Senator Minihan's view that war is the most uncivilised thing in which we can engage is profoundly true. When terrorists use violence every drop of spilt blood correctly dominates our television screens, including the brutality of car bombs. However, when we deal with what is called legitimate or state sponsored war, we drop a veil on the human consequences. It is our job as politicians to reiterate that war is uncivilised and brutal. The men and women who participate may be heroic, but the consequences of their actions are brutal in the extreme. That fact cannot be avoided.