Does Canada need military "anti-insurgent" units?

As for the implementation of a new “Special Forces Anti-Insurgent” unit in our military, I, for one, find the whole concept highly disturbing and, at the very least, un-Canadian. And who will train them? Will this be another integrated process where we work with American special insurgent forces in training? Once again, all naivete aside, in light of how not only Canadians but the entire planet feels currently about how the American military deals with so-called insurgents, especially after viewing photographs taken from the now completely secured prisons in Iraq, I don’t see how integrated training would in any way represent a Canadian perspective on the treatment of prisoners of war or, in fact, who is to be considered an insurgent or prisoner of war.

Jennifer Leask, Peter Mansbridge, Rex Murphy, Ian Hanomansing, TalkBack & Sunday Report Page 2 of 2

We enter dangerous territory today with these new announcements and the Canadian populace should be extremely vigilant in the interpretation of what our military should be representing globally at this time. I, for one, will continue to find out all that I can through calling our military public information lines, searching the internet and speaking with other Canadians to keep abreast of our Canadian military agenda and our relations with the George W. Bush military new world order; and I advise ALL Canadians to do the same. Never before in the history of our country has our sovereignty been more challenged and more precarious, and if the silent majority doesn’t speak up right now, there sure as hell won’t be an opportunity later.

Medderick Crotteau, Greenwood, British Columbia, CANADA.

P.S.: The last time I checked, Canadians did NOT support the U.S. invasion against Iraq and I can only speculate what kind of message our country is sending to its citizens and the rest of the world by announcing Canada’s intention to create a SPECIAL ANTI-INSURGENT FORCE. And who exactly, by the way, are the so-called insurgents that we are supposed to be getting ready to defend ourselves from?

I believe we need a strong military, but for the life of me I can’t imagine why we would perceive INSURGENCY to be a special threat to Canada. The words TERRORIST and INSURGENT are extremely SUBJECTIVE in today’s world and I’m certain that the majority of Canadians in our country would agree that further integration with George W. Bush’s new world order, especially militarily, goes directly AGAINST every Canadian value, integral and fundamental principle; and further deteriorates Canadian identity on the world stage and at home.

Before we go marching off to a war we said we wanted nothing to do with, shouldn’t we first ask ourselves who we are being threatened by? Is it hundreds of thousands of innocent Iraqi men, women and children who are being overtaken, killed, imprisoned and tortured every day with little to no media coverage in their defence? Is this the enemy we are training our special forces to protect us from? I think not, and I doubt very much that many Canadians do. There is a threat. Not many would argue with you there. But I fear it is a lot closer to home and a lot more cunning than an antiquated rocket launcher strapped to a farmer’s vegetable cart.

Thanks!

Medderick Crotteau [Proofreader's note: this article was edited for spelling and typos on April 25, 2005]

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