Digger lost
AUSTRALIANS would continue to support troops in Afghanistan despite the death of a soldier and serious wounding of another in an attack, says the chief of the Australian Defence Force.
What led ADF chief Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston to make that statement. Had someone suggested that Australian’s wouldn’t support the troops?
Short answer – yes, At a media conference at 6:00 am today the question of Australians support for the war was raised by a journalist and the ADF Chief’s answer became the byline.
So the journalsts spin on the death of an Australian soldier has been all about politics – thanks bastard!
After having made his political point that he/she believes the war in Afghanistan to be unpopular and intimating the death is pointless we are finally given some detail.
He (The ADF Cheif) said the pair were part of a team protecting engineers undertaking reconstruction work in the province and the wounded soldier’s injuries were not life-threatening. “He is likely to make a full recovery and return to work in the near future,” he said. An improvised explosive device (IED) detonated next to the soldiers’ military vehicle in Afghanistan’s Oruzgan province yesterday, six kilometres from their base at Tarin Kowt. The deceased soldier had been driving the vehicle.I phoned Defence Media Liason to see if they knew the soldiers unit as 7RAR has some troops in the theatre but that fact hadn’t been announced yet.
With inbuilt wireless I had the tablet on the web in minutes on my home network. This will allow me to post with regularity when I’m on the road. Being a computer and not just a specific-to-purpose navigation toy I have a full range of options. Email, music, pics and movies. The touch screen eliminates having to carry a mouse and the tablet comes with a wireless keyboard.
All I need now is a good city navigation software package…..any tips?
Otherwise, I’m on a roll and ready for my next trip bush 
Two men armed with a Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) launcher and machine-gun have fired on members of the Overwatch Battle Group – West (OBG(W)) during a patrol in Dhi Qar Province.
No Australian soldiers were wounded in the weekend attack.
Anti-Iraqi Forces gunmen fired an RPG round which hit the bar-armour of an Australian Light Armoured Vehicle (ASLAV). The grenade did not detonate and rounds from the machine gun failed to damage the Australian vehicles.
Australian soldiers returned fire with their rifles and the ASLAV responded with its 25mm main armament. The attackers fled the scene.
OBG(W) Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Jake Elwood said his soldiers reacted well during the brief engagement.
During a patrol in southern Afghanistan last week, an SOTG vehicle was hit by an IED, wounding two soldiers. The wounds were assessed as slight.
A spokesman for Defence, Brigadier Andrew Nikolic said the wounded soldiers were provided with first-aid by their fellow soldiers and evacuated to a nearby ISAF hospital for further treatment.
“One of the two soldiers received specialist medical care but due to nature of his injuries is to return to Australia for further treatment,” Brigadier Nikolic said.
The remaining soldier is expected to make a complete recovery and will remain on duty in Afghanistan.
During a later route clearance task an EDD and his handler encountered a second IED.
The bomb detonated on discovery, resulting in the slight wounding of the handler and the death of the dog, who was named Razz. The handler continued with his duties.
Defence Spokesperson Brigadier Andrew Nikolic said Razz was a veteran of the 2002 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting and the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games. He joined Defence after beginning his career with Customs.
Brigadier Nikolic said the actions of Razz and his fellow EDDs had saved lives.
The pic is of Razz during training in Australia
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