Canadians in Afghanistan

[Rissask]

Spinoff thread of the Jane Fonda, 'supporting the troops' one.

2500 Canadian troops under the International Security Assistance Force in Khandahar, Afghanistan- 44 dead soldiers so far.

Polls suggest roughly half of us think we should be there and stay until the region is 'stable'....the other half think we have no place there in the first place and should get out ASAP.

What do you think? I am torn. I think, unlike Iraq, Afghanistan was a worthwhile place to go in and route out the Taliban...OTOH, is this only making things worse in the long run?

[Rissask]

Damn. I meant to make this a poll.

[dartay]

Originally Posted by Rissask

2500 Canadian troops under the International Security Assistance Force in Khandahar, Afghanistan?

Did you guys borrow some from somewhere? I didn't think the Canadian army was that big.

[Rissask]

Originally Posted by dartay

Did you guys borrow some from somewhere? I didn't think the Canadian army was that big.

2500 for a country of 30 million

you guys have 12000 troops and a pop of 250 million.

Not too bad.

[dartay]

Originally Posted by Rissask

you guys have 12000 troops and a pop of 250 million.

300 million - get it straight. Nearly the population of Canada here illegally.

On a more serious note. I do respect the brave Canadians who have given their lives in Afghanistan. I, for one, believe that we should be there (actually I believe that we should have more troops there trying to get Osama). And I do believe that in the long run that we are doing the right thing.

[UGAplaya]

Originally Posted by dartay

300 million - get it straight. Nearly the population of Canada here illegally.

On a more serious note. I do respect the brave Canadians who have given their lives in Afghanistan. I, for one, believe that we should be there (actually I believe that we should have more troops there trying to get Osama). And I do believe that in the long run that we are doing the right thing.

I agree with you. Now let's back our American and Canadian troops as we go and kick Iran's tail too.

[Rissask]

On a more serious note. I do respect the brave Canadians who have given their lives in Afghanistan. I, for one, believe that we should be there (actually I believe that we should have more troops there trying to get Osama). And I do believe that in the long run that we are doing the right thing.

I sure agree with that bolded line! We might all be done in there by now if all those troops had not been 'diverted' to Iraq.

I do think getting rid of the Taliban is a very good thing. And it does affect us, the whole world.

Get a load of this story.

Hérouxville's mayor and all six of its city councillors have a simple message for immigrants looking to settle in the small Quebec town: "The lifestyle that they left behind in their birth country cannot be brought here with them and they would have to adapt to their new social identity."

In accordance with that message, municipal officials have drafted a five-page charter laying down the ground rules for life in Hérouxville. Among other rules:

"Stoning women to death in the town square, burning them alive or burning them with acid" is strictly prohibited."

"Schoolchildren are permitted to sing and clap their hands and play sports or games together."

"If children are eating beef, for example, they will not seek to find out where the beef came from, who slaughtered it or where, how and when it was slaughtered. In our families, what goes into the mouth feeds the body. The soul is fed otherwise."

"In order to facilitate your identification, it is at all times prohibited to cover your face in public. The only possible exception to this rule occurs on Halloween."

The 1,300 inhabitants of Hérouxville are, of course, overwhelmingly white, overwhelmingly francophone and overwhelmingly Catholic. A Dominican family and an adopted seven-year-old from Haiti are the town's only visible minorities; a French man, an American man and a family from Nova Scotia make up the rest of the town's "new arrivals." There are no indications any of them have ever participated in public lapidation, expressed objections to singing and hand-clapping or lusted after Halal meat. But in Hérouxville, prevention is the best medicine.

Those French Canadians!!

[dartay]

Originally Posted by UGAplaya

I agree with you. Now let's back our American and Canadian troops as we go and kick Iran's tail too.

As much as I'd like to agree with you, we are stretched thin now.

The Iranian problem may be self limiting. There is no question that the hard liners there are intending to build nukes. But, there is resistance from within. And I'm hoping that those folks along with pressure from the West is enough to cow them for a while.

Besides, they're a direct threat to Israel. If they get close to having a nuke, the Israelis can't afford to have them around. They'll take the first step.

[Daddy B]

Originally Posted by UGAplaya

I agree with you. Now let's back our American and Canadian troops as we go and kick Iran's tail too.

Onwards, Christian soldiers!

[dartay]

Originally Posted by Rissask

I do think getting rid of the Taliban is a very good thing. And it does affect us, the whole world.

I agree that limiting the Taliban's influence is what we should be striving for. Unfortunately, Karzai is already calling for talks with them. This will only embolden them. The USA's enemies - and Canada's to a lesser extent - know that if they can withstand the first blow that the liberals in the US don't have the stomach for extended conflict.

[Rissask]

Originally Posted by dartay

I agree that limiting the Taliban's influence is what we should be striving for. Unfortunately, Karzai is already calling for talks with them. This will only embolden them. The USA's enemies - and Canada's to a lesser extent - know that if they can withstand the first blow that the liberals in the US don't have the stomach for extended conflict.

Mainly, we don't have the numbers. Or the same type of thirst for revenge.

[Tres Piernas]

Sounds to me that some believe in peace through superior fire power...

[dartay]

Originally Posted by Tres Piernas

Sounds to me that some believe in peace through superior fire power...

There is no other kind.

[Rissask]

Originally Posted by Tres Piernas

Sounds to me that some believe in peace through superior fire power...

'fighting for peace is like screwing for virginity'

Yeah, normally, I think that is very true (or at least amusing )...but would you not agree there has been battles and wars in history that have been necessary and justified? I am sure glad my grandfathers both fought in WW2.

[Tres Piernas]

Being in the midst of a civil war can be dangerous. The Russians had two decades there, with no positive outcome for them.
The U.S. had the same results in Vietnam.
When will the politicians learn????