“There's no doubt this is difficult, dangerous, complex, and it's going to be a long haul contribution. There's no doubt about that.

But when we first came to office over a year ago we sat down and we very carefully went through whether we believe our ongoing contribution in Afghanistan was in our national interest.

We came strongly to the conclusion that Afghanistan, the Afghanistan Pakistan border area, is currently, regrettably, the hotbed of international terrorism.

And the area where the threats, north to Europe and south to South East Asia and Australia lies, that has to be confronted by the international community.

We are very, very resolute in our view that being there is in our national interest, just as it is in our regional interest, as interest as a country interested in South Asia, just as it's in the international community's interest to confront it.”

Stephen Smith – Minister for Foreign Affairs

7:30 Report

Our national interest Mr Smith?

How so?

Not one syllable of explanation or justification: just the usual puerile-political-bullshit-war-on-terra-speak that will see you & our kevin lined-up for your medals of freedom for services rendered to uncle sam; just like “rattus” & “aussie tony” before you …

National Interest? Phooey!!

You’re just another political phoney.