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  • 2 Australians die in Afghanistan

    I wonder what impact this will have on support for the continued deployment of Australian troops.

    Two Brisbane soldiers killed in Afghanistan

    MARISSA CALLIGEROS

    June 8, 2010 - 6:09PM


    Two soldiers from the Brisbane based combat engineering unit have been killed in action by an improvised explosive device.

    Young father Darren Smith, 25, and his 21-year-old colleague Jacob Moerland were the two Brisbane-based soldiers on their first tour of Afghanistan killed in a roadside bomb blast.

    The combat engineers were among 10 NATO soldiers killed in what has been described as the deadliest day for coalition forces this year.

    Sapper Smith spoke only last month of the ''great feeling to be working for your country''.

    Cairns-born Sapper Moerland leaves behind his fiancé, Kezia Muccahy, who lives in Brisbane.

    The pair were from the 2nd Combat Engineer Regiment based at the Gallipoli Barracks at Enoggera.

    Sapper Smith was an explosives detection dog handler, who worked with Herbie, a collie cross, to find hidden improvised explosive devices.

    The dog was also killed in the blast.

    Sapper Smith was originally from Adelaide, but his widow and young son now live in Brisbane.

    He told The Adelaide Advertiser last month Herbie was his ''best mate'' and ''part of the team''.

    ''The teams are highly trained and doing a great job. It's a great feeling to be working for your country," Sapper Smith said.

    It is believed the soldier was celebrating with his comrades only last week at his first successful detection and disarmament of a roadside bomb.

    The diggers were on foot patrol with the 1st Mentoring Task Force when an improvised explosive device detonated yesterday morning.

    ''They were part of an Australian dismounted patrol conducting operations in the Mirabad Valley region in the Eastern Province,’’ Acting Defence Force chief David Hurley said.

    One of the soldiers was killed instantly.

    ''The other soldier received emergency first aid from his patrol mates and was subsequently aeromedically evacuated to a nearby ... hospital,'' General Hurley said.

    ''Sadly the soldier died from his wounds.''

    General Hurley said both soldiers were flown to the Tarin Kowt base by helicopter following the explosion.

    ''It was about 10 minutes out to the site and back,'' he said.

    ''It was 38 minutes from wheels off, from the incident being announced, to the two soldiers returning to the base.''

    General Hurley paid tribute to the two men he described as ''brave Australian soldiers''.

    ''Their role is a dangerous one seeking out explosive devices and other threats to keep their colleagues safe,'' he said.

    ''They are fighting a determined enemy in the Taliban, whose aim is to kill and maim coalition soldiers and Afghan security personnel.''

    He could not comment on the cause or nature of the blast.

    In a statement read by General Hurley, Defence Force Chief Angus Houston offered his condolences to the soldiers' families.

    ''I want them to know that these two fine soldiers were outstanding Australians, quietly serving our nation, demonstrating every day the very best of what Aussies pride themselves on displaying to the world - courage, determination, mateship and selfless service,'' Air Force Marshal Houston wrote.

    Acting Defence Minister Greg Combet also expressed his condolences.

    ''Their loss is a tragedy for their families, for the ADF and for the whole of the Australian community,'' Mr Combet said.

    The two soldiers killed were travelling with other Australian soldiers although no others were injured in the blast.

    The ADF has deployed a weapons intelligence team to undertake an investigation of the fatal incident.

    Queensland Premier Anna Bligh has spoken of the tragic loss in State Parliament

    ''These two Australians have made the ultimate sacrifice and it’s a very sad say for their families,'' Ms Bligh said.

    Thirteen Australian soldiers have now been killed in Afghanistan since 2002.

    The incident was the first multiple fatality of Australian personnel on operational theatre overseas since the Vietnam war.

    Prime Minister Kevin Rudd had a message to Australian troops still serving in Afghanistan.

    ''I asked ... our leaders in the field to convey to all the troops in Afghanistan the support and the solidarity of all Australians at a time when they have lost one of their comrades in arms,'' Mr Rudd said in Sydney.

    ''Our mission is important to ensure that Afghanistan does not return to become an operating base for terrorists around the world.

    ''Terrorists, who in the last decade, have killed more than 100 Australians.''

    The bodies of the two soldiers are expected to be returned to Australian at the weekend.

    In total 10 NATO soldiers were killed on Monday.

    In the worst single incident, five American service members were killed in a roadside bomb blast in eastern Afghanistan, the US command said.

    However, General Hurley said this morning coalition forces were making gains in Afghanistan, despite the casualties.

    ''Right from the start we've been saying that bodies aren't going to tell whether you win or lose this war,'' he said.

    ''There’s a positive trend ... some good things are happening. We’re heading in the right direction.''
    Two Brisbane soldiers killed in Afghanistan
    sigpic

    Win nervously lose tragically - Reds C C

  • #2
    Probably not a lot. As tragic as the deaths of these two soldiers is for their families and comrades the perception here in Australia is that our soldiers are largely engaged in "peace keeping duties (training, capacity building etc) and not "combat operations" (as the public at large perceives combat). Our Special Forces and commandoes are very active of course but many of their missions are covert. As long as the provinces we are stationed in remain relatively quiet and casualties stay "low" there should be no change in public opinion.

    Of course that can change in a heartbeat especially if the nation building activities the West are engaged in are perceived to be failing and casualties keep mounting.
    If you are emotionally invested in 'believing' something is true you have lost the ability to tell if it is true.

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    • #3
      RIP boys

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      • #4
        My sympathies to my brothers across the ditch.
        In the realm of spirit, seek clarity; in the material world, seek utility.

        Leibniz

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        • #5
          RIP. Queensland boys are always great people, and Brissie boys show why they are the capital.
          Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup.

          Abusing Yellow is meant to be a labor of love, not something you sell to the highest bidder.

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          • #6
            Present Arms!

            My condolences to the families and friends of these fine men. Hard news.

            A story about a U.S. platoon in the Arghandab valley that narrowly avoided a similar tragedy. IED was buried in manure to mask the smell from an explosives-sniffing dog leading the team-

            In Afghanistan U.S. Platoon's Traquil Morning Shattered By Blast

            These combat engineers have maybe the hardest and most dangerous jobs in Afghanistan. IEDs remain, by far, the greatest threat...:(
            "This aggression will not stand, man!" Jeff Lebowski
            "The only true currency in this bankrupt world is what you share with someone else when you're uncool." Lester Bangs

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            • #7
              Rest in Peace.
              God be with their family and friends.
              sigpicAnd on the sixth day, God created the Field Artillery...

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              • #8
                Some will probably see it as a reason to cut and run but I would suggest that the soldiers, both of whom are too young to have joined up prior to the start of the war and therefore most likely volenteered for this job because they wanted to be deployed, would be mortified if their sacrifice was to be in vain.

                RIP boy's and thank you for sacrificing your lives so that we can remain safe and free.
                "There is no such thing as society" - Margaret Thatcher

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                • #9
                  Condolences to Family and Friends of the brave who have fallen...RIP

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