I am another Australian Defence Force officer. I joined the ADF because I believed in missions which Australia was leading to places like Cambodia where we were doign the work of the UN and doing it well. I have served under great COs, Maj Gen John Sanderson and Peter Cosgrove.
I have felt like my countries politicians have had no balls in this latest mission in Timor-Leste. I feel that in comparison to 1999 we have lost alot of credibility amongst the Timorese. I speak tetun and can get that from discussions with them. People ask me why we are protecting a man who shot a Falintil Veteran in cold blood.
I say, I dont know. I am just following orders.
.
terça-feira, junho 13, 2006
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Someone should ask you why the Falintil-FDTL vetereans shot civilians dead and are still getting paid their monthly salaries.
Life is a bitch!
Ammendment:
Someone should ask why the F-FDTL veterans shot civilians in cold blood in -Taci-tolu?
They will certainly answwer:
We don't know! We were just following orders!
"Someone should ask why the F-FDTL veterans shot civilians in cold blood in -Taci-tolu?"
Excuse-me, Mr/Mrs/Ms Anonymous Junho 13, 2006 10:41:40 AM! I think I should correct your word, alias, your sentence: "Someone should ask why F-FDTL itself (not F-FDTL veterans) shot civilians in cold blood in "Taci-tolu" or "Raikotu"?
They will certainly answer: "We don't know! We were just following orders!"
Seeing and analysing this answer, one might say: "Oooooh! I see! They had done that because of their moral-councience misfunctioned..."
correction accepted;
For some reason I feel that whoever gave the "order" for "their moral conscience to misfunction" is in a lot of trouble!
Lets wait and see if there is any morality left on their part to own up to their responsabilities whomever they may be.
Someone should ask you why the Falintil-FDTL vetereans shot civilians dead and are still getting paid their monthly salaries.
Life is a bitch!
Terça-feira, Junho 13, 2006 10:38:34 AM
Anonymous said...
Ammendment:
Someone should ask why the F-FDTL veterans shot civilians in cold blood in -Taci-tolu?
They will certainly answer:
We don't know! We were just following orders!
Terça-feira, Junho 13, 2006 10:41:40 AM
Anonymous said...
"Someone should ask why the F-FDTL veterans shot civilians in cold blood in -Taci-tolu?"
Excuse-me, Mr/Mrs/Ms Anonymous Junho 13, 2006 10:41:40 AM! I think I should correct your word, alias, your sentence: "Someone should ask why F-FDTL itself (not F-FDTL veterans) shot civilians in cold blood in "Taci-tolu" or "Raikotu"?
They will certainly answer: "We don't know! We were just following orders!"
Seeing and analysing this answer, one might say: "Oooooh! I see! They had done that because of their moral-councience misfunctioned..."
Terça-feira, Junho 13, 2006 1:30:56 PM
Anonymous said...
correction accepted;
For some reason I feel that whoever gave the "order" for "their moral conscience to misfunction" is in a lot of trouble!
"just following orders", ok.
You know, mate, that was the same excuse used by the WW2 german soldiers "managing" the concentration camps?
We understand you have to follow orders, afterall that is the true nature of your job. However, when the mandate of your intervention in East Timor is clear and public, how do you expect us to understand your pasivity? - soldier or officer, you have arguments to question your superior's orders.
Did you enlist to be the tool of politicians? You have codes, you have pride, you have conscience, that´s why you are soldiers. Otherwise, go back to fucking civilian life.
I am sure I don´t have to remind you about the contribution of the Timor-Leste's people in regards to the australian troops in the 2nd world war (similar to Papuan's angels, if you didn´t know).
ANZAC pride, NOW.
Diary of a (typical) Australian soldier,
Today, I woke up in this stinking sticky hole once again.
I have no idea what I am doing here, but they are paying my salary from which I take half to Sheila and the kids – the other half I keep for my expenses and for a rainy day, you never know what my mates are doing back home (to my wife, the bastards, I’ll get you back).
Breakfast out of the way, the working day starts. We patrol some shithole named Camoro. God knows what we are protecting here. All I could see were shacks made of zink and little more.
At last some action, a small group of locals start throwing stones to another group. The two groups start a fight with “katanas”, knifes and whatever is at hand – and let me tell you, they´re really going for it, my heart is pounding!! The second group retreats and some houses are set on fire. Some ambulances come to pick up the injured.
Bloody savages, if we were not here they would probably escalate this altercation and start killing each other.
All of the sudden I am confronted with other whites with guns!! They´re not ausies nor kiwis. Shit, fuck me, I point my iron just in case they´re looking for trouble. These people actually speak english, although with a slight Slavic accent. Now I am worried – my commanding officer informed us that communistic interest were being stirred in East Timor – can this be the beginning… bring it on, I am up for it.
Tension, any of those fuckers moves as much as a finger and I will discharge my magazine upon whatever is in front of me… Hold on, they are GNR, Portuguese federal police. Bummer. They have a mandate and we cannot get it on. Shit, I was hoping to bring a good story back home and get some beers out of it. Let’s hope the general picks up a fight and we can finally get war subsidy – the Portuguese have only a couple of armoured vehicles, we will murder them in no time, easy peasy.
The day is over, we go back to our base, which is ok but nothing compared with our colleagues in Maubisse. Bloody genes, I should have joined the SAS.
PS – I forgive you Sheila. If you deliver 9 months before I return, I will put a slug in your fxxxxx head. I love you, send my regards to the kids.
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