The Taliban’s weapon of choice – the improvised explosive device – has claimed another Australian life in Afghanistan.   

The soldier, from the Townsville based 2nd battalion was on a night foot patrol with Afghan Army soldiers 85 kilometres north east of Tarin Kowt, when the device exploded at 8am (AEST).

His colleagues in Australia’s third Mentoring Task Force treated the soldier before he was evacuated by air to Tarin Kowt.


He died soon after.   

Defence Force Chief General David Hurley has withheld personal details at his family’s request, but says the soldier has previously served in East Timor and had deployed for the first time to Afghanistan in June.

The soldier was a "respected member" of the Townsville-based 2nd Battalion.

"The soldier's colleagues describe him as a man who excelled at any task he was assigned and a soldier who was proud to serve his country," General Hurley said.

Eight Australian soldiers have died this year.   

Defence Minister Stephen Smith says the death is "a terrible blow for an Australian family."

General Hurley reassured the family that they "will not face these difficult days alone."

In an early evening press conference at Defence headquarters, Mr. Smith told reporters "we are on track to achieve our mission in Afghanistan … transition to Afghan led security responsibility by 2014."

Another soldier, from an unnamed Coalition country, was wounded in the blast. 

He is in a serious but stable condition and receiving treatment in Tarin Kowt.

An investigation into the incident is under way.

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/world/aussie-killed-by-ied-in-afghanistan-20110822-1j6i5.html#ixzz1Vko8NwEe

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I agree.

NorthOfNorth wrote on Aug 22^nd, 2011 at 9:08pm:


Well, I never realised the you were somehow privy to my thought processes. So tell me, rude and ignorant one, how do you know what  my reasons for wanting an Australian withdrawal from Afghanistan are?

Fair enough... I don't believe that the war in Afghanistan is winnable given the rules of engagement that constrain our forces, or that the US and Australian governments or anyone else knows what the desired outcome is supposed to be.  At the moment they are more interested in saving face than seriously pursuing a solution, and are spending lives to do so. If the Afghan people want rid Taliban they have had their chance and proved lacking.

I don't think that this mess is worth one Australian life.

Apart from the monetary cost, what does it matter if we keep troops there?

They aren't conscripts and it's highly unlikely that their motivation to be there and fight is driven by any higher ideal like bringing democracy to Afghanistan or protecting Australia.

They are there to do what they signed up to and were trained for.... go to exotic places, get a buzz by being there.... and to fight.

Saying something like the war is pointless or unwinnable is a crap excuse to them.

NorthOfNorth wrote on Aug 22^nd, 2011 at 9:48pm:


I did say "apart from the monetary cost".

NorthOfNorth wrote on Aug 22^nd, 2011 at 9:48pm:



Actually, I suspect that one of the reasons why our forces are in Afghanistan is to provide the younger 'generations' (cohorts) of recruits with live-action frontline experience and training...

Life_goes_on wrote on Aug 22^nd, 2011 at 9:49pm:

They're trained and paid to defend the Commonwealth... That's the point of the armed forces, isn't it?