I love my country.
I love Australia so much, I became an Australian.
And if push came to shove, I’d do whatever my haggard old frame that’s filled with prosthetics could do in order to defend it.
As someone who grew up around the military (my Mum worked as a civilian doctor for the ADF for fifteen years) I came to understand what it really meant to be in the army.
As an adult travelling the world, far away from the safety of my country of Australia - I saw with my own eyes how sometimes a credible military consequence is required to ensure that diplomacy has a chance to work.
Don’t get me wrong, I firmly believe that absolutely everything possible must be done to avoid violence.
Yet when the decision to escalate to violence is made by someone else - then a government has few options on the table when it comes to self-protection.
Yet what happens when the government’s decision to send our military into a war zone under the auspices of protecting our country no longer serves us?
What happens to the men and women who we send to the other side of the world on these missions, and what happens when they come back?
In recent years, it’s fair to say that the Australian SAS has come under intense scrutiny.
On today’s episode @mark.a.wales, author and former SAS commander might just surprise you with his views on national security.
It takes a tonne of courage to stand up for what’s right.
I’m grateful that this week of all weeks, Mark made the time to come to the house for a chat.
Search “Better Than Yesterday” where you get your podcasts.