Australia Must Engage with the Region
The main conclusion I draw from Afghanistan should be that not all military interventions are bad. Success was achieved for freedom and democracy in Korea, Malaya, Solomons and East Timor, but it takes time and effort. We did not intervene in Syria and the suffering there is far greater than where we did intervene, such as in Iraq.
Nations such as Australia that are capable of military interventions must learn how to pick when to intervene, how to get out early if necessary and possible, and how to be effective. Effectiveness for government is ensuring that resources match the desired outcome. If we are not prepared to put in the required resources to achieve an outcome, don’t intervene.
Australia Must Engage with the Region