Australia pulls out of Afghanistan

[Humodour]

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/national/the-terrible-cost-of-our-longest-conflict-20120417-1x5y8.html

 

A thoroughly ambiguous war. The Taliban are evil. But we shouldn't even be there. Or should we? And that cost is $1 billion extra per year we could be using to balance the budget or build new infrastructure.

Edited April 17, 2012 by Krezack

[Monte Carlo]

Ah, something we probably agree on. Yes, you're better off out.

 

I doubt we'd agree on what next, though, because my solution involves Predator drones 24/7.

[HoonDing]

Is that a Blackwater avatar, MC?

[Monte Carlo]

No. I am not particularly impressed with Blackwater, although I am cautiously favourable to PSCs who sign up to and abide by the Montreaux principles.

[Walsingham]

I'll take a good merc company over any arms-length-and-nose-held UN 'mission' any day.

 

I don't see this story as a big deal, in the context of all the other pullouts. One could hardly expect the Aussies to go it alone. Besides which they really need to prrioirtise tehir spending on meeting the expanding threat from China. A task which strategic allies will thank them for just as much as being in Afghan.

[Gorgon]

The prospect of going to war over fishing grounds and tiny islands just seems so ridiculous. Taiwan seems to have charmed their way out of immediate danger.

[Walsingham]

Really, so you'd discount the recent standoof between a Philippine warship and Chinese vessels?

 

Smiling and nodding only goes so far. Pretty soon folks are going to get hungry. At that point, who do you think the salons in Beijing would rather fire on? Their own people, or some badly armed foreigners?

[Gorth]

I suspect they would gleefully fire at both if it served their own purpose.

 

It can be dangerous to assume these guys follows normal "logic"