Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Irish troops were involved in advising NATO personnel on bomb disposal. If the Government leaves the troops there for the next phase they will advise Afghani state troops, which will be a very dangerous exercise. It would be like an outsider coming to Ireland during the Civil War and giving Michael Collins’ men advice on bombs. It is just looking for trouble.

The Minister questioned my analysis of the war. The war started as an effort to destroy Al Qaida, which has mushroomed since. It went on to become a campaign for democracy and women’s rights. Women’s rights have gone backwards since then. It became a war to protect Western cities, and it has done the opposite. It became a war to eradicate opium production but that is at a record high with the production and supply of 90% of the world trade. Any action on the part of Western powers in Afghanistan has been a disaster.

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