Since August 2003, New Zealand has had troops in Afghanistan, working as a Provincial Reconstruction Team in Bamyan province. They've been doing the usual work of the New Zealand army - building schools - rather than actually shooting at people, and so the deployment has met little public opposition. But that might be about to change. Yesterday, a new Zealand patrol was hit by a roadside bomb. No-one was hurt, but someone might have been, and its a sign that things are getting more dangerous.
The question we should be asking ourselves now is what price we are willing to pay in Afghanistan. Are we willing to see people come home in bodybags? Because if we stay there, that's looking increasingly likely to happen.
Given the nature of Afghanistan's government, I think the price is "nothing at all". I am not willing to see kiwi troops die to defend an oppressive theocracy which violates human rights. This near miss is a warning to us all of what the future might hold, and a clear signal to bring our troops home.
