ID :
12419
Mon, 07/14/2008 - 11:17
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/12419
The shortlink copeid
Fallen SAS soldier McCarthy on way home
Special Air Service (SAS) Signaller Sean McCarthy has been farewelled by his comrades after being killed in action in Afghanistan last week.
At a solemn service at Australia's Tarin Kowt base, the respected 25-year-old soldier was given the highest of praise.
"He died bravely doing his duty in a high risk environment," an unnamed senior SASsoldier said in a Department of Defence statement.
"It was a soldier's death.
"Importantly, his loss, whilst tragic, was not in vain.
"He fought and died for the enduring values of freedom and justice." SAS soldiers are never named publicly because of the highly secretive nature of thework, some of which is behind enemy lines.
Signaller McCarthy died after a roadside bomb struck the vehicle in which he was travelling.
Two Australians with him were injured and later releasedfrom hospital.
The New Zealand-born signaller's remains are being flown to Australia aboard aHercules aircraft.
The repatriation began as Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon denied reportsAustralia's efforts in Afghanistan were faltering.
Leaked NATO polling, printed in Fairfax papers, showed locals in Oruzgan provincewere losing faith in Western forces posted in the troubled area.
"It just does not seem accurate," Mr Fitzgibbon told the Nine Network.
"Any suggestion that we're not making good progress in Oruzgan (province) iscompletely wide of the mark.
"These people couldn't possibly have access to the information I do have about our work there, how we are spreading our influence and dominance throughout the province."Australia has about 1,050 troops in Afghanistan.
Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said advances were being made in Afghanistan.
"My assessment when I was there, and it was shared by the military people I that spoke to, is that we are making progress. We are now very much back into the fighting season, so what's now occurring was not unexpected," Mr Smith told SkyNews.
"Yes, the Taliban have had some successes in recent weeks and recent months, butthis is a long-term struggle.
"It's absolutely in Australia's national security interests to be there." He said Afghanistan, especially the border region with Pakistan, was a hotbed ofinternational terrorism.
"That's very mobile, it can just as easily go north to Europe as it can go south to south-east Asia and Australia has already been (experienced) the adverse consequences of terrorist activity in south-east Asia." The Australian government has recently attended conferences in Paris and Bucharest on security and governance in Afghanistan, where Australia's commitment tomaintaining an presence in the country was reconfirmed.
Mr Smith said Australia was working alongside NATO and other international forces tomaintain peace in the area and undertake civil reconstruction projects.
At a solemn service at Australia's Tarin Kowt base, the respected 25-year-old soldier was given the highest of praise.
"He died bravely doing his duty in a high risk environment," an unnamed senior SASsoldier said in a Department of Defence statement.
"It was a soldier's death.
"Importantly, his loss, whilst tragic, was not in vain.
"He fought and died for the enduring values of freedom and justice." SAS soldiers are never named publicly because of the highly secretive nature of thework, some of which is behind enemy lines.
Signaller McCarthy died after a roadside bomb struck the vehicle in which he was travelling.
Two Australians with him were injured and later releasedfrom hospital.
The New Zealand-born signaller's remains are being flown to Australia aboard aHercules aircraft.
The repatriation began as Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon denied reportsAustralia's efforts in Afghanistan were faltering.
Leaked NATO polling, printed in Fairfax papers, showed locals in Oruzgan provincewere losing faith in Western forces posted in the troubled area.
"It just does not seem accurate," Mr Fitzgibbon told the Nine Network.
"Any suggestion that we're not making good progress in Oruzgan (province) iscompletely wide of the mark.
"These people couldn't possibly have access to the information I do have about our work there, how we are spreading our influence and dominance throughout the province."Australia has about 1,050 troops in Afghanistan.
Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said advances were being made in Afghanistan.
"My assessment when I was there, and it was shared by the military people I that spoke to, is that we are making progress. We are now very much back into the fighting season, so what's now occurring was not unexpected," Mr Smith told SkyNews.
"Yes, the Taliban have had some successes in recent weeks and recent months, butthis is a long-term struggle.
"It's absolutely in Australia's national security interests to be there." He said Afghanistan, especially the border region with Pakistan, was a hotbed ofinternational terrorism.
"That's very mobile, it can just as easily go north to Europe as it can go south to south-east Asia and Australia has already been (experienced) the adverse consequences of terrorist activity in south-east Asia." The Australian government has recently attended conferences in Paris and Bucharest on security and governance in Afghanistan, where Australia's commitment tomaintaining an presence in the country was reconfirmed.
Mr Smith said Australia was working alongside NATO and other international forces tomaintain peace in the area and undertake civil reconstruction projects.
