Mother of first Australian soldier killed in Iraq expresses anger
{{byline|date=February 1, 2005|location=AUSTRALIA}} Margaret Pardoel, mother of the first Australian soldier to be killed in [[w:Iraq|Iraq]] since the commencement of [[w:2003 Invasion of Iraq|hostilities]], has expressed anger over the death of her only son, a father of three, who was about to return home to Australia and had been planning a career change. Mrs Pardoel and husband John were devastated by the loss of their only son.

Mrs Pardoel said she opposes the war. "I think it's just cold-blooded murder. Look at all those young American boys that have been slaughtered," she said. "I don't think this should have gone on ... He said to me one night he phoned, he said, 'Mum there's nowhere to hide here, it's just so dangerous, there's nowhere to hide'." 

Thirty-five year old Flight Lieutenant Paul Pardoel had been on his last flight when the [[w:C-130 Hercules|C-130 Hercules]] he was aboard [[RAF Hercules crashes north of Baghdad killing ten|crashed north of Baghdad]] yesterday, killing ten personnel. He was serving with the [[w:British Royal Air Force|British Royal Air Force (RAF)]], to which he had transferred several years ago from the [[w:Royal Australian Air Force|Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF)]], as Navigator in 47 Squadron Lyneham RAF.

Mr Pardoel had been expecting to return in July to his wife and three children in Australia, where they had recently bought a new house in Canberra.

[[w:Minister for Foreign Affairs (Australia)|Australian Foreign Affairs Minister]], [[w:Alexander Downer|Alexander Downer]], says he is saddened to hear of the man's death.

"I want his family to know, and his friends to know, that he certainly did not die in vain, that this tragic accident occurred - or this tragedy because it may not have been an accident - but this tragedy occurred on a day when [[Kofi Annan notes high turnout in 2005 Iraq elections|65 per cent of the people of Iraq]] went out and [[First free Iraqi election begins; insurgents strike|voted]]," he said.

==References==
*{{source|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200502/s1293402.htm|title=Mother angry over son's death in Iraq|author=|pub=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=February 1, 2005}}
*{{source|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1403022,00.html|title=Video claims to show RAF plane being shot down|author=Richard Norton-Taylor and Rory McCarthy|pub=The Guardian|date=February 1, 2005}}

*{{source|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200502/s1293038.htm 
|title=Australian killed on last flight over Iraq 
|pub=Australian Broadcasting Corporation 
|date=February 1, 2005
|author=}}

==See also==
*[[RAF Hercules crashes north of Baghdad killing ten]]
*[[Kofi Annan notes high turnout in 2005 Iraq elections]]
*[[First free Iraqi election begins; insurgents strike]]

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[[Category:australia]]
[[Category:iraq]]
[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[Category:Baghdad]]
[[Category:Royal Air Force]]
Margaret Pardoel, mother of the first Australian soldier to be killed in Iraq since the commencement of hostilities, has expressed anger over the death of her only son, a father of three, who was about to return home to Australia and had been planning a career change. Mrs Pardoel and husband John were devastated by the loss of their only son.

Mrs Pardoel said she opposes the war. "I think it's just cold-blooded murder. Look at all those young American boys that have been slaughtered," she said. "I don't think this should have gone on ... He said to me one night he phoned, he said, 'Mum there's nowhere to hide here, it's just so dangerous, there's nowhere to hide'." 

Thirty-five year old Flight Lieutenant Paul Pardoel had been on his last flight when the C-130 Hercules he was aboard crashed north of Baghdad yesterday, killing ten personnel. He was serving with the British Royal Air Force (RAF), to which he had transferred several years ago from the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), as Navigator in 47 Squadron Lyneham RAF.

Mr Pardoel had been expecting to return in July to his wife and three children in Australia, where they had recently bought a new house in Canberra.

Australian Foreign Affairs Minister, Alexander Downer, says he is saddened to hear of the man's death.

"I want his family to know, and his friends to know, that he certainly did not die in vain, that this tragic accident occurred - or this tragedy because it may not have been an accident - but this tragedy occurred on a day when 65 per cent of the people of Iraq went out and voted," he said.

*
australia iraq Politics and conflicts Baghdad Royal Air Force