IN the past few weeks, we have tragically witnessed the deaths of more Australian soldiers in Afghanistan.
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The nature of these incidents, and particularly the deaths of three diggers in a "green-on-blue" incident, at the hands of an Afghan National Army soldier, has seen debate on our continued presence in that conflict generate at a pace arguably greater than that created prior to Australia's withdrawal of combat forces from Iraq. Such commentary has, to some extent, called into question our obligations under the US/Australia alliance and/or to NATO in that theatre of operations.
The issue of a premature withdrawal is, however, much deeper than any strategic relationships which we may have with our coalition partners. The issue goes to the very heart of the Australian psyche - the notion that Aussies do not just abandon our mates when the going gets tough.
Having worked with both US and Dutch military personnel in Afghanistan, I can personally provide evidence of the existence of professional and personal relationships - friendships which have outlasted the Dutch presence in Uruzgan Province and will outlast Australia's presence. These enduring friendships, borne out of conflict, are far from uncommon.
I met a Canadian officer in Kandahar, Afghanistan, who took great delight in showing me the tattoo of a kangaroo on his forearm obtained after having first worked with Australians in Somalia. Such is the enormous impact the Aussie digger, and his or her spirit of mateship, has had on our allies in conflict zones throughout the world.
While any argument that Australia's continued presence in Afghanistan is merely in furtherance of the alliance ignores the mateship which is inherent in our military culture, we cannot, at the same time, ignore the strategic alliance with the United States. As stated by the Foreign Minister, Senator Bob Carr, in response to questions about sensitivities invoked as a result of the basing of US troops in the north of Australia, "the alliance is older than the People's Republic of China". As far as such perceived sensitivities go, the US/Australia alliance has been described by Roger Bell in the 2007 book, Trading on Alliance Security, as, "a vehicle for cooperative diplomacy in Asia rather than a wedge between the alliance partners and China".
Without advancing any throwaway arguments about staying until the job is done, or giving any credence to statements that an early withdrawal would mean our comrades died in vain, I will remind commentators of the sense of mateship and camaraderie, which, no doubt, inspired our fallen brothers to enlist in the first place.
The same sense of mateship which undoubtedly sustained them during arduous patrols and helped maintain the resilience for which the digger is renowned. The same sense of mateship which should properly see Australia satisfy its commitment to our coalition partners.
No matter the end state achieved, or the conditions prevailing in Afghanistan on Australia's eventual withdrawal, the sacrifices made will never be in vain. Lest we forget.
Glenn Kolomeitz is a barrister and serving Army officer with operational experience in East Timor and Afghanistan. The views expressed in this article are his own.