Afghanistan: once more unto the breach

Fitzgibbon rewrites the reasons for going into Afghanistan when he says that the eradication of opium is an essential task for the allies.

In backing the Mujahidin against the invading Russians the US encouraged and backed the heroin trade as a means for the Mujahidin to be self-funding thereby reducing the cost to US taxpayers of bleeding the Soviet Union.

Having undertaken that course of action it is now difficult to put the Afghan opium genie back in the bottle.

For as long as the war goes on it will be a training ground, inspiration and magnet for radical foreigners and dispossessed young men otherwise known as terrorists.

The people of Afghanistan are fighting for their country and to avenge attacks upon themselves both by accident and design.

The US failure in Iraq and the inability of foreign troops to make any headway in Afghanistan has boosted the confidence and hardened the resolve of the Taliban and their backers.

During the course of visits to Afghanistan over the period 1986-88, to observe and photograph Russian military personnel and equipment, it was brought home to me that no outside military force could hope to impose its will on Afghanistan.

Fitzgibbon is playing with the lives of young Australian soldiers in Afghanistan.

If the government were serious about trying to achieve a positive outcome in Afghanistan it should employ diplomacy using the long term relationship that Australia and Pakistan enjoy. Australia should seek to engage with all elements in Pakistan who are fostering the Taliban and assisting Osama bin Laden. Australia needs to acquire an independent understanding of the motives and attitudes of the Taliban and their backers.

Fitzgibbon should remind the US that to deploy military force and not achieve declared outcomes reduces power. Military power is best translated into diplomatic influence if it is not expressed as hostile action.

If Fitzgibbon wants to increase the size of the ADF, particularly the army, he needs to end the military adventure in Afghanistan and concentrate on putting together a well trained and equipped ADF capable of rapid deployment and service in the region.