One more Digger killed in Afghanistan

[Chucaro]

Just wonder how long it is going to take for the dogooders in ACT to call back our arm force from that hell :(
Today, 7/6 The Defence Department has confirmed that another Australian soldier has been killed in an incident in Afghanistan (http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/06/07/3237388.htm'section=justin).

[VladTepes]

RIP Digger.

[p38arover]

Bloody heck!

RIP.

[weeds]

Just wonder how long it is going to take for the dogooders in ACT to call back our arm force from that hell :(
Today, 7/6 The Defence Department has confirmed that another Australian soldier has been killed in an incident in Afghanistan (http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/06/07/3237388.htm'section=justin).

another sad day indeed RIP

i dont think its as simple as just pulling out or even not helping in the first place, we may need a hand on our soil one day and if we dont help others out than there is a good chance they wont help us.......

[Basil135]

RIP son.

Your duty is done.

[BBC]

another Sapper doing his bit, rest in peace mate.

[nonimouse]

Another person to be honoured

We lost our 371st yesterday :(

Lost so far:
USA 1531
UK 371
Canada 154
Spain 92
France 59
Denmark 40
Australia 27
Holland 25
Poland 24
Romania 19
Norway 10
Estonia 8
Georgia 8
Hungary 6
South Korea 2
Turkey 2
New Zealand 2

And the list of seriously injured is horrific; 79 major amputations for UK forces alone. Spain lost 62 men in a plane crash when they were being shipped home...

And for what?

Soldiers know that death is a potential part of the job; but surely if those lives must be spent could it not be for the whim of politicians?

My apologies for posting the above but it is something very close to my heart

[digger]

Tuesday, June 07, 2011 » 08:31pm

Defence chief Angus Houston insists that progress in Afghanistan has never been stronger, despite the death of another Australian soldier.

Sapper Rowan Robinson, 23, was shot and killed on Monday during a raid on an enemy munitions dump, making him the fourth Australian casualty of the past fortnight and the 27th since fighting began a decade ago.

As with the deaths of fellow diggers Andrew Jones, Marcus Case and Brett Wood, it has again prompted a debate about Australia's continued involvement in Afghanistan.

But Air Chief Marshal Houston was quick to douse calls for an immediate withdrawal, arguing that coalition forces had just had their 'most successful winter ever'.

'Why would you pull out when you are making the best progress you've ever made?' he told reporters in Canberra.

'You've got the Taliban completely disrupted and on the back foot.

'We need to stay the course.'

Sapper Robinson, who was on his second deployment to Afghanistan, died after being caught in an 80-minute firefight with a 'sizeable' insurgent force.

He was part of a special forces team that discovered a big munitions cache in the northern Helmand province containing 70 anti-personnel mines, rifles and bomb-making equipment.

But the soldiers were immediately fired at from two locations and Sapper Robinson was hit.

He was given immediate first aid at the scene and evacuated to Tarin Kot in less than an hour, but died from his wounds.

Fellow soldiers described the highly decorated combat engineer as a 'superb young man who was fit, happy-go-lucky and a great team member'.

'Those who had the pleasure of meeting him instantly warmed to him, and his easy-going nature made him popular with his peers and chain of command alike,' a defence statement read.

The Sydney-based soldier will be repatriated home to his family - his parents, sister and two brothers - shortly.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard said Sapper Robinson's death would no doubt test Australia's resolve to remain in Afghanistan but the government would not waiver.

'I can promise you this - Afghanistan is not an endless war and it is not a war without a purpose,' she said.

'The soldiers on the ground believe we are winning - they can point to progress.'

Australia Defence Association boss Neil James said it was wrong to call for a withdrawal every time a soldier died.

It was a sentiment backed by Opposition Leader Tony Abbott, who said that no war was casualty-free.

Sapper Robinson's death comes as the annual summer fighting season, which last June saw Australia lose a comparable five soldiers in a fortnight, gets under way.

'People shouldn't react to casualties as a sign of failure,' Mr James told Sky News.

'In this case, they should look at them as a sign of progress. Look at the comparative casualty rates.'

He accused Australians of being disengaged with the war in Afghanistan and only focusing on the mounting casualty rate.










We walked among the crosses
Representing 27 fallen Aussie soldiers to today.
And listened to the bugle
As the Last Post began to play.

The Chaplin led a prayer
and We stood with heads bowed low.
And I thought of fallen comrades
I had known -now it seems so long ago.

They came from every city
Across this fertile land.
That we might live in freedom.
They died here 'neath the blowing sand.

I felt a little guilty
My sacrifice was small.
I only lost a little time
But these men lost their all.

Now the March and service are over
For this years ANZAC Day.
But to the names upon these crosses
I just want to say,

Thanks for what you've given
No one could ask for more.
May you rest with God in heaven
Gods troops from now through evermore.

We carry in our hearts the pride, the loss, the pain
But given even half a chance we'd serve with you again.
Rest easy boys - you can sleep now without your gun
Relax Sapper- At ease, take a break - your work was well done!

R.I.P.



(poem adapted from one by an unknown author)

[Ralph1Malph]

He has given his all for his country.
We can ask no more of this soldier except to enjoy the afterlife in the company of the immortal ANZACS.
He is now part of the legend.

RIP

Ralph

[460cixy]

i dare say i am going to go down in flames here but at the end of the day its a war blokes die in wars its a fact of life. i am not saying i agree with whats going down not at all. but ****ing off before the job is done is also not the answer but to be honest i am getting a little sick and tired of hearing how we should be pulling out its not that easy when all is said and done i have 2 mates over there now one on his second tour there feelings are much the same as mine

[digger]

i dare say i am going to go down in flames here but at the end of the day its a war blokes die in wars its a fact of life. i am not saying i agree with whats going down not at all. but ****ing off before the job is done is also not the answer but to be honest i am getting a little sick and tired of hearing how we should be pulling out its not that easy when all is said and done i have 2 mates over there now one on his second tour there feelings are much the same as mine

Mate, I lament his, and the other soldiers loss BUT I also believe the job needs to be done... or we or someone else will need to start it all over again.

I do however (as I'm sure we all do) pray for no more losses and a quick end to this 'theatre of war". I don't know many who want the withdrawal immediately.

[460cixy]

if i was not knocked back twice from adf i am sure i would be there now sadly it was not to be. theres not a day goes by i dont think of my mates over there and those that are serving here in australia in support of whats going on in the stan or even closer to home in east timor somthing we dont hear alot of now days. They shall grow not old as we that are left grow old Age shall not weary them nor the years contemn At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them

[juanpedro]

I feel that the death of Australian soldier, I'm a soldier, and I have many colleagues there for two months and knows first-hand as the risk of being in these missions, only my sympathy and support to colleagues, family and friends so sad now.