Four Canadian Soldiers Killed In Afghanistan

The tragic part is, in spite of the hot air bubbles blown by Harper et al, that these guys died for nothing. As have my own friends in WW2 and those we and I have killed, with both sides fighting for "freedom".

The few thousand so called NATO troops can't even cover a few main roads, let alone the countryside of Afgh. The Soviets had 120,000 there at any given time and got kicked out, with about 15,000 killed. Afgh. broke the Soviets' back, as the warmongering, empire builder dreams may do it for the Bush gang and their followers.

The US had a turnover of 2.4 million troops in the 15 years of Vietnam, which is a fraction of the size of Afgh. with 58,000 killed and over 300,000 wounded. At the same time up to 4 million Vietnamese were killed and many millions more wounded and crippled for life, huge areas destroyed, with thousands of US soldiers not repatriated from and left behind in the POW camps. This has been well documented. Also, Vietnam broke the US Treasury and the country has been running on hot air and imginary dollars since.

Could any of our brave neocons come on the line and state that it was all worth it ? The same as it is now in Afgh. where the casualties may not be so dramatic, but will carry on with a few at a time, without the slightest results for bringing "freedom and prosperity" to the country, as the commercial goes .

What the hell for, except to give a pacifiers and PR platforms to heroes like Harper and Hillier ?

Ed Deak, Big Lake, BC.

For Harper to go on a PR campaign? Well, if and when he does he probably won’t end every meeting by saying "Stephen Harper, Ottawa, Ontario."
What are your references all about anyway? Do you really believe our mission in Afghanistan will bankrupt us, and do you really think Breton Woods would have lasted forever more? It hastened the inevitable, and if you think the value of gold is more based in reality than yeah... you must really love shiny stuff.
Furthermore, I really don't see the same resistance in Afghanistan this time around. It's almost as if it's not the same thing at all...
Lastly, for about the 50th time on this site, a little reminder that Harper didn't send Canadians into Afghanistan. He wants to increase funding, but funding doesn't equal troops (since yeah...no conscription), it just means more heavily armored vehicles, helicopters capable of evacuating the wounded and providing support, and maybe someday...TROPHY.
But I guess the hope is that if you repeatedly blame everything on Stephen Harper that eventually someone will forget it's completely unsupported and actually believe it.
Four brave people died for something in which they obviously believed and you're trying to stretch it out into a criticism of Harper. Courageous. If you think brown people are too backwards for democracy just say it. If you think the cost of human life is too high just say it, but don't try to morbidly parlay the lives and deaths of four Canadian heroes to into a political potshot. You'd better never have been among those on this site who have called Bush a psychopath...
As for there being no signs...the Afghani people were galvanized into kicking out the Soviets just as you said. They don't seem nearly as opposed to the idea of the Canadian occupation or the political system it represents.


I'm not telling, And no one should care, Canada.

I love the way you neocons jump all over the countryside with wild allegations to save and support your heroes.

I asked the questions whether the Vietnam war was worth 58,000 American and up to 4 million Vietnamese lives? Also, whether the occupation of Afgh. by the Soviets was worth the lives of 15,000 soldiers, plus whatever the number of Afghans? What have they achieved in either place?

What have the present gang of warmongers achieved in Iraq, or in Afgh, or the millions who are being and will be ruined and killed by cluster bombs and DU ammo, the countless deformed babies born to the soldiers exposed to DU ?

Harper didn't send the troops to Afgh. but he could have recalled them and stop his war making plans to support his quest for pats on the head from Bush and the absorption of Canada into the US. The difference between the Conservatives and the Liberals is the speed they're using to accomplish their sellout plans for Canada on orders of little Tom d'Aquino and his gang of merry men.

As far gold is concerned, we happen to live in a gold producing area, with large mines in the neighbourhood causing huge environmental damage to feed the insatiable demand for copper and gold. Just on Sunday, we were talking with our partners that if we'd find gold on our land, we'd cover it up and shut up about it.

There's nothing wrong with fiat money, as long as its creation is in the hands and under public control and it is done for the benefit of the public and the human race and not for the licencing of expropriation and exploitation by a special interest sector.

As far I'm concerned, all people who blindly support any ideological, religious and economic idiocies that hurt and kill people and destroy the environment for the benefit of ruling classes, are psychopaths.


Ed Deak, Big Lake, BC. in the Cariboo gold country.

Neocons as warmongers and neolibs as good guys is all you can actually see isn't it? If you want to compare the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan to the Canadian occupation then there's really no point in talking to you.
Also, I don't care at all about the environmental problems in your area. Not on this thread.
A lot of people talk about selling out Canada but support that with nothing. It seems the only thing you consider is trade + relations with US = bad, Mercantilism + wording resources = good.
But, if setting minimum penalties and raising the age of consent is so grievous to the Canadian culture then I can understand your panic. Harper is selling us to the US. I mean, he must be. They each call themselves "conservative" and Harper hasn't acted like an infant past his nap time. Conspirators!
Lastly, and the only thing that matters is that believing our troops should actually have an independent medical evacuation strategy, better body armor, better armored vehicles is wild and crazy then fine, I'm out of my mind. Regardless, my insanity would have prevented the sub death, and the friendly fire incident in Afghanistan. I guess the Libs figured the jungle camo could substitute for reflective patches.

Lastly, I find is surprising that you're all too eager to call me a neocon and blame Harper for the war but criticism ideologues.

John Doe, Humbleville, CA

The debating, arguing, shouting and whatnot will go on, but never forget those serving overseas. Don't get caught up in ideological debates over the reasons of why we are there, there's always time for that later, just remember... There are fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, neighbours, and friends serving not us, not the Americans, but people whose lives have been torn apart by civil war and violence for the greater part of their history. I guess what I'm trying to say is, don't let your opinions get in front of your hearts, because in the end, these are real people and they deserve our support, love, and attention. Yes I can see the point about corruption and hidden agendas behind all this, but the time to hit them where it hurts is at the polls (because hitting Harper in the crotch won't affect him much ) and for now, focus on the task at hand (and maybe a little bickering on the sidelines ).

God Bless Our Troops

Four brave people died for something in which they obviously believed <<

Horse honky! They died because they were sent there not because they wanted to defend democracy in Canada. Harper has the oportunity to withdraw the troops and call it a day. Instead he is attempting to convince us it serves a purpose.

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Expect little from life and get more from it.

the Afghani people were galvanized into kicking out the Soviets just as you said. They don't seem nearly as opposed to the idea of the Canadian occupation or the political system it represents.<<

It was Afghani's that killed the Canadians.


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Expect little from life and get more from it.

Another tragedy is

My little flag is at half mast, Harper's isn't / join me!

Another tragedy is the new government's change of policy to refrain from flying flags on Parliament Hill at half mast in honour of our fallen (except on November 11 they say). No doubt this has to do with an expectation of many more to come and too much notice to be taken.

Please join me! For them. We have many more flags than Harper could imagine.

(sorry about the computer glitch previous)

I believe that bringing our troops back NOW is in the interest of the soldiers, the Afgans and the poor bombed, radioactive earth. Saying let the debate go until after the carnage ends is wrong. Maybe the only thing that would end this war is dissent back home. The taliban was not even the reason we went there in the first place so why are we even there.
Buying more war making crap from the states is no answer because we are just freeing up U.S. forces for Iran and god knows who else. And to you neocon wannabes out there WAR SERVES THE WEALTHY! Not the many poor in that country.
And it doesn't take bravery to die in a war zone. What it usually takes is bad command and being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Afganistan is the wrong place.
I just want our people out of harms way.

To Commonsense and his buddies, a simple question.

I challenge you, ALL OF YOU, to tell me EXCATLY how Canadian Troops, operating presently under American command if I recall rightly, being in Afghanistan is making things better for us as Canadians?

Canadians are dying, and I goddamned well want to know EXACTLY why.

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"and the knowledge they fear is a weapon to be used against them"

"The Weapon" - Rush

What do we get from being in Afghanistan? ... damned if I know. The issue of the flag is informative. Since Canadian soldiers are being killed now on a fairly regular basis we should ask when would the flag NOT be placed at half-mast? Basicallly what Harper wants is CONTROL. That means the freedom to continue his (ie. Bush's )policy in the middle east without any "mess" at home. One of the reasons Bush Senior didn't send ground troops into Iraq the first time was the real fear of mounting, and not always predictable, casualities resulting when infantry and armour come into the picture. Nothing "surgical" there. Perhaps thoughtful citizens should buy flags and place them at half-mast in their own yards. If enough people did this Harper would really flip, and possibly threaten. Remember he is a sociopath and these guys do not negotiate.

Remember he is a sociopath and these guys do not negotiate.


Everybody negotiates, even control nazis like Harper, all you need is a big enough stick, and the demonstrated will to use it without even a moments hesitation.

Pain is a great motivator for change.

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"and the knowledge they fear is a weapon to be used against them"

"The Weapon" - Rush

True, if you put it that way. Negotiation implies in my mind a willingness to compromise which generally makes things easier all around. In Harper's cases only direct fear will move him. That is a tall order, but maybe not impossible.