Afghanistan mission 'succeeding' despite soldier's death

HUNDREDS of ex-servicemen stood together, backs straight, in perfect silence. None of them knew Sergeant Brett Wood, but all were familiar with the pain of loss.

During a minute's silence to mark the death of the 24th Digger in Afghanistan and the wounding of five others, there were some who called for the government to pull Australian troops out of an ''unwinnable'' conflict.

Australian forces, it was learnt yesterday, have killed about 1500 insurgents in the past 12 months, during some of the most vicious fighting seen by the military since the Vietnam War.

We can't win there, the mob we're fighting are willing to use women and children in battle: they will do anything,'' said Bob Cunningham, 63, at yesterday's Congress of Returned Servicemen's Leagues at Rooty Hill.

''In Afghanistan you don't know who or where the enemy is but you know they've got no morals and we're Australian, so we have to fight fair.''

'But progress is being made in Afghanistan and we are there for all of the right reasons - we are there to ensure that Afghanistan does not again become a safe haven for terrorists.

One of Sergeant Wood's fellow soldiers suffered life-threatening wounds and another serious injuries from the same blast. Another three Australian soldiers were injured in a separate firefight on Monday, but they were expected to be discharged from hospital at the Australian base in Tarin Kowt last night.

Defence Force chief Angus Houston yesterday described Sergeant Wood as a ''magnificent'' soldier who was on his third deployment to Afghanistan, having previously served in Iraq, East Timor and Bougainville.

Paul Twining's son, David, was Sergeant Wood's best friend until David was killed in a car accident in 2001, just three days after returning from service in East Timor. The two met the day they both joined the army and the pair became best friends. ''After losing our son, every time you'd hear about something overseas you'd always hope it wasn't Brett, but unfortunately you have in the back of your mind that one day it might happen,'' Mr Twining said.

Sergeant Wood's death came as a former Taliban commander reportedly said insurgents in Oruzgan were laying down their arms to concentrate on harvesting opium.

Australia's stated aim is to train the 4th Brigade of the Afghan National Army to allow it to assume responsibility for security in the province.

However, over the Australian summer, allied troops in Oruzgan have pushed further out from Tarin Kowt, taking territory and Taliban arms caches, and killing and capturing insurgent leaders ahead of the ''fighting season''.

With these successes, the Department of Defence and the government appear to have broadened their definition of progress.

''We are in places in Oruzgan we've never been before,'' Air Chief Marshal Houston, said yesterday.