Australia closes Oruzgan base

[TarJak]

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politi...216-2zgnn.html

The troops come home from Christmas. I'd like to say well done but I don't know what their purpose has been over there for the past 10 years or so. Welcome home anyway fellas you derserve a rest.

[Jimbuna]

Salute to the 'Diggers' but I hope the Australian government will honour their pledge not to leave the 600 interpreters behind.

[Herr-Berbunch]

Originally Posted by TarJak

I'd like to say well done but I don't know what their purpose has been over there for the past 10 years or so.

To start with the SAS (and I'm sure many others) were kicking ass, and the RAAF provided some medium-lift capability, maritime patrol, and AAR.

Then they moved on to reaction tactics over just kicking ass with a kind of rapid reaction force. This moved on to become a monitoring and liaison role.

Finally came the reconstruction role (although I'm sure they kept some RRF capability too).

All in all they've done what they set out to do. 40 dead and 256 injured servicemen (and sheilas?) is still a high price. Having worked with Aussie guys before I know they're a great bunch to have alongside and they'll be missed in theatre by all.

[TarJak]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-12-1...awdown/5161804

Article on the shut down process and some clever solutions to some interesting problems with such a closure. It will be interesting to see how it ends up in a year or two.

[Cybermat47]

They failed in their task, but it was an impossible task anyway. How can you destroy an idea?

Anyway, it's good that they're coming home for Christmas

[Stealhead]

Originally Posted by Cybermat47

They failed in their task, but it was an impossible task anyway. How can you destroy an idea?

Anyway, it's good that they're coming home for Christmas

They failed nothing the Australian government(and the other allied governments) started a conflict and ordered their forces to fight a war with confusing and stupid rules and the troops did their best to achieve what that could given the whole mess.

Politicians "leaders" are the ones who get nations involved in wars and are the ones who set the "rules" therefore when the selected action is complex and hemmed by complex,confusing,often enemy aiding rules it is not the fault of the military (as a whole) it is the fault of the Politicians which to large extent most high military brass are.

You fell for one of the oldest tricks in the Politician's bag... "it is not my fault".

[Cybermat47]

Originally Posted by Stealhead

You fell for one of the oldest tricks in the Politician's bag... "it is not my fault".

I was actually blaming the politicians, among others.

[Stealhead]

Well when the topic is the Aussie troops and "they failed at their mission" it reads as if you are laying the blame on the troops.


Australian troops and the Australian government where previously mentioned and following the definition of the word they... used to refer to two or more people or things previously mentioned or easily identified without further elaboration it by default means that you are grouping all previously mentioned parties.

Not trying to pick on you you're young and inexperienced.You will find as an adult especially in public that you have to be clear and concise what you are talking about because you may not get a chance to explain yourself if someone misunderstands what you said.Especially around any veterans some can take certain statements intended or not very personally.

[TarJak]

I agree that the troops successfully went in and established military control of most of the province. The problem is that the mission was poorly articulated by the politicians and they didn't understand how long it takes to make a country again from scratch. Despite having tried to do so before and failing previous generations.

Once the troops were in to catch the bas guys who caused 9/11 the politicians didn't know how to get them out again without having the place fall to pieces around them.

[Cybermat47]

Originally Posted by Stealhead

Not trying to pick on you you're young and inexperienced.You will find as an adult especially in public that you have to be clear and concise what you are talking about because you may not get a chance to explain yourself if someone misunderstands what you said.Especially around any veterans some can take certain statements intended or not very personally.

Thanks, I appreciate it

I think that they did well, but the task of getting rid of the Taliban and Al Qaeda was just too much. And while the training of the Afghan Army seems to have gone pretty well, I doubt that the Afghan troops will have much of a chance.

[Jimbuna]

The politicians who decided the policy and ordered the intervention should have been on a rolling rota of tours of duty in the front lines with those they sent.

I doubt there'd be so many overseas deployments then.

[eddie]

Originally Posted by Stealhead

They failed nothing the Australian government(and the other allied governments) started a conflict and ordered their forces to fight a war with confusing and stupid rules and the troops did their best to achieve what that could given the whole mess.

Politicians "leaders" are the ones who get nations involved in wars and are the ones who set the "rules" therefore when the selected action is complex and hemmed by complex,confusing,often enemy aiding rules it is not the fault of the military (as a whole) it is the fault of the Politicians which to large extent most high military brass are.

You fell for one of the oldest tricks in the Politician's bag... "it is not my fault".

Sounds like Vietnam.

[TarJak]

Same same.