What on earth are the Australian public thinking?

[reprise]

Did anyone else catch the results of a poll on whether or not Australia should send peace-keepers to the Solomon Islands? 62% of respondents were against us doing so.

I'm stunned. We have a heck of a lot more business maintaining order in our own region than we do sending troops off to the Middle East.

[subgenius]

Certainly can't comment on your question, but a little search on the strife there was informative.
What's your take on answering your own question?

[reprise]

Originally posted by subgenius
Certainly can't comment on your question, but a little search on the strife there was informative.
What's your take on answering your own question?

I suspect that people are seeing the issue as one of "sending our troops to sort out someone else's problem - AGAIN", following our involvement in both Afghanistan and Iraq. Given the instability in our region at the moment, though, I'm disappointed that more people aren't realising that we have a vested interest in ensuring that our neighbouring nations are able to maintain stable government.

[Mr Manifesto]

Considering the Solomons, IIRC, asked us to help them, I don't think it would hurt to send troops over.

The Australian army isn't in the habit of killing several thousand civilians every time they get into a conflict, either. Unlike some armies I could name, they actually look at their target first before firing.

[LTC8K6]

The Australian military is no more or less likely to kill civilians during a war than any other military.

BTW, this sort of thread redirecting/hijacking/crapping post is one of the main problems here.

[HarryKeogh]

Originally posted by Mr Manifesto
Unlike some armies I could name, they actually look at their target first before firing.

yes, i still can't forgive germany.

[Mr Manifesto]

Originally posted by LTC8K6
BTW, this sort of thread redirecting/hijacking/crapping post is one of the main problems here.

Cry me a river.

[reprise]

Backstory (http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/06/27/1056683906987.html) for those not familiar with what's currently happening in the South Pacific region.

[LTC8K6]

Manifesto's non-response noted.

[reprise]

Originally posted by Mr Manifesto
Considering the Solomons, IIRC, asked us to help them, I don't think it would hurt to send troops over.

The Australian army isn't in the habit of killing several thousand civilians every time they get into a conflict, either. Unlike some armies I could name, they actually look at their target first before firing.

Part of restoring the Rule of Law in the Solomon Islands will involve disarming the civilian population - let's not kid ourselves that our military personnel and our police are going to achieve this without bloodshed on both sides.

[kittynh]

/from what I've read things are a mess there.

I'm sorry to say a lot of information about conflicts in that area comes from kids watching the "crocodile Hunter" rescue stranded crocs at the request of the Australian army.