There is no stronger evidence of the need to completely overhaul how Australia goes to war than the tragedy unfolding in Afghanistan.
Yet former prime minister John Howard declares he would do it all again.
At present the power to take us to war lies solely in the hands of the prime minister, with the Parliament having no say whatsoever. But transparency and accountability to Parliament are critical if disasters like the Afghanistan war are not to be repeated.
Legislation is before the Senate to address once and for all this key issue of war powers, but both major parties are refusing to debate the bill. This is the third time since the war began that legislation has been introduced, with attempts in 2003 and 2014. Both times the Coalition and Labor opposed the bill.
Does anyone really believe Australians are served well by leaving the decision for the next war to the prime minister and a few members of his inner cabinet?
We need legislation to ensure that our elected representatives have a vote before any Australian forces are sent overseas again. Both houses of Parliament should debate the legality and purpose of any proposed war.
We also need rules that require parliamentary oversight as any war proceeds.
Australian governments have repeatedly lied to the nation about the progress of the war in Afghanistan. And look at what we have now. A potential bloodbath and a bleak future for the people of Afghanistan, in particular women.
Now we must stand by for the massive refugee flows and huge numbers of internally displaced civilians. Efforts to send assistance will be lucky to reach those who need it.
All of this was predictable. Wars that begin and end with no proper oversight are disastrous. Before the next one, we have lessons to learn.
Dr Alison Broinowski is a former diplomat and the acting president of Australians for War Powers Reform.
It would be a good thing if Australia’s Politicians, particularly our Prime Ministers would take responsibility for the dead and wounded, not to mention civilian casualties, that their sending us of to war, caused.
I have been around since before to second world war got underway. Apart from the Japanese there have been no sovereign states that have attacked our country. That has not stopped prime Ministers sending our forces of to fight against countries that have not attacked us.
i well remember the photo opportunities, by troops going to war, provided for Prime Ministers. I also remember how these photo ops quickly gave way as casualties mounted, and finally ceased long before the war involvement ceased.
Those who don’t regret past failures are not worthy of respect.
Australian have been sent to other countries to kill citizens in their own country. Murder. Regardless of our opinions and differences, defence should be fundamentally of our own land. The Taliban and others were not in Pitt st. Sydney…
But they had to be stopped before they reached Pitt St.
A rerun of the Yellow Peril, flowing south over the world due to gravity.
Even South Sudan before federation.
It was nauseous to see The Rodent come out of his mouse hole and make a comment on Afghanistan.This creature has no shame.
Indeed. What a self-serving little grub. But it’s not just him. His blood-soaked associates, Blair and Dubya, have also crept out from under their rocks bleeting desperately to deflect blame for their crimes onto others.
Should be in jail.
A decision to go to war is the most momentous decision any government can make. It’s scandalous that such a decision is in the hands of a small number of people with no opportunity for wider discussion or debate.
If the power to make war is devolved to parliament there will be debate, and questions, and the very real risk the public won’t buy it. This would infuriate the imperial master. There would be consequences, not the least of which would be a public revelation of the degree to which our sovereignty has been traded away by the very politicians (liberal and labour) we trusted to defend it.
I think Canada? had a broader political consensus and stayed out of it?
No, Canada sent 40,000 troops, though they left in 2014.
Yes, because Canada is a member of NATO and sent troops in obligation to that treaty . However, Canada stayed well clear of the fiasco in Vietnam and in fact harbored many thousands of draft evaders from the United States who refused to go to Vietnam.
One day we might outgrow our juvenile stupor and cease bumboying for overseas interests and controllers.