisons and mustard gas."

Al Libi would later recant his testimony and become a flash point in the debate over pre-war intelligence. Tenet notes the controversy and says it is unclear if al Libi was lying with the initial report or his recantation. Tenet writes,

"Another senior al-Qa'ida detainee told us that Mohammed Atef was interested in expanding al-Qa'ida's ties to Iraq, which, in our eyes, added credibility to [al-Libi's initial] reporting."

This new evidence may provide more insight into why Saddam was making his military officers watch Black Hawk Down just prior to the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He may have been shoring up their courage by reminding them of what he considered his previous defeat of the American army.

A_C

ADF - Current Operations and Deployments....

2007-05-16T15:17:00.000+09:30

As of May 2007 approx 3850 ADF Personnel are deployed overseas...

IRAQ

The Australian Government was a strong and uncritical supporter of United States policy during the Iraq disarmament crisis and one of only four nations to commit combat forces to the 2003 invasion of Iraq in any substantial numbers, under the operational codename Operation Falconer.

It is now known that part of the Australian contingent of the Coalition were among the first forces to enter Iraq after the official "execute" order.^[1]

Australian forces committed to the conflict included three Royal Australian Navy ships, 500 special forces troops, P-3 Orion patrol and C-130 Hercules transport aircraft, and RAAF 75 Squadron equipped with 14 F/A-18 Hornet fighters.

Combat forces committed to Operation Falconer for the 2003 Invasion were withdrawn during 2003. John Howard has yet to announce a withdrawal of Australian troops who are participating in the follow on mission to the invasion (known as Operation Catalyst), and has declined to give a deadline, stating that Australian troops will remain for as long as they are required.

To read links go Here

Before anyone has a chance to say there were no WMD found in Iraq and therefore no legitimate need for us to enter the country, you have to remember half the world was convinced of the presence of these weapons. That there were no WMD found in quantity in Iraq ws no reason to leave. From the minute we entered Iraq we made a commitment to the inoocent Iraqi Civillians who were desperate to rid themselves of the tyranny and barbaric treatment metered out to them by Sadaam Hussein, his family and supporters.

In any war, no matter what your standing and politics, there is one fact that remains true. War evolves. As you enter a country and are living amongst both the innocents and the enemy, your view of the war you are fighting will change. As a Soldier see's first hand both the horror and how they can assist the victims rebuild shattered lives, their perspective changes. They are then left trying to explain to a world that doesn't want to hear, about the good they are doing, the progress they are making.

There is no doubt that the war in Iraq has changed and has evolved. From a mission to find and destroy WMD it has become a war to help build hope, to rebuild a shattered country and restore peace and democracy. For those of us who realise that at times, you must prepare for war if you truly want peace, we stand by, we support those who fight and the victims when we can and we pray for the outcomes to justify the war. We share the Soldiers positive outlooks as they strive to make real progress in a country torn apart by war for a very long time.

Forces committed

A headquarters staff of about 60 personnel under the command of Brigadier Maurie McNarn.

Royal Australian Navy
- The frigates HMAS Anzac and HMAS Darwin, which were already on-station as part of the Multinational Interception Force enforcing economic sanctions against Iraq before the invasion plan was entered into. Each ship carried a single Seahawk helicopter from 816 Squadron RAN [1]
- The transport ship HMAS Kanimbla carrying 350 crew and soldiers, including embarked Australian Army LCM-8 landing craft and an anti-aircraft contingent, a Sea King helicopter from 817 Squadron RAN, and a bomb disposal team. A detachment from the Army's 16th Air Defence Regiment provided point defence to the Kanimbla.
- Clearance Diving Team Three, which worked alongside divers from several nations to clear Iraqi ports of mines.
Royal Australian Air Force
- No. 75 Squadron, operating 14 F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets together with 250 command, coordination, support and aircrew personnel.
- Three C-130H Hercules transport aircraft from No. 36 Squadron RAAF and 150 support personnel.
- Two AP-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft and 150 support personnel (these aircraft may have operated in the electronic intelligence gathering role).
Australian Army
- A 500-strong special forces task group consisting of:
  - Forward Command Element
  - Special Forces Task Group
    - 1st Squadron Group, Australian Special Air Service Regiment
    - Platoon (+), 4th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (Commando)
    - D Troop, Incident Response Regiment
    - Combat Service Support Group
  - Troop, C Squadron, 5th Aviation Regiment (3 CH-47 Chinook)
  - 2 LCM-8 Landing Craft, 70/71 Troop Water Transport Squadron
To read links go Here

No civillian will every truly comprehend the theatre of war. In sheer size alone, in numbers of Defence Personel, in equipment and the requirements for the day to day runnings of operations. Australias contribution to this is significant and warranted. By contributing to the fight in Iraq they are assisting in preventing that fight from being brought to our shores.

Operations by Australian Forces

In keeping with its relatively small size, the Australian force only made a limited contribution to Coalition operations during the invasion of Iraq. The Australian contribution was also geographically dispersed, with the Australian forces forming part of larger US and British units rather than a concentrated Australian unit. No Australian personnel were killed, wounded or taken prisoner during the war.

Maritime operations

Prior to the outbreak of war the Australian naval force in the Persian Gulf continued to enforce the sanctions against Iraq. These operations were conducted by boarding parties from the RAN warships and the AP-3 Orion patrol aircraft.^[2]

Upon the outbreak of war the RAN's focus shifted to supporting the coalition land forces and clearing the approaches to Iraqi ports. HMAS Anzac provided gunfire support to Royal Marines during fighting on the Al-Faw Peninsula and the Clearance Diving Team took part in clearing the approaches to Umm Qasr. Boarding operations continued during the war, and on 20 March boarding parties from the HMAS Kanimbla seized an Iraqi ship carrying 86 naval mines.^[3] Army LCM-8 Landing Craft were used as forward deployment and support platforms for the Navy boarding parties and were the first regular Maritime assets to the port of Umm Qasr, moving as far north as Basara on the inland waterways collecting intelligence for allied forces. LCM-8 Assets were utilised by British and American forces for various cargo transportation duties during the course of the war.

To read links go Here

If you take the time to follow the links at the bottom of each test box you will find a substantial amount of additional information on these and other related topics.

Please remember, if you chose not to support the Troops at least do it due to an informed opinion. It really doesn't take much to do a search and read some information and this small effort may just change your perspective a little.

A_C

Ok, Here Is The Deal

2007-05-16T12:13:00.000+09:30

I had a little visit from the Mother of all Trolls last night. Very brave person insulting me, the ADF, the wife of a Deployed American Soldier and our Coalition partners.

Let me tell you something.....I am NOT going to put up with you idiots coming onto my site and screaming like Deranged Banshees. If you have a legitimate point to make, make it without the Gutter Trash language and come armed with FACTS and LINKS to back them up otherwise I will continue to delete your crap.

If you wish to attack me personally then by all means feel free, but do it in an email.
I will not stand by while you insult the people fighting for your Dumbass, their families and supporters.

Also, in future if you would like your comment to remain link back to your own site and use a name. I will not be accepting any comments under 'anonymous'. You know how to find me, now let us know how to find you. I know some people that would be happy to 'debate' your points with you.

AC

Al-Hilali At It Again.....

2007-05-15T16:43:00.000+09:30

And still we continue to let this man back into our country....

Iran call sparks Hilali sedition probe

AUSTRALIAN mufti Sheik Taj Din al-Hilali is under investigation over whether his call for the Muslim world to unite behind Iran breached sedition laws by urging assistance to an enemy of the state.

Australian Federal Police officers interviewed Sheik Hilali last Tuesday over his call to Muslims to "stand in the trenches" with Iran, described by US President George W. Bush as a member of the "axis of evil".

Sheik Hilali said yesterday he had told the AFP the phrase, delivered in Arabic in April, translated in English to the less literal "in the same boat" or "sharing the same fate".

He said the interview, on Iran's Alalam television, was about promoting world peace and had nothing to do with inciting trouble.

Alalam on its website had quoted the disputed leader of Australia's 300,000 Muslims as saying the global Islamic nation would not "kneel" to its enemies and should unite with Iran. "The mufti of Australia has called on the Islamic world to stand in the trenches with the Islamic Republic of Iran which possesses the might and power," the website reported.

No one has been charged since Australia's sedition laws were tightened in late 2005. The maximum penalty is seven years' jail. Sheik Hilali was cleared last week of channelling money to terrorist organisations, and he was confident of again being cleared of any wrongdoing.

The investigation comes as Sheik Hilali - whose position of mufti was abolished by the Australian National Imams Council in March - is about to make a comeback giving Friday sermons at the Lakemba Mosque, in Sydney's southwest. Sheik Hilali - who was granted a three-month stay of execution by the imams council - will return to the pulpit after a six-month self-imposed exile triggered by his comparison of rape victims to exposed meat during a Ramadan sermon last October.

Sheik Hilali says in a letter to Arabic newspapers that he had stayed away from the pulpit "of his own volition when he realised that there was a meeting of interests between some politicians, sections of the media, and some in the community who sought to eliminate the position of mufti and to remove me personally".

"Had they been successful, no cleric would be able to raise his voice or take a stand for justice," he wrote.

Citing strong community support for his return, Sheik Hilali is expected to start sermons again as early as next week.

Hilali confidant Keysar Trad said the latest allegations about the mufti's comments on Iran were part of a campaign to eliminate the position of mufti or oust the mufti himself.

Last week Sheik Hilali was cleared of any wrongdoing over allegations that he diverted funds raised by the Lebanese Muslim Association for victims of the Israel-Lebanon war to supporters of al-Qa'ida and Hezbollah.

Sheik Hilali was in Tehran for a conference when he was quoted by Alalam on April 7, two days after the Iranian regime had released 15 British sailors who had been held hostage for two weeks after being snatched in Iraqi waters.

Government ministers and Kevin Rudd strongly attacked Sheik Hilali over the comments, with John Howard last month suggesting the mufti consider leaving Australia.

In response Sheik Hilali said he had spent 50 years promoting peace and accused the Prime Minister of being a dictator. The latest police investigation comes after he made disparaging remarks about Australia's convict past on Egyptian TV, saying that Muslims had more right to be in Australia. Mr Trad explained the comments saying that the interpretation should have expressed a love for his country.

Isn't it time he got his marching orders??

AC