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What we are doing in Afghanistan? Please explain, do not publish rubbish like" unfortunately this is our war. Afghanistan is a country of violence, and terror. Iraq is an oil war... I believe that Afghanistan is a needed war. If we did nothing over there, and we just let the terrorists have their freedom... "Comments 115 -what a rubbish....After Bush will go, all will change talk.. and withdraw from Iraq andAfghanistan.. .BOTH ARE NOT OUR COUNTRYS...SIMPLE LIKE THAT... Howard is responsible for low level of IQ in Australia.
Posted by: Mark of Sydney 7:02pm today

RIP Jason. Such tragic news.
Posted by: Shannon of South Australia 6:33pm today

all the anti army, anti war, anti John Howard, anti Rudd, etc comments against this story are in extreme poor taste - trying to make mileage for their personal minority views out of someone else's personaltragedy.these types of commentators have no conception of service, duty or honour - (if they did they would not post) these posters can only see the world through their own blinkered vision, which they wish to (futiley) thrust on everyone else, even where its totally inappropriate. my condolences to LCPL Marks, his family, friends & unit.
Posted by: the real bob of qld 6:32pm today

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27-year-old father of two killed in Afghanistan
Four other soldiers wounded in Taliban firefight
Australians at war - a tribute to Aussie heroes
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THE grieving wife of Australia`s latest military casualty in Afghanistan says all he ever wanted was to join the army.

Twenty-seven-year-old commando Lance Corporal Jason Marks died overnight in a battle between his patrol and Taliban insurgents in southern Afghanistan, as melting snow heralded the start of the annual "fighting season``.

He was the fourth Australian soldier, and second commando, killed in Afghanistan in just over six months.

Four other commandos were wounded in the same action, but it`s believed none suffered life-threatening injuries.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd today warned there would be more casualties to come.

"We are facing a change of season, as the winter snows melt and the spring thaw begins, which usually indicates a heightening in military activity on the part of the Taliban and al-Qaeda,`` Mr Rudd said.

"Therefore, 2008 will be difficult and dangerous and bloody, and the Australian nation needs to prepare itself for further losses in the year ahead.``

The family of Lance Corporal Marks, a married father of two children, said it was devastated.

"Jason was a devoted father to our two beautiful children and a loving husband to me,`` his wife Cassandra said.

"All Jason ever wanted to do was join the army. He was the type of man who knew what he wanted, even from the age of 12, all Jason ever wanted to be was a soldier.

"Becoming a commando was a dream of Jason`s, he was proud of who he was and proud of what he did.``

Lance Corporal Marks had been serving in Afghanistan as a member of the Special Operations Task Group (SOTG) for only a few weeks.

Defence head Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston said he was a member of a patrol preparing to attack Taliban insurgents about 25 kilometres south-east of the Australian base at Tarin Kowt, in Oruzgan Province.

He was in the lead platoon attacked about 6pm Afghanistan time yesterday (11.30pm AEST).

"They were out in the open and, as they were doing their preparations, they were engaged by the Taliban,`` said Air Chief Marshal Houston.

"There was a heavy exchange of fire.``

The Australians were targeted by small arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades from a number of groups of insurgents.

Coalition air support, involving Apache helicopters and F-16 fighter-bombers, struck back at the Taliban positions.

The body of Lance Corporal Marks and the four wounded were flown by helicopter to a coalition hospital at Tarin Kowt.

There was no indication of Taliban casualties, although in such contacts they invariably come out worse off, defence said.

Born in Broken Hill in NSW, Lance Corporal Marks grew up in Yeppoon in Queensland and joined the army in March 1999.

He served in the Royal Australian Army Medical Corps before joining the commandos in 2005.

"Jason loved to be active, whether it was through playing union, league or rock climbing,`` Cassandra Marks said.

"He even became a combat fitness leader in the army he loved it so much.

"Jason always strived to be the best he could be, he loved the army, he loved his mates and he loved his family.``

Air Chief Marshal Houston suggested Afghanistan`s security could be significantly enhanced if more NATO-led coalition nations took the fight to the Taliban, as Australia`s commandos did.

"They keep them on the back foot, and it means we retain the initiative in our province. I think there needs to be a lot more of this in Afghanistan,`` he said.

Australia presently has more than 1000 personnel in Oruzgan province, including the reconstruction task force and the SOTG, comprising members of the 4RAR Commando Battalion and Special Air Service Regiment (SASR).

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Today`s Top Picks

Daughter`s 24 year torment

A man is accused of locking his daughter in a cellar for 24 years and fathering seven children with her.
Gallery Photos from the scene