The men and women of the ADF are in harms way not through their own volition but through the orders of their government. They are doing their job, but they are not in any way defending their country. They and their families know that.
What about the men and women of the Iraqi army who really are defending their country, facing horrendous military destructive power never seen on earth before. How would you like to be a conscript soldier in the Iraqi army? How would you like to be a family living near a strategic target?
Then there's Howard still claiming that our forces are combatting international terrorism - that is simply not true. They are invading another country singled out by the US and accused of fostering terrorism but much of the "evidence" presented is proven to be false.
The true enemy is growing strong on the hatred bred of our aggression. Bin Laden must be laughing.
I am watching Howard justifying his actions with the most appalling exaggerations and heresay about rape, torture, "human shredding machines" etc used by Saddam. Children having their eyes poked out to make their parents talk. There may be an element of truth but it's hard to discriminate - too many vested interests and frankly we are being had. I don't buy it.
So don't come this trivial dribble about supporting our troops. Nobody is against them but this is not a football match where supporters get behind their players. That's a sick and superficial stance to take.
Nationalism, like religion, simply drives us into gang mentality. Scoundrels seek to manipulate that gang mentality to mobilise public opinion.
