Australia followed the United States in its withdrawal from Afghanistan, but over the past 20 years, Australia's defense sacrifices and losses, as well as many follow-up issues, have given the Australian government deep thinking.
Will the war in Afghanistan be a turning point in Australia-US military relations? Please see the 911 series report sent by the reporter of Phoenix Satellite TV in Australia.
On 21 April 2021, Australia lowered its last flag on Afghan soil. On that day, a total of 1,500 people left Afghanistan with Australia, who were Australian diplomats, military training and engineers, and officers and men of the last 80-man special forces. At this point, Australia ended the war in Afghanistan with the United States.
But to Australia's astonishment, the U.S. retreat allowed the Taliban to quickly occupy Kabul, which ultimately resulted in heavy casualties. This has made Australians think a lot about the war.
Australia, as a military ally of the United States, decided to follow the United States to Afghanistan twenty years ago when then-Prime Minister Howard decided to follow the United States in its invasion of Afghanistan. Now, seeing the almost routing U.S. retreat in Afghanistan, he shows a sense of helplessness, believing that this bad retreat has had a major impact on America's international reputation.
Former Prime Minister of Australia John Howard:
"I think it was a mistake for the Trump administration to announce the specific date of the U.S. withdrawal of troops, and they don't have a deep understanding of the Taliban's actions." Because I know the difficulty of government decisions, especially in countries like the United States. It is true that the United States did not organize this withdrawal, and now the damage has been done, and it has also caused terrible damage to the prestige of the United States. ”
The scene of the US retreat in Afghanistan should be said to be extremely embarrassing and irresponsible, australia, as an important part of the Western allies, looks at the scene in front of it, but also makes the Australian servicemen have a profound impact on the joint military operations with the US military in the future - how can the military fight a war in a lie? Is it in the national interest of following the United States to fight?
Former Australian Special Forces Commander Wells
"The Allies underestimated the war from the beginning, I think there are too many lies, and a lot of people want to convince themselves that they can win with weapons, but I don't think it's feasible.
If you've been to that country and seen how vast its territory is, how uncontrollable it is (you know). I believe that this war is not in our national interest at all, and that it has been a real disaster since 2005, and that there is nothing we can do about what we want to do. ”
The war will eventually end, but there are always countless thoughts left for posterity. In this two-decade war, Australia's top national defense strategy experts discussed one of the biggest issues with reporters: Australia's future national security relationship with the United States.
Professor of International Security and Intelligence at the Centre for Strategic and Defence Studies, Australian National University BlackClyde:
"Australia has long been happy to have the United States make decisions for it, but we now find that the strategy that comes out of this is disastrous, a complete disaster."
Australia was drawn into the Afghan theater, which in my book is called "Niche Wars," meaning that Australia carefully adjusted and (limited) resources to cooperate with the United States during this period. Afghanistan has never been a "second-tier" issue, it has never been Australia's top concern, so the Australian government has never expended too much energy on the Afghan battlefield, and they have not considered Australia's long-term victory in that battlefield. ”
It is clear that in the war in Afghanistan, "America First" has taken the Allies an incredibly mental blow. Being an ally of the United States is very difficult, and it seems that it will be even more difficult in the future.
As an ally of the United States, in addition to spending a large amount of money to buy American weapons and equipment, it also costs its own taxpayers' money to cooperate with the US military. Finally, bear for the United States its share of the refugees in the war. Inside and out lost a bottom. It is expected that Australia will take some time to wake itself up.
Source: Phoenix TV Yang Haiying, Liu Ranyang Reported by Sydney
Editor: Erya Wang