Canadian Input...Afghanistan

[Mark Doble]

I do not think we should pull out our troops, we are committed now to whatever our Government's mandate is...

Do I think we should have committed in the first place, yes, but with a different mandate. Read the article in the Toronto Star this past Friday. We are there searching out insurgents and intentionally killing them. I suppose in an effort to keep them from or debilitate them from attacking Canada or the U.S. again. To gain intelligence. To harden our Canadian Troops in battle. To give us experience. An excuse to upgrade our Millitary hardware. To follow in the footsteps of George W. Bush

I guess we are justified in killing thousands.

Don't forget, I said I agreed with going in.
Remember the old highschool addage? Tit for Tat? One day, Canada is going to get it. :eek:

[Barbara Moulton]

Do I think we should have committed in the first place, yes, but with a different mandate.

I am curious Mark. What do you think our mandate was in the first place? It seemed pretty clear at the time. Assist in rooting out the Taliban...the ones who had protected and aided the man and organization who perpetrated 9-11

What other mandate do you think we should have had?

[Mark Doble]

I am curious Mark. What do you think our mandate was in the first place? It seemed pretty clear at the time. Assist in rooting out the Taliban...the ones who had protected and aided the man and organization who perpetrated 9-11

What other mandate do you think we should have had?

A lot, if not all, of our Government's mandate was hidden Barbara. If the Canadian people knew that our Troops were going there to hunt down, root out, and kill insurgents it would not have passed as quickly as it was shoved.

Canada has always, since Korea, been involved in peacekeeping missions. If that is to change then it needs some talking about within parliament. I think this Prime Minister has too close a ties with G.W.Bush...

[Barbara Moulton]

A lot, if not all, of our Government's mandate was hidden Barbara. If the Canadian people knew that our Troops were going there to hunt down, root out, and kill insurgents it would not have passed as quickly as it was shoved.

Canada has always, since Korea, been involved in peacekeeping missions. If that is to change then it needs some talking about within parliament. I think this Prime Minister has too close a ties with G.W.Bush...

Well, you can't have it both ways Mark. It was the Liberal government that took us into Afghanistan so if there was a "hidden mandate" at that time, you can't say it was because our present Prime Minister's has "ties" with George Bush.

And what are those ties you speak of? I don't see them. I see a more cordial relationship which is good and preferable to the Liberal government relationship with the US government. Their habit of habit of spitting insults at the US and its President was appalling. But the myth that somehow Harper is simply tagging along with Bush is media spin IMHO.

We've been fortunate to be in the position of peacekeepers for a long time. (Although I don't see the Gulf War as being a peacekeeping role.) That's a blessing. We've also been fortunate to be living next door to a powerful nation that yes, sometimes takes us for granted, but would be there to help us if we were attacked.

Afghanistan WAS directly linked to the attacks of 9-11. If we had not supported the US in toppling the Taliban I would have been ashamed of my country.

I am fortunate to have lived most of my life without my nation being involved in war. But I never believed (though I dared to hope) that this would last my whole lifetime. We have never been afraid of doing what needed to be done in the past. In both World Wars we were involved before the US.

I grieve for the sudden escalation of deaths of our troops in Afghanistan. This increase is because of the increase in the insurgency that was not as immediately apparent in that country as it was in Iraq. It is sad. The civilian deaths are tragic.

But I will not start criticizing my government nor the soldiers who are in battle on the basis of what the Toronto Star has to say about it.

Blessings,
Barbara

[Mark Doble]

Well, you can't have it both ways Mark. It was the Liberal government that took us into Afghanistan so if there was a "hidden mandate" at that time, you can't say it was because our present Prime Minister's has "ties" with George Bush.

And what are those ties you speak of? I don't see them. I see a more cordial relationship which is good and preferable to the Liberal government relationship with the US government. Their habit of habit of spitting insults at the US and its President was appalling. But the myth that somehow Harper is simply tagging along with Bush is media spin IMHO.

We've been fortunate to be in the position of peacekeepers for a long time. (Although I don't see the Gulf War as being a peacekeeping role.) That's a blessing. We've also been fortunate to be living next door to a powerful nation that yes, sometimes takes us for granted, but would be there to help us if we were attacked.

Afghanistan WAS directly linked to the attacks of 9-11. If we had not supported the US in toppling the Taliban I would have been ashamed of my country.

I am fortunate to have lived most of my life without my nation being involved in war. But I never believed (though I dared to hope) that this would last my whole lifetime. We have never been afraid of doing what needed to be done in the past. In both World Wars we were involved before the US.

I grieve for the sudden escalation of deaths of our troops in Afghanistan. This increase is because of the increase in the insurgency that was not as immediately apparent in that country as it was in Iraq. It is sad. The civilian deaths are tragic.

But I will not start criticizing my government nor the soldiers who are in battle on the basis of what the Toronto Star has to say about it.

Blessings,
Barbara


In no way shape or form do I criticize our Soldiers. They do a job I would not ask my son to do. But if he decides to I am behind him. As I am behind any Canadian Soldier. I would fight to the death for my Country as well. If called to do so. Which we may have to do in the near future, on the streets of our Cities
The more cordial relationship which you speak of reminds me of the raw deal that was struck in regards to softwood lumber. I believe it will be voted on sometime this month if not this week.
A shift in Canadian policy is surley seen since Harper took over. Militarily for sure, and not that we did not need it, and I am in favour of it.
If the former Liberal Gov. could not "get er done" how come this one can? They tow the US line, suck up to em. However, if that is the way things get done, is it acceptable to the Canadian people?

[Bob Woolley]

Well, Harper is a darn sight better that what we had in there! A corrupt, selfish government who only looked out for themselves. My view of them is not any better and we have a bit of that now going on with this provincial government here in Nova Scotia. After all it was this Tory government that put Nova Scotia in debt in the first place borrowing millions from US banks at high interest rates. I am doubtful, due to Honest John, that we will ever get out of debt.

In war, you must remember nobody wins and it is usually the good guys who get hurt. But we cannot let evil reign and we must fight against it even if I don't always agree with policy. Warning before we attack is not what I would call good policy and that has to change.

My dad once told me, "you are known by the company you keep!" If you allow terrorists in your country and let them continue to reside there, then you might as well be considered a terrorist as well. This is what happened in Lebanon and I think is happening in Afghanistan. Being friends with evil people is like saying you agree with what they are doing. You are bound to get hurt in the process. But the good get hurt along with the bad in war, and we should not think otherwise.

The way I see it anyways!

[Barbara Moulton]

I must be obtuse but I find your arguments hard to follow Mark.

I'll bow out of the discussion.

Blessings,
Barbara

[Marilyn Lawson]

The other day a solider who was home on leave - said he will go back over there. There is a lot of work to be done.
He had is wife by his side and she backed him up.

Whether we should/should not be there is not the question.

We are there and a job needs to be done.

What this soldier asks of all Canadians is quite simple - SUPPORT THE TROOPS!!!

Send cards, letters - look out for their families.

It is the least that we can do.

My son is old enough to go over seas - he is thinking of enlisting.

As a mom I will be there - as a Canadian, I will do what I can.

Financial support for our troops started back in the 70's.

I was there to see what was taken out from all branches, and the moral of the troops then - dropped.

The monies now being pumped into the service is long over due, it should have been put in many years ago.

Marilyn

[Meghan Schoonover]

Well, I'm still Canadian, but have lived in the US for the past 11 years.

I read that Harper attends an Alliance church? Thought that was interesting.

[Barbara Moulton]

Yes, Harper is a Christian. My daughter worked as an intern in his office a few years ago and was impressed.