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2010/21: Should Australia have become engaged and remained involved in the war in Afghanistan?
Introduction to the media issue
Video clip at right: an ABC Lateline segment on the recent Parliamentary debate on Australian involvement in Afghanistan. (More audio and video in the Web links and documents section)
If you cannot see this clip, it will be because video is blocked by your network. To view the clip, access from home or from a public library, or from another network which allows viewing of video clips.
What they said...
'The recent multiple deaths of Australian soldiers in Afghanistan have reignited the debate on Australia's role in the conflict. Polls ... suggest that public opposition to Australia's participation in the Afghan war is increasing as the human toll mounts'
Dr Marko Beljac
'Our aim is that the new international strategy sees a functioning Afghan state become able to assume responsibility for preventing the country from being a safe haven for terrorists'
The Prime Minister of Australia, Julia Gillard
The issue at a glance
On October 19, a debate began in the Australian Parliament on Australia's involvement in the Afghanistan war.
The three-day debate did not consider a specific resolution on military objectives and there was no vote requiring members of parliament to declare whether the troops should stay or be withdraw.
Both the Government and the Opposition support Australia's military commitment to Afghanistan. The Greens (who demanded this debate occur as part of the terms of their agreement to support Labor in the hung parliament that resulted from the August 21st, 2010 federal election) are the only party opposed to Australia's involvement in Afghanistan.
Though the debate had no impact on Australian government policy regarding Australia's deployment of forces in Afghanistan, it has encouraged the first general discussion in the Parliament and the media of Australia's involvement in this war which began nine years ago in October 2010.
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