As our troops prepare to deploy in east Timor I find it interesting that many of the people who have been insisting that our diggers be sent, regardless of the opposition from the Indonesian miltary, are the same people who spat on our troops during the Gulf war and threw blood and countless hurtful accusations at our men who served in Vietnam. These are also the same people who have helped dramatially reduce the comabat effectiveness of the ADF over the last 20 years. I am appalled at what has gone on in East Timor and no one more than the military want to help these people. We understand and feel the debt of honour we owe them from WW2 more than even the best intentioned civvie...it just anoys me that cops are pigs until you need their help and soldiers are fascists until we want someone to risk their lives for us. Australian soldiers are probably going to be killed(I pray that I am wrong) because of training and equipment which has been compromised thanks to constant interference by civvies, who amongst other things, like to try and impose their values on the military(ie political correctness) despite the fact that the soldier operates in a world they cannot possibly begin to understand, and where any mistake or defeciency in training can mean death. I wish our boys well and hope that all of those involved in the international force are able to bring peace to the long suffering people of East Timor without suffering casualties themselves. I also hope that maybe here in Australia we will show a bit more appreciation for our diggers and all members of the ADF who give so much whilst receiving so little... C.Anderson ex 1st Battalion, The Royal Australia Regiment 3rd Battalion(paras), The Royal Australia Regiment "Duty First"