Posted on 12/22/2004 2:32:45 PM PST by naturalman1975
ALL of us feel it like a death in the family when a brave young Australian is killed in the service of our country. And the cause that took Adam Dunning to the Solomons, and cost him his life there, is especially noble.
The young policeman, who had already served with the Australian Defence Force in East Timor, was part of the peacekeeping mission that has rescued the Solomons from rule by violence and intimidation. The success of the 18-month mission, which has near universal support among the local people, was symbolised by the arrest of warlord Harold Keke, who faces trial next month. Indeed, an Australian-led peacekeeping force that was 2000-strong at its peak already has been wound back to just 100 troops and 300 police as order has been restored.
But there are still renegade elements in the Solomons, some of them cowardly enough to shoot a young policeman in the back. The murder of Mr Dunning must not deter us from finishing the job in the Solomons, nor from our new commitment to take a more active role in the Pacific. It sends exactly the right message that, in response to this outrage, we are deploying a further 100 troops to the Solomons immediately. Neither basic humanity nor the national interest can allow us to stand by while the small nations of our region fall into anarchy and become vulnerable to international criminals, money and passport launderers, or even terrorists. We are also in the process of deploying 210 Australian police and more than 60 public servants in Papua New Guinea, a nation of 5 million people with ingrained problems of law and governance that, if allowed to worsen, will make rescuing the Solomons look easy.
Mr Dunning's murder is a reminder of the terrible dangers faced by our soldiers and police involved in peacekeeping operations around the world, and by the ancillary personnel who support them. It is a reminder too of the dangers faced by the hundreds of Australian personnel still serving in Iraq this Christmas as the country prepares for its election. As the rest of us sit down this weekend to bask in the security and warmth of our families, let's remember those who, like Adam Dunning, make it all possible by voluntarily placing themselves between us and danger.
Condolences on the loss of one of Australia's finest.
Condolences, and thanks to our brothers from down under.
Oh, and Merry Christmas, y'all. Or is that mate?
I haven't heard any comment from Latham yet (I could have missed something, but given the time of year, he may not have commented yet as well), but as Piefloater says, on this issue, the Labor party has been supportive of operations in the Solomon's. I doubt he's going to try and make political capital out of this. I expect any statement he makes will be dignified and supportive. Of course, with Latham, you can never be entirely sure.
I don't like the Labor party, and I don't much like Mark Latham - but it is important to acknowledge that sometimes they do get things right and sometimes they are on the side of the angels. Sometimes.
Condolences to Down Under, and may the Good Lord keep him.
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