Trump’s latest ‘foot-in-mouth’ upsets all allies – Aussies included
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The Returned & Services League of Australia categorically rejects the assertion by United States’ President Donald Trump that allied forces “stayed a little back, a little off the front lines” in Afghanistan.
FILE PHOTO: Members of Australia’s Special Operations Task Group (SOTG) prepare to fly into Oruzgan’s Baluchi Valley and Chora regions in support of an MTF1 mission, in 2010. Photo by Lieutenant Aaron Oldaker.
RSL Australia National President Peter Tinley said the President’s claim was factually wrong, historically ignorant, and deeply offensive to the 47 Australian service personnel who made the ultimate sacrifice, the 261 wounded, and the nearly 40,000 Australians who served in our nation’s longest war.
Peter Tinley said the facts spoke for themselves.
“Australian forces were among the first coalition troops into Afghanistan following the September 11 attacks,” he said.
“The SAS was on the ground two weeks after 9/11 with the US Marine brigade of the legendary General James Mattis.
“I know, because I was there, as Deputy Commander of the Special Forces Task Group in those opening months.
“For two decades, Australians operated in Uruzgan Province, one of the most dangerous regions in the country.
“Our troops didn’t “stay a little back” – they conducted offensive counter-insurgency operations, cleared Taliban strongholds, defused roadside bombs, mentored Afghan forces under fire, and fought in sustained close combat.
“Four Australians were awarded the Victoria Cross, our nation’s highest honour for battlefield gallantry, for actions in Afghanistan.”
Peter Tinley said he understood what our veterans were feeling today.
“I feel it too. Many of you deployed multiple times, missed births, funerals, and years of your children’s lives.
“Some of you carry visible and invisible wounds that will never fully heal, and some of you are caring for mates who are struggling or grieving those who didn’t make it home.
“To have that service dismissed so casually is a profound insult.
“Your service mattered.
“Your sacrifice mattered.
“No ill-informed comment can diminish what you did for this nation and our alliance.
“To the families of the fallen, I tell you that we hold your loved ones in sacred trust.
“The 47 names on the Australian War Memorial’s Roll of Honour, from Sergeant Andrew Russell, killed in 2002, to Corporal Cameron Baird in 2013, represent the finest of our nation.
“They were sons, daughters, fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters.
“They gave everything.
“Australia will never forget them, and RSL Australia will never allow their sacrifice to be dishonoured or disrespected.”
Peter Tinley said Australia had stood with the United States in every major conflict since World War One.
“We did not hesitate after September 11.
“When America invoked Article 5 of the NATO Treaty for the only time in history, Australia invoked the ANZUS Treaty in solidarity.
“We were there, as we have always been, because that is what allies do.
“The United Kingdom, Canada, Poland, Denmark, the Netherlands, France, and so many others paid the same price alongside us.
“RSL Australia honours the memory of every allied soldier who fell in Afghanistan.”
Peter Tinley said President Trump’s comments demanded a show of Australian leadership.
“I call on the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition to reaffirm, in the clearest terms, that Australia’s service in Afghanistan was conducted with courage, professionalism, and distinction.
“The Prime Minister should call on President Trump to withdraw his comments and apologise to all those who served in the 20-year war.
“Our veterans deserve nothing less than the unequivocal support of their nation’s leaders and RSL Australia will always stand for the truth of our veterans’ service.”
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For a President who was spoon fed from a child has grown up to think like a child and alway will
He holds his Military General to Ransom, shoots from the mouth before thinking
Talks a load of crap, selfish and prefers to start wars instead of supporting innocent victims from ICE.
Cant clean up his own backyard andprefers to be the PEACE MAKER as opposed to being the CREATOR of WARS
Support Congress to IMPEACH HIM and uses this action to get away from being a involved with Epstiein and crorrectly labeled as Chird Sex PROTECTOR- Majorie Green has more B…s then TRUMP to admit he is GUILTY on being a leader with Epsein. Possibly had him murdered in Jail to cover his tracks
Loves to seek GLORY and FAME and claims he is the best USA President; Well feedback from the idiots who voted him is now speaking their own mind
All the Wars we have been involved with US Troops has either Drawn KOREAN WAR
Viettnam War LOST
Afghanistan LOST –
IRAQ and BOSNIA Withdrawn Troops
Never served in Afghanistan But I served in Viet nam 1967/1968 I have worked with the Yanks And I found they would help us as much as they could they had a different President to the wanker they have now I feel his comments were poor and came from a mouth that just speaks crap how in the hell did he win the race for president .
Did Trump have the Australians and British in mind when he said it? It’s true that ISAF participants had heavy restrictions on where they were to be deployed and how they were deployed. Who was doing the the bulk of the heavy lifting and up front violence? ISAF or US forces? Tinley knows the answer.
The greater context is Trump and Europe in a bit of a stoush. He’s relentlessly trolling them and they keep falling for it.
The comments from Tinley is emotional blackmail behavior utilized in the manner of manipulation over a nothingburger comment from a foreign politician. Tinley has allowed himself to be sucked into a political/ideological drama. But even if Trump had directed his comments towards Australians and Brits, so what? Nothing a foreign politician can say will diminish their bravery, achievements and results, including ISAF members who did their job and in some cases, paid the highest price.
‘oh a lying politician said bad things, how will I sleep tonight. The umbrage!’. It’s the Australian character in me to despise people who use emotional weaponry to manipulate their audience. I find it diseased and utterly distasteful.
Am I missing something, what I saw was Trump specifically referring to NATO forces.
The RSL knows full well or they should, that we are not part of NATO.
The UK jumped in boots and all like the RSL.
The UK was there as UK forces, not under command or Part of NATO forces, even though they are a NATO member.
People get killed even in the rear echelon areas.
Jack