New Government...

[Chookie84]

Kevin Rudd.

Hello all, just wondering what your thoughts are on the New PM’s idea to pull out of the war in Iraq?
I was discussing this with my DP last night and I think it would be a bad idea to pull out our troops at this time... I have been trying to follow closely to this subject but it seems like Rudd keeps changing his mind, saying he will pull out, then he isn’t and then there’s something about just protecting the borders because of the jihadists...?
My Dp would be very disappointed if he doesn't get the chance to be deployed this year, how do you and your partners/hubbies feel about this?
Chookie.

[Shauna]

:hair: :banghead: :hair: Give you any idea on how we feel about it..lol!!

they wont be pulled out, he cant there will always be some country that needs our help it may not be this year he gets deployed but if he is dedicated and in the right unit he will go somewhere..
My hubby has been going, then not, going, then not, they cant make up there minds, luckily he has been to timor twice so isnt fussed but would love iraq, he also desperately wants afghanistan, so fingers crossed he is on the next rotation..

Not many people have an opinion on this as it can get rather heated... Hope for his sake he gets to go away soon xxx

[Chookie84]

Hehe I understand, I have just got so much to learn and have been wanting to find out other peoples experiences and opinions.
My Dp really wants to go to afghanistan too, isn't too fussed about going to Iraq, which he said that they may be pulled from Iraq and sent to afghanistan instead anyway.

[tootiredtosleep]

My DH is about to retire and at a rank where he isn't needed much overseas. He is happy that he doesn't have to go, but fully supports the troops over there.
He wasn't happy to see Rudd get in, he prefered Howard and his way of doing all things defence..
Who knows what will happen in the future, will all the talks of budget cuts etc.
Training a defence force and then never deploying them seems stupid to me.

[Shauna]

LOL, there is talk of troops being sent in october to iraq but the public thinks they are being pulled out completely in june, it is all over the place very messy if you ask me they should have kept howard, people obviously didnt think of our troops when they voted, defence is being shafted left right and centre..

Afghan should be early next year but it all depends on what unit is being sent...

[gizmoduckus]

Can I ask a question and I am trying not to be rude or anything. Just really curious...

Is the only reason that you do not want the troops to be pulled out is because your DP wants to go over there?
It just seems to be really odd :confused:

[Eloise&Charlie'sMum]

I think when your a defence family and alot of your friends are also defence families our partners often feel like they just want to go over and do the job they have been trained to do and experience what their friends have had to experience and do their part aswell for the country... Pride and sense of acomplishment all play a big part in the mind of a deploying soldiers , they believe holy and sole in the job they choose to do and deployment is a major part of that reguardless what country you get sent to IYKWIM...:)

[gizmoduckus]

Sorry to go on like this but I like hearing other people's opinions on all sorts of stuff and this has really got me intrigued. I have a few questions and I hope someone wouldn't mind answering them for me. Please don't think I am getting on your case.

Do you ever think of the people who live in Iraq and how they feel about having our troops over there?

How would you feel if it was the other way around and we had Iraqi troops here and they were never pulled out?

What do you think of the money spent to have our troops deployed to help out other countries when that money could be put to bettering (I don't know if that's a word) our hospitals here?

[Ashleigh<3]

Australian troops are not harming anyone by any means, they are helping people who can't and will not be helped by anyone else.

I understand pulling combat troops out but I do not want to see the troops come home, especially the ones who are austerely helping people in need.

I wont dwell on the fact that Krudd is in power and the difference between him and Howard's technique, I'm just hoping the decision is attentively formed.

[Chookie84]

gizmoduckus - I am not wanting troops to not be pulled out because my dp wants to go... it doesn't have anything to do with that really.
But as I told him, I will miss him but it's his passion and it makes him happy so I support him.
I mean no one likes it when their husband, partner or boyfriend leaves in any circumstances, but it is their job in any case and they are Australian, we are Australian, I am Australian and I support them all.

I agree that Labour should never have got in, and although I am not a huge Political nut, I do back Liberal. I feel that what allot of people don't understand is that it is not Howard or Rudd that should be the reason for voting, just because you don't like how a person looks etc it is the whole party and what they stand for.
Howard was going to retire anyway whether Labor got in or not.

[RedPanda]

Sorry to go on like this but I like hearing other people's opinions on all sorts of stuff and this has really got me intrigued. I have a few questions and I hope someone wouldn't mind answering them for me. Please don't think I am getting on your case.

Do you ever think of the people who live in Iraq and how they feel about having our troops over there?

How would you feel if it was the other way around and we had Iraqi troops here and they were never pulled out?

What do you think of the money spent to have our troops deployed to help out other countries when that money could be put to bettering (I don't know if that's a word) our hospitals here?

Just curious as to whether you are you a defence spouse? It sounds as though you see Aussie troops as the enemy somewhat, and I have to jump in and correct that. Please make sure you draw a line between political defence decisions and the way you perceive defence personnel. The sad reality of this world is that countries need defence forces. That is just a reality. Sure you can disagree with decisions to go to war (which means your issue should lie with pollies, not defence personnel).

I really don't like hearing people talk about Aussie troops being disruptive in Iraq because our force is one of the best in the world. We have strict rules of engagement, and while there are the occasional problems, I am incredibly proud of our defence force. Families make huge sacrifices when a partner joins the military and it is extremely upsetting when people talk about the Iraq war in terms of the "soldiers" and their influence in Iraq.

Please draw the line between politics and the brave men and women who obey orders for their country regardless of their own personal feelings on them - they are few and far between.

[zera06]

He is pulling the troops out of iraq to move them to afgastaion (sp) as they are needed more there.

its actually a very logic way of thinking to be quite honset.

[zera06]

my hubby leaves for afganstaion (sp) in the next couple of weeks.

[gizmoduckus]

Sorry, I hope I haven't offended anyone. It wasn't my intention. I was just curious about what you all felt about those things, I wasn't looking to change anyone's views on anything.

I happened to vote Liberal at the last election and was very disappointed when they didn't get in so this isn't me getting political. I also do not harbour any ill will towards our defence personnel. I know that they are there to protect and serve our country.

I am not a defence spouse but I have quite a few friends who have partners in the RAAF. They have never said anything about not wanting the troops to be pulled out, so this thread just tweaked my curiousity.

I guess I have a bad habit of being too curious about different peoples views on all sorts of things like religion and so forth. I always like to hear all sides of the story and I never judge anyone on their beliefs.

Again, sorry if I upset anyone. It wasn't my intention. I guess on a forum like this, people get defensive when it comes to something that they believe in because more often than not they get shot down because of it.

[RedPanda]

Sorry Gizmoduckus, I didn't mean to respond so strongly. I guess what I was trying to say is that for many military families, participation in an operation doesn't necessarily mean they agree with a particular political decision regarding that conflict.

You are entitled to your questions, and it's always good to find out more about people's views :D. Sorry if I came across harshly!

[*Cj*]

I think when your a defence family and alot of your friends are also defence families our partners often feel like they just want to go over and do the job they have been trained to do and experience what their friends have had to experience and do their part aswell for the country... Pride and sense of acomplishment all play a big part in the mind of a deploying soldiers , they believe holy and sole in the job they choose to do and deployment is a major part of that reguardless what country you get sent to IYKWIM...:)

:iagree:

[Chookie84]

He is pulling the troops out of iraq to move them to afgastaion (sp) as they are needed more there.

its actually a very logic way of thinking to be quite honset.

:iagree:

I do apologise if this topic has upset anybody, my intention wasn't to start any arguments :no:
But it is nice to read everyone's different opinions and questions.

[Shauna]

I agree with kristi...and chookie84 i told you it gets heated LOL!! Very touchy subject. All in all our men do there job on our shores or someone elses xxx

[Chookie84]

That is so true, thank you Shauna :)

[gizmoduckus]

It must be just me but I didn't think this got too heated. I thought this was just passionate. I only think that things get heated when people start name-calling or trying to delibrately hurt someone with what they write.

I must be insane :D

p.s. I have to say that I am sorry because I now feel like I hijacked your thread.

[Chookie84]

I agree gizmoduckus, I don't feel it got "heated" persay, I enjoy a moral and friendly debate and I am happy everyone was able to express their opinions in a non name-calling manner, I never expected anyone would hehe. But I do understand that we all have strong personal feelings about it, or anything for that matter!

you haven't hijacked the thread at all :)