Another New Zealand SAS soldier has been killed in Afghanistan, the second one in a month. He was Lance Corporal Leon Smith, from Wellington, aged in his mid thirties. He is the 4th New Zealand soldier to die in Afghanistan. SAS means Special Air Services. These are special soldiers who have a high level of training to fight against terrorism.
New Zealand sent between 40 and 65 soldiers to Afghanistan from 2001 to 2005. From 2009, another group of SAS soldiers went to Afghanistan. They are due to come home in March 2012. At the moment about 35 SAS soldiers are in Kabul helping Afghan police against Taliban fighters. Another 140 soldiers are helping to re-build Bamiyan province.
With this second death, some politicians want New Zealand to end their involvement with Afghanistan. Tariana Turia, co-leader of the Maori Party, said the soldiers are serving the interests of the United States not New Zealand. However, the Prime Minister, John Key, said that there are no plans to bring the soldiers home before March next year.
Listen to August 4th 2010 to hear more about New Zealand soldiers in Afghanistan.
Idiom
to serve the interests of the US. – to do something that helps the US
Questions
1. Do you think New Zealand should bring their soldiers home now?
2. Why are New Zealand soldiers in Afghanistan? Note that New Zealand sends soldiers to help with UN peace-keeping in many countries.