Protect our country first
BACK in the early days of World War II America abandoned tens of thousands of soldiers to live or die in the defence of the Bataan Peninsula in the Philippines.
They had no food, little ammunition and absolutely no hope of halting the rampaging Japanese, and thus became the unwilling participants in the Yanks’ first military defeat on land in history.
Predictably, it wasn’t a popular move, but answering an avalanche of criticism, then secretary of war Henry Stimson was unapologetic.
This is how he replied: ‘‘There are times when men have to die.’’ Short, sharp and very much to the point.
Some would say it was a coldhearted and cynical response to a cataclysmic event. Maybe, but one can’t help wondering whether a similar but carefully gagged sentiment prevails in many of the armed conflicts of the 21st century.
This week Australia brings home the bodies of five of its sons, the most recent of 38 true blue Diggers to have been sacrificed in pursuit of an impossible dream and a grand political charade.
Predictably, there is a growing groundswell of opposition to our continued presence in a war-torn moonscape nobody barring its fractious factions really want – and many are justifiably asking why the hell we are there in the first place.
Before I am accused of hypocrisy on a grand scale I know that i n the past I have publicly attempted to justify the government’s decision t o j oi n the coalition dedicated to bringing some kind of justice and moral accountably to a miserable land. Somebody had to attempt to exor- cise the evil cancer of international terrorism festering in its mountains and villages. But I am questioning that now. Various prime ministers and defence bigwigs never seem to tire of reminding us this country will stay the distance in Afghanistan – irrespective of the human cost – and will meet its obligations to its partners.
It’s a noble sentiment but perhaps it’s also an obligation we should not have had to service at all.
Two relevant issues spring to mind. The first is that politicians of all colours love nothing more than strutting the world stage trying to give the impression we are a key player on the global firmament.
We’re not. Australia is a very big chunk of largely uninhabitable land stuck out in a South Pacific netherworld. As a nation of people we are small and we would be a lot better off using what resources we have for the betterment of our citizens and becoming a respected regional player – if China lets us, of course.
Second, it’s a bit rich that we should be flexing our muscles in the war against international terrorism when we appear to have a great deal of trouble our own security.
Scarcely a day goes by without some leaky boat crammed with a cargo of ragtag wannabe refugees pitching up on our turf.
If we can’t stop them, what are our chances of preventing the next crop of Osama Bin Ladens from knocking at our front door?
I do not seek to diminish the ultimate sacrifice of 38 brave men and their families but I really do think we have done our bit now.
Let’s get the hell out of Afghanistan before more people have to die conducting a war that cannot be won.
protecting