Defence
Doctor seeks survey of Afghan attitude to Aussie soldiers
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03.11.2011 08:52:43 - Australian soldiers fighting in Afghanistan are resented and hated by many Afghan soldiers and civilians and Australians need to appreciate the extent of such hostility towards their countrymen to avoid further bloodshed, says medical specialist and author Dr David Corbett.
Dr Corbet says he shares the grave concern of doctors in Afghanistan who are appalled by the extent of death and injuries among soldiers and civilians.
(live-PR.com) - Australian soldiers fighting in Afghanistan are resented and hated by many Afghan soldiers and civilians and Australians need to appreciate the extent of such hostility towards their countrymen to avoid further bloodshed, says medical specialist and author Dr David Corbett.
Dr Corbet says he shares the grave concern of doctors in Afghanistan who are appalled by the extent of death and
injuries among soldiers and civilians.
"Perhaps we could learn more by interviewing doctors, red-cross members and aid workers and surveying many civilians across Afghanistan."
Dr Corbett is calling for an urgent, independent and objective public inquiry into the extent of hostility expressed by Afghans towards Australians. He says the inquiry could be conducted by Amnesty International or a similar organisation.
"All Australians need to learn the extent of this hostility to help minimise or eliminate further deaths and injuries to soldiers and citizens.
"We Australians should recognise the extent of propaganda and not believe everything we are told about the need for a war in Afghanistan," he says.
"Many people such as army generals, politicians, weapon makers and reconstruction contractors have vested interest in the war. The billions of dollars that this war costs each year are not simply evaporating into thin air.
"What they tell us may well be in their interests but not in the best interests of Australia or most Australians," he says.
"That is why I am calling for an independent inquiry based on an objective survey of the attitudes of soldiers and civilians in Afghanistan."
Dr Corbett says he wants to hear from any independent organisation willing and able to survey Afghans about their attitudes towards Australians.
"Some evidence in news and documentary publications and broadcasts suggests that many Afghans resent Australians fighting in their country," he says.
Afghan civilians have voiced outrage over many incidents in which Australian and other foreign soldiers have accidentally killed and injured their fellow citizens.
"Evidence suggests that this resentment is turning civilians into freedom fighters or terrorists, fighting against Australians and other western participants in the war," he says.
Afghan soldiers in the province of Kandahar were temporarily disarmed by their superiors in October for fear that they might shoot more of their allied Australian soldiers. One Afghan soldier had shot dead three Australian soldiers and wounded seven others before he was shot dead by Australian soldiers. Another Afghan soldier shot dead an Australian soldier in the province of Oruzgan five months earlier.
Dr Corbett says, "We were told originally that the purpose of the invasion of Afghanistan was to capture terrorist Osama Bin Laden. Then we were told that we had to defeat the Taliban there. The Taliban will still be in Afghanistan no matter how long we stay there.
"If the military objective was to make Afghanistan a safer place and reduce the threat of international terrorism, this objective has not been achieved," he says. "After a decade, we are still at war and Australians are at a higher risk of terrorism than ever because of participating in that war.
"As a result of our entry into the war in Afghanistan, 88 Australian tourists were killed when terrorists bombed a restaurant in Bali in 2002."
He says, "Even a retired general, Major General Stretton, condemns the continuing sacrifice of our young Australian soldiers caused by this futile war."
Dr David A Corbett is a medical specialist and author. He is an anaesthetist who also has qualifications in electronic engineering, accountancy and investment. He is the author of the non-fiction book titled The Lies of the Land: a Guide to Our Corrupt Society. This paperback book includes a chapter about wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and several more chapters about other wars and about propaganda relating to wars.
The Lies of the Land: a Guide to Our Corrupt Society, ISBN: 978-1-921681-69-1, is published by Book Pal, www.bookpal.com.au , where it can be bought online.
More information can be found at www.dcorbett.com.au .
#end
Journalists please phone Dr David Corbett on 0418 698 782 or (02) 6021 6661 or email him at dcorbett@westnet.com.au .
A high-resolution photograph of Dr David Corbett, which is suitable for print publication, is at www.wbpublicity.com.au/dc/photodc.htm .
Dr David Corbett
3 Grandview Terrace, Albury, NSW, 2640.
Phone: 0418 698 782 or (02) 6021 6661
Email: dcorbett@westnet.com.au
Dr Corbet says he shares the grave concern of doctors in Afghanistan who are appalled by the extent of death and
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"Perhaps we could learn more by interviewing doctors, red-cross members and aid workers and surveying many civilians across Afghanistan."
Dr Corbett is calling for an urgent, independent and objective public inquiry into the extent of hostility expressed by Afghans towards Australians. He says the inquiry could be conducted by Amnesty International or a similar organisation.
"All Australians need to learn the extent of this hostility to help minimise or eliminate further deaths and injuries to soldiers and citizens.
"We Australians should recognise the extent of propaganda and not believe everything we are told about the need for a war in Afghanistan," he says.
"Many people such as army generals, politicians, weapon makers and reconstruction contractors have vested interest in the war. The billions of dollars that this war costs each year are not simply evaporating into thin air.
"What they tell us may well be in their interests but not in the best interests of Australia or most Australians," he says.
"That is why I am calling for an independent inquiry based on an objective survey of the attitudes of soldiers and civilians in Afghanistan."
Dr Corbett says he wants to hear from any independent organisation willing and able to survey Afghans about their attitudes towards Australians.
"Some evidence in news and documentary publications and broadcasts suggests that many Afghans resent Australians fighting in their country," he says.
Afghan civilians have voiced outrage over many incidents in which Australian and other foreign soldiers have accidentally killed and injured their fellow citizens.
"Evidence suggests that this resentment is turning civilians into freedom fighters or terrorists, fighting against Australians and other western participants in the war," he says.
Afghan soldiers in the province of Kandahar were temporarily disarmed by their superiors in October for fear that they might shoot more of their allied Australian soldiers. One Afghan soldier had shot dead three Australian soldiers and wounded seven others before he was shot dead by Australian soldiers. Another Afghan soldier shot dead an Australian soldier in the province of Oruzgan five months earlier.
Dr Corbett says, "We were told originally that the purpose of the invasion of Afghanistan was to capture terrorist Osama Bin Laden. Then we were told that we had to defeat the Taliban there. The Taliban will still be in Afghanistan no matter how long we stay there.
"If the military objective was to make Afghanistan a safer place and reduce the threat of international terrorism, this objective has not been achieved," he says. "After a decade, we are still at war and Australians are at a higher risk of terrorism than ever because of participating in that war.
"As a result of our entry into the war in Afghanistan, 88 Australian tourists were killed when terrorists bombed a restaurant in Bali in 2002."
He says, "Even a retired general, Major General Stretton, condemns the continuing sacrifice of our young Australian soldiers caused by this futile war."
Dr David A Corbett is a medical specialist and author. He is an anaesthetist who also has qualifications in electronic engineering, accountancy and investment. He is the author of the non-fiction book titled The Lies of the Land: a Guide to Our Corrupt Society. This paperback book includes a chapter about wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and several more chapters about other wars and about propaganda relating to wars.
The Lies of the Land: a Guide to Our Corrupt Society, ISBN: 978-1-921681-69-1, is published by Book Pal, www.bookpal.com.au , where it can be bought online.
More information can be found at www.dcorbett.com.au .
#end
Journalists please phone Dr David Corbett on 0418 698 782 or (02) 6021 6661 or email him at dcorbett@westnet.com.au .
A high-resolution photograph of Dr David Corbett, which is suitable for print publication, is at www.wbpublicity.com.au/dc/photodc.htm .
Dr David Corbett
3 Grandview Terrace, Albury, NSW, 2640.
Phone: 0418 698 782 or (02) 6021 6661
Email: dcorbett@westnet.com.au
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