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Behind the Lines

In Focus

Afghanistan

Four panels. A tank approaches a person. More people face the tank as the panels progress.

The Futility of War

Ron Tandberg, The Age,

On the left, people represent countries the West has sought to imposed their systems on. On the right, an army runs towards them saying, 'How many times do we have to explain democracy to you people?'

Explaining Democracy

Bruce Petty, The Age,

Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott are in a trench saying, 'Taliban?' and 'Worse!' A missile labelled 'Public Opinion' is about to crash next to them. Text at the top reads: 'United they Afghanistand'.

United We Stand

Paul Zanetti, The Daily Telegraph (Sydney),

A man in a hazmat suit brushes over the head of a soldier. Helmet reads 'PTSD'. In the background are mountains and a compound with people looking on.

The Next Decade

David Pope, The Canberra Times,

Four panels outlining Australian soldiers' training, which resulted in 'terrible acts' including murdering civilians in Afghanistan.

Killing Men

Cathy Wilcox, Nine Papers,

Two Afghani men sit in wreckage with a notice from DFAT. One asks what the letter says. The other replies, 'Roughly translated: "get stuffed"'.

Get Stuffed

Johannes Leak, The Australian,

A mural on a wall depicting a young Afghani woman holding a book is painted over with black paint by a man with a gun.

#HelpAfghanistanNow

Badiucao, Self-published,

Five different generations of soldiers are worn out and defeated. They are in the same pose. Text reads: 'The ascent of intervention in Afghanistan man?'

The Ascent of Intervention-in-Afghanistan Man

John Ditchburn, The Courier (Ballarat),

Joe Biden and Boris Johnson cling to their respective flags. The flags are attached to a woman wearing a head covering. Scott Morrison looks glum. Helicopters are in the background.

Evacuees

David Rowe, The Australian Financial Review,

Beneath a plane two dots are circled in red. Text pointing to them reads: 'Didn't drown at sea'.

Duty of Care

Jon Kudelka, The Saturday Paper,

The Statue of Liberty says, 'Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses, if they can make their own way to the airport without upsetting the Taliban'.

The Statue of Treachery

John Spooner, The Australian,

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