Kevin Rudd is making the same mistakes in Afghanistan as his predecessor, John Howard, did in Iraq.
The former Australian Prime Minister sent our troops into Iraq without just cause and on the basis of intelligence that was ambiguous at best.
As a result hundreds of thousands of Iraqis paid the ultimate price.
Now Rudd is dramatically escalating our force commitment in Afghanistan without having any exit strategy.
Rudd claims we are staying the course in Afghanistan because of the threat of international terrorism and the need to support their fledgling democracy.
But he knows that our occupation of Afghanistan has done little to stem the flow of international terrorism.
Nor have we seen any significant reduction in the heroin trade. Neither is it our role to be the enforcer of democracy in other countries.
The reality is the Afghan President, Hamid Karzai, has little or no authority outside of Kabul. The Taliban's influence is as strong as ever and our Government's decision to send another 450 troops only puts more Australians at risk without bringing any additional gain.
Like previous wars, our involvement in Afghanistan has been to secure our alliance with the United States.
We have acted again like a US puppet.
As an Australian I am ashamed of my Government's servile attitude towards the United States.
We desperately need independent, ethical leaders who are willing to make foreign policy decisions based on what is in our national interest!
Adam Bonner, Meroo Meadow, NSW
The ANU poll of Australian attitudes on defence and the US alliance (''PM under pressure to spend less on defence'', April 29, p1) were telling.
Astonishing was the fickleness of public opinion; change a US president and public opinion does a backflip with pike.
I have a fair amount of confidence in the US alliance, and my opinion has not changed with successive administrations.
If anything, based on Obama's actual comments, actions and views, it is probably less likely that he would act in favour of Australia.
It proves probably that, simply because something is popular, that it does not make it right.
M. Gordon, Flynn
The following insightful comment in Nicholas Stuart's opinion piece (''Don't burden Anzac Day by saying it's what we are all about'', April 28, p11) caught my eye: ''Perhaps the real lesson of nationhood that we should have learnt at Gallipoli was to follow our own interests, rather than be coopted into other people's grand schemes''. Apropos of more contemporary mega-costly tragic disasters like Vietnam and Iraq (and Afghanistan). this should by now be well seared into our nation's collective psyche and consciousness.
Wayne Fyffe, Cook
It has been said that if Rudd gets any closer to Howard, he'll have to seek Janette's permission.
Well, he's done it now in offering 450 more of our troops to Afghanistan.
When Howard sent our troops to Iraq thousands marched in protest.
The will of the people was, and is, clear no troops sent to fight other countries' wars. Howard didn't listen, neither has Rudd. We have no business being in Afghanistan (''Boost to troops our exit strategy'', April 30, p1).
Neither has America, but we can't do anything about that.
If they want to get mixed up in an unwinnable war, let them.
We don't have to crawl to the Yanks, as Howard did and as Rudd is doing.
Why did we bother having an election??
Marie Gordon, Palmerston
Email a friend