Posted on 03/15/2003 7:22:51 AM PST by knighthawk
AUSTRALIAN troops preparing for war in the Persian Gulf fear an anti-war backlash at home reminiscent of the divisive protests during the Vietnam war.
Members of the 2000-strong force stationed in the Gulf have been following the peace protests in Australia and hope the community retains its support for the troops about to fight in a war against Iraq.
Squadron Leader Melanie, 31, a Newcastle-based logistics officer who has served 13 years in the RAAF, hopes the "ugly" mood targeting soldiers who fought in the Vietnam war will not be repeated.
"People obviously feel strongly on both sides," she said. "Some of my friends have told me they think this operation is wrong, and we shouldn't be here. Even my family is torn on it.
"But just before we left, people were comparing this to the mood over Vietnam, and it was pretty uncomfortable to hear that.
"Vietnam was an ugly period, and a lot of the people who served there ended up being treated unfairly at home."
UN support for military action against Iraq looks increasingly unlikely, and the three countries sponsoring the resolution in the security council – the United States, Britain and Spain – will hold crisis talks today.
At an emergency summit in the mid-Atlantic islands of the Azores, US President George Bush, British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar will decide whether to persist with the UN process.
With opinion polls showing even more opposition in Australia to a war that lacks a UN endorsement than there was to the Vietnam war, Melanie is not the only soldier in Australia's Gulf contingent recalling the Vietnam days.
Trevor, a 29-year-old army corporal and signaller from Sydney, says his experience in the Gulf has made him think a lot about the treatment of Vietnam veterans.
"Being here makes you realise how important it is to know the country is behind you," he said.
"I've just been thinking: 'Imagine what it was like for those poor bastards in Vietnam who got such a hard time when they got back.'
"Everyone is entitled to their opinion, and I'm glad they can protest, but what gets under my bonnet is the idea that it might get personal.
"It really shouldn't be directed at the soldiers, sailors and airmen doing their jobs."
Sean, a 30-year-old, Brisbane-based signaller and corporal, is confident the antagonism shown to Vietnam veterans won't be repeated.
"If Australia does commit itself, I'm sure the country will get behind us," he said.
Melanie says she has done "some soul-searching" on the Iraq issue.
"I have come to the view that Australia is doing the right thing," she said.
Of course it shouldn't. That has always been the idea, even since Vietnam.
But, when it comes to the tree huggin', dope smokin', "Nickelodeon Dipomacy" communist/socialists who are so mind deluded in the first place, that's what happens.
God Bless Australia for helping us do the right thing.
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