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Below: video of the speech by Greens Senator Bob Brown, one of the few to call for withdrawal from Afghanistan. Below: ABC 7.30 Report clip aired during Parliamentary debate. Defence Minister (and former Foreign Minister) Stephen Smith discusses Australia's Afghanistan commitment, including a possible date for the withdrawal of troops.. Below: an interesting Sky News video clip from early 2009, featuring Australian and Afghan officers' comments on the "mentoring", or military tactics education program and the relationship between the troops of each country. Below: an ABC news segment on the Parliamentary debate, which includes footage of Tasmanian Senator Andrew Wilkie, himself a former soldier, reading the names of fallen troops and almost breaking down. |
 Web links and documents |
The Australian Department of Defence has an Internet page supplying information on the conflict in Afghanistan. This includes detailed information on Australian troop fatalities.
This information can be found at http://www.defence.gov.au/op/afghanistan/info/personnel.htm
On 26 February, 2009, The Huffington Post published a report titled, 'Losing the People: The Cost and Consequences of Civilian Suffering in Afghanistan'
The report was written by Erica Gaston, a human rights lawyer, representing the DC-based human rights NGO CIVIC in Afghanistan. The report details the suffering the war has inflicted on Afghan civilians and the hostilities that is felt toward the international forces fighting in Afghanistan. The full text of this report can be found at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/erica-gaston/losing-the-people-the-cos_b_170084.html
On 22 June, 2010, the then Minister for Defence, Senator John Faulkner, made a statement on the need for Australia to continue its commitment of troops to Afghanistan.
An ABC report on Senator Faulkner's statement can be found at http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/06/22/2933414.htm
This ABC Internet page includes links to ten video reports of Prime Minister Gillard, Defence Minister Stephen Smith, and others giving their views on different aspects of Australia's involvement in the Afghan war.
In August 2010 the Internet site of the British newspaper, The Guardian, published a detailed report on civilian casualties in Afghanistan since 2006. The full text of this report can be found at http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2010/aug/10/afghanistan-civilian-casualties-statistics#
On 4 August, 2010, Australian Policy Online published a report by Brian Toohey titled, 'Time to assess our nine-year war'. The report is critical of the conduct and consequences of the Afghanistan war.
The full text of this comment and analysis can be found at http://inside.org.au/time-to-reassess-our-nine-year-war/
On 19 October, 2010, Prime Minister Julia Gillard opened the parliamentary debate on Australia's involvement in the war in Afghanistan with a speech which outlined the nature of and reasons for that involvement.
The full text of this speech can be found at http://www.pm.gov.au/node/6963
On 20 October 2010, The Newcastle Herald published an editorial titled 'Australia in Afghanistan'.
The editorial is critical of the rationales offered for Australia's continuing involvement in this war. The full text of this editorial can be found at http://www.theherald.com.au/news/opinion/editorial/general/australia-in-afghanistan/1973729.aspx?storypage=0
On 20 October, 2010, the online opinion site, Opinion Online, published a comment by political commentator Bruce Haigh. The opinion piece is titled, 'Repeating others' mistakes in Afghanistan'. Haigh argues that there is nothing of value to be achieved by Australia fighting in Afghanistan and that Australia's sole reason for involvement is to maintain the United States alliance.
The full text of this comment can be found at http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=11123&page=0
Sussan Ley is a Liberal member of parliament representing the Division of Farrer, New South Wales. On 21 October, 2010, Sussan Ley participated in the parliamentary debate on Australia's involvement in the Afghanistan war. She noted that the rationale for the war had not been well-explained to the Australian people and that this needed to be done or popular support for the war would continue to decline.
On 22 October 2010 The Border Mail published a report of this speech. This report can be found at http://www.bordermail.com.au/news/local/news/general/afghanistan-war-not-clearly-explained-ley/1976105.aspx
On 21 October, 2010, Steve Gibbons the Labor Federal Member for Bendigo, made his contribution to the debate over Australia's involvement in the war in Afghanistan. Mr Gibbons gives a detailed overview of Australia's involvement and though he has some reservations about it, ultimately supports that continued involvement.
The full text of this speech can be found at http://www.stevegibbonsmp.com/media-centre/speeches/debate-on-australia-s-involvement-in-afghanistan/
On 21 October, 2010, WAtoday published an editorial suggesting the essential unreality of the debate taking place in the federal parliament on Australia's involvement in the Afghanistan war. The editorial is titled, 'Speeches mask the reality of Afghanistan's war'
The full text of this editorial can be found at http://www.watoday.com.au/opinion/editorial/speeches-mask-the-reality-of-afghanistans-war-20101020-16u2w.html
On October 29, 2010, the online opinion site, Opinion Online, published a comment by retired Professor George Venturini, formerly of Social Research, Swinburne University. The comment is titled, 'Debate on Australia's presence in Afghanistan? What debate?'. The comment suggests that the terms of Australia's initial involvement in Afghanistan were never properly debated and are not being so now.
George Venturini gives a detailed explanation as to why the war against Afghanistan was illegal. The full text of this comment can be found at http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=11157&page=0
On 1 November, 2010, The Sydney Morning Herald published an editorial titled, 'Australia's Afghan confusions are multiplying' The editorial argues that by making alliances with corrupt warlords the United States and Australia are further forfeiting the goodwill of Afghan civilians.
The full text of this editorial can be found at http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/editorial/australias-afghan-confusions-are-multiplying-20101031-178ru.html