The media is awash with reports of Australia’s imminent involvement in a mass delivery of weapons to Kurdish forces that are fighting to resist the advances that are coming from the ISIL rebels in Iraq, now known as The Islamic State. Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott announced that Australia would support and participate in an international effort to arm the Kurdish military personnel, the Peshmurga, so they can fight back in a battle that is all too quickly moving against them.  But are we putting a bandaid on a problem that is much much bigger? Having seen so many wars in the past, do this one look unavoidable to you?

The question on everyone’s lips is how is this latest step really going to help the bigger picture of the disastrous genocidal civil war going on in Iraq and associated terrorism threats that appear to be getting worse every day in western nations too? Will arming the Peshmurga in Kurdistan by air-dropping weapons really solve the problem or at least take steps towards a solution or are we accepting that we are entering a new stage of a global war against an international terrorism force and placing ourselves directly in the firing line by doing so?   As an over 60, you’ve seen war plenty of times before… Do you think this move is the most sensible at this stage of the situation or should we consider more or less severe involvement?

The Washington Institute titled an article earlier last month with the brutal acknowledgement that “while the Kurds could use more ammunition and weapons, they also need coordination, air support, and logistical help”.

And Australia’s commitment  surely has to be the first sign that we intend to participate.

Now don’t get me wrong… I don’t think that the International community can sit by and watch as one state enacts genocide on another, anywhere in the world; and I am certainly not unhappy to see the large group of allied nations, led by the USA, Canada, Italy, France, the UK and Germany moving in to support these people caught in the middle of a horrific battle.  People are people, and that ultimately is what we have to remember, to protect people at all costs.   But are we doing enough considering the horror of the situation?

Tony Abbott spoke to Parliament yesterday following his decision to step forward into the International alliance (for which he does not need Parliamentary support) and said that Australia has not been requested to engage in military action by Washington at this time, just to be involved in airdropping of weapons.  In his statement to Parliament he said, “Australia has no intention to commit combat troops on the ground, but we’re not inclined to stand by in the face of preventable genocide either.”

“Australia is not a country that goes looking for trouble, but we have always been prepared to do what we can to help in the wider world.”

So today, share your thoughts on whether you think we are doing enough to help people stuck in a genocidal civil war? Are we trying too hard to put a bandaid on a large international crater?   Share your thoughts today?

Having seen so many wars in your lifetime, do you think we can avoid this one now?