The issue of sending the SAS featured in question time again yesterday.

A  Central Government argument that is endlessly repeated goes: the Labour Government sent troops, they’re being hypocrites in opposing our sending them. They’re missing the point. The important question to ask is “why were they withdrawn?”

Labour pulled the SAS out after three tours in November 2005. The Afghanistan war had changed. It was no longer a fight against Al Qaeda but had mutated into a general civil war – where the Taliban are the dominant faction involved, but not the only one. The government had also changed, from being one of hope to being hopelessly corrupt.

Three pillars are needed to achieve success in conflict and post-conflict settings -  each of which is well understood.

1. Development – jobs, economy, better services etc;
2. Governance -  sound  local structures that are representative and sustainable;
3. Security

These can ensure stability while the other parts take root. Like a three-legged stool, without one of those pillars, the endeavour falls over.

It’s what I spent a good part of my previous life trying to bring about, most recently in Iraq.

Bringing those three pillars together is what New Zealand, through its forces and development professionals, has built up on the ground in Bamiyan. It’s a success story. So why phase it out when it’s held up as a model? We’ve built strong local ties, we are well welcomed by the local community and the situation is mostly secure.

Instead of building on that and replicating it, we are sending our troops into another part of the country to serve under a different command without the other parts of the nation-building equation. The reason? I can only guess to build relationships with the US and NATO. Seventy-odd soldiers among 85,000.

That’s not good policy, nor a good enough reason to put our troops at risk, as courageous and professional as they are. It needs a rethink. We have a proud history of acting independently. We need to keep hold of it and do the right thing, not send our SAS.