Video on Australian SAS

A great video about Australias Special Air Service (SAS).  Click on the link below to watch the video:
http://youtu.be/O8bsURb-lOc

Video shows Australian 2nd Commando Regiment on Night Raid in Afghanistan

Diggers conduct a night-time raid in Afghanistan for members of the Taliban.  See the video of the Australian commandos in action.  See "Aussie special forces behind enemy lines", Herald Sun, February 19, 2011.

Descripton of IED Attacks in Afghanistan

A recent news article from an Australian newspaper describes the IED threat to troops conducting operations in Afghanistan.  Read more in "IED poses greatest threat in Afghanistan", The Sydney Morning Herald, February 3, 2011.

Australian Police Assist in Building Target Data in Afghanistan

"AUSTRALIAN police in Afghanistan have helped compile secret intelligence files on insurgent leaders later targeted in capture-or-kill missions by special forces soldiers. The Pentagon has confirmed that Australian Federal Police officers are ''assigned to work with'' a joint police task force in Kabul that produces files used by military commanders to "shape the battlefield" - a term often used to describe the capture-or-kill raids mounted by elite troops in Afghanistan." 

Read the rest of the article in "Australian police share intelligence on insurgent leaders", Sydney Morning Herald, December 27, 2010.

Australian Special Forces Could Stay in Afghanistan Longer

"Australian special forces could stay on in Afghanistan in a security overwatch role after other Australian forces depart, Defence Minister Stephen Smith says. Speaking ahead of the NATO summit in Lisbon this weekend, Mr Smith said the government had been upfront in declaring Australia would not walk away from Afghanistan the day after concluding the current training task."

Read the rest of the article in "Special forces could stay in Afghanistan", The Sydney Morning Herald, November 17, 2010.

NATO War Planners Want Additional Help from Australia in Kandahar Province

NATO war planners are looking for other nations to plug the gap that the Canadian forces will leave in Kandahar Province once their withdrawal is complete next year.  Australia has been approached for more ground troops.  Read more in "NATO to ask for more Diggers, defence sources say", The Australian, November 18, 2010.

Australians Wonder About Matiullah Khan of Oruzgan Province

Australians are questioning its armed forces involvement with a warlord called Matiullah Khan in Afghanistan.  Read more in "Cultural norms in Afghanistan", Brisbane Times, October 31, 2010.

The Australians and Uruzgan Province, Afghanistan

The Australian Defence Force (ADF) is responsible for the Uruzgan Province, Afghanistan.  To that end the Australians have deployed special forces troops and other units as well. They are advising the Afghan National Army (ANA) 4th Brigade, assisting in reconstruction, and providing training to some of the local police units.  They face some problems - mostly corruption on the part of the Afghans, tribal difficulties, and lack of an effective Afghan government to work with the population - and of course, the Taliban.  A professor at the Macquarie University's Centre for Policing, Intelligence and Counter Terrorism provides more info on the Australian efforts in Uruzgan Province.  See "Wishful thinking in Afghanistan", Australian Broadcasting Corporation, October 27, 2010.

Corruption Remains a Major Hindering Factor in Afghanistan

An Australian construction manager in Afghanistan has provided us with his view on the Afghan war and what needs to be done to fix it.  Read "Progress is hard to recognize in Afghanistan", The Australian, October 16, 2010.

Australia Having Problems at Home with Military Decision in Afghanistan

There are problems on the Australian home front (at least a minor uproar) over the prosecution of three commandos over the deaths of some Afghan civilians and about the Rules of Engagement (ROE).  Read more in "Top brass shoot down Coalition campaign", The Australian, October 15, 2010.