I don't know how you guys can be so two-faced with this. What the Pakistan Taliban do to Pakis is the same way the Afghan Taliban treat Afghans, yet none of you, even though you have experienced first hand what this is like turn a blind eye to your own neighbours. Selfish and sad.
I am beggining to believe the loss of my countrymen over there has been in vain. These people won't help themselves. How are we expected to help them? Pull our troops out as they so wish, now! At the drop of a hat and see where Afghan ends up!
EDIT: I dont want to hear how this doesn't relate to Pakistan either because if you can't see how a stable and safe Afghanistan relates to Pakistan (and international) safety/security (essentially what this operation is aiming to achieve, Pakistan Security and civilian safety) then your reply is not required - because your delusional.
I'm sorry, sir. Are you an expert on the history of the Taliban? You speak like one, so you must be well aware of the fact that this Taliban, the one found on either side of the Afghan-Pak border today, is
your creation, not ours (yours as in the ISAF). The world could work with the old Taliban, they did for years despite their twisted behaviour, but this Taliban is not that Taliban. The Taliban used to be a stray dog, you infested it with disease and made it blood thirsty. Now, you smoothly put the blame on us for wanting things the way they used to be. Unfortunately, many of my countrymen don't realize, that is no longer a possibility, because like you said, we can't wish for the Afghans what we won't wish for ourselves.
Now to come to your other point. If the "poms" in your military (I hope I got the slur right) do not want to be there, then you must ask yourself, why are you there? Is it because you are a peace loving nation that couldn't stand terrorist strongholds 4000KM away from your borders, or is it because you would rather not miss an opportunity to become part of the "global alliance" of bullies. If you have a problem with your soldiers being there, then you must blame your own leadership. You were never here to help any Afghans, you were here to help yourself, many Canadians have realized that, I am surprised to see the Australians haven't. Your statement "how can we help them if they won't help themselves" will float amongst the ill-informed people of the allied countries, certain parts of Canada included, but not in Afghanistan or Pakistan. People there know too much about you to believe your words.
Both Australia and Pakistan view the Taliban and Al Qaeda as threats to their way of life. The difference is, your threat perception is fabricated, based on hysteria, economic potential (did you know 70% of foreign aid to Afghanistan leaves the country?) and political gains for the right-wingers, our threat perception is based on hard evidence, on the spilt blood of our citizenry. Do not try to tell us how to go about fighting this threat, just be happy that we are, and do the least you can, support our efforts. I am sick of being dictated how to fight our fight, when it should never have been our fight to begin with. Your soldiers serve 4 months in Afghanistan, most of them spent in secure bases like Kandahar Air Base, drinking coffee and building "bridges" with soldiers of similar nations with similarly pathetic aspirations, and spend the rest of the year complaining about how difficult it is there. Our soldiers are on the front lines, even when they are not on the front lines, all year round. Our citizens are victims, once again, all year round.
But of course, we shall "do more" to please you nonetheless. Anything to make you think we are not "two faced".
