Page 38 - Week 01 - Tuesday, 12 February 1991
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we have seen in the twentieth century and a leader who has a personality cult akin to that of Stalin or Hitler. I think that that is a very sad state of affairs, but it is something we just have to come to terms with.
Mr Speaker, no-one on this side of the house wants to see war. No-one wants to go to war just for the sake of it. No-one is glorifying war. Those of us who have been involved in the military, those of us on this side who have been involved in a war - and Mr Jensen served several terms of duty in Vietnam - - -
Mr Jensen: One.
MR STEFANIAK: One; I am sorry. We would be the first to admit that service men and women are the least likely of all people to want to go to war. But when they sign up that is a risk they take. They appreciate that going to war, if called upon by their government, is part of their duty. I am very happy to see paragraph 2 of this motion expressing our support for our Australians who are engaged in bringing about a resolution to the conflict. Our service men and women are serving in the Gulf in defence of a most fundamental right - the right of sovereign countries to determine their own affairs without being invaded by bigger and more powerful neighbours.
That really is what this war is all about. Only in too few times in the past has the United Nations been able to stand up for that very important principle that distinguishes it from the League of Nations, that dreadful failed body that appeased and was totally useless in the face of Japanese, Italian and German aggression prior to World War II. The Prime Minister talks about a new world order after this conflict. Well, that might be being a little bit optimistic; but it would be nice, Mr Speaker, if this conflict, which we all hope is resolved quickly and with the minimum of casualties, does give some impetus to an improved world order where the United Nations is a little bit more capable of standing up to blatant acts of aggression and oppression throughout the world.
There are a lot of countries, I think, that over the last 50 years could have had some action taken against them for their blatant acts against basic human rights, basic social justice, but which escaped because of the cold war. If the United Nations does get a few more teeth to resolve those types of disputes favourably, in favour of basic and fundamental human rights, maybe we will get an improved world order out of this dreadful conflict.
I want to say a couple more things, Mr Speaker. Wars are often stuffed up by politicians. A lot of soldiers, men and women, airmen, airwomen, people in the navy, and civilians die needlessly because of people pushing some political benefit rather than just getting on with the job. I hope that this war comes to a speedy conclusion with minimal casualties on both sides and I think that one of
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