"The "war on terror/long war" is not justifiable."
I don't disagree with you. But, Afghanistan is not Iraq. We were attacked by forces based in Afghanistan. Iraq was never capable of projecting it's power outside it's borders. If we did nothing, we would condone the murder of thousands of civillians. Now that a democratically elected government has been elected, and that government has asked us to stay, I think we should do the best job we can to help them.
"And just because our troops are trained to "believe" they are doing somegthing justifiable does not make it necessary for me to support where our less than moral corporate driven government sends them."
Here's a little thing I saw posted on another site:
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Our Canadian Military:
The average age of the military man is 19 years. He is a short haired, tight-muscled kid who, under normal circumstances is considered by society as half man, half boy. Not yet dry behind the ears, not old enough to buy a beer, but old enough to die for his country. He never really cared much for work and he would rather wax his own car than wash his father's; but he has never collected unemployment either.
He's a recent High School graduate; he was probably an average student, pursued some form of sport activities, drives a ten year old jalopy, and has a steady girlfriend that either broke up with him when he left, or swears to be waiting when he returns from half a world away.
He listens to rock and roll or hip-hop or rap or jazz or swing and 155mm howitzer.
He is 10 or 15 pounds lighter now than when he was at home because he is working or fighting from before dawn to well after dusk.
He has trouble spelling, thus letter writing is a pain for him, but he can field strip a rifle in 30 seconds and reassemble it in less time in the dark.
He can recite to you the nomenclature of a machine gun or grenade launcher and use either one effectively if he must.
He digs foxholes and latrines and can apply first aid like a professional.
He can march until he is told to stop or stop until he is told to march.
He obeys orders instantly and without hesitation,
but he is not without spirit or individual dignity. He is self-sufficient.
He has two sets of fatigues:
he washes one and wears the other.
He keeps his canteens full and his feet dry.
He sometimes forgets to brush his teeth, but never to clean his rifle.
He can cook his own meals, mend his own clothes, and fix his own hurts.
If you're thirsty, he'll share his water with you; if you are hungry, his food.
He'll even split his ammunition with you in the midst of battle when you run low.
He has learned to use his hands like weapons and weapons like they were his hands.
He can save your life - or take it, because that is his job.
He will often do twice the work of a civilian, draw half the pay. . .and still find ironic humor in it all.
He has seen more suffering and death then he should have in his short lifetime.
He has stood atop mountains of dead bodies, and helped to create them.
He has wept in public and in private, for friends who have fallen in combat. . .and is unashamed.
He feels every note of the National Anthem vibrate through his body . . .while at rigid attention, while tempering the burning desire to 'square-away' those around him who haven't bothered to stand,
remove their hat,
or even stop talking.
In an odd twist, day in and day out, far from home, He defends their right to be disrespectful.
Just as did his Father, Grandfather, and Great-grandfather,
he is paying the price for our freedom. Beardless or not, he is not a boy.
He is the Fighting Man that has kept this country free for over 200 years.
He has asked nothing in return, except our friendship and understanding.
Remember him, always, for he has earned our respect and admiration with his blood.
And now we even have women over there in danger, doing their part in this tradition of going to War when our nation calls us to do so.
As you go to bed tonight, remember this..
A short lull, a little shade and a picture of loved ones in their helmets is their only wish.
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"Dr. C. I have a soft spot for you. Imagine how we'd get along if I really couldn't stand you? "
As I have for you. Cats and dogs I'd imagine.
"I would have thought by now that you would know I have a very low opinion of war period. The more I learn about the way Canada participates in going to war and for the reasons we go to war I have a very hard time remaining civil when anyone tries to justify it."
I do know you have a very low opinion of war, but I also see the FUD rather than fact spread about it and it makes me angry too. If you're going to hate what Afghanistan represents, do it based on facts. Emotions just cloud up the facts. I also appreciate the civility, but you have to understand that when anyone suggests that a Canadian soldier could possibly execute people, my reaction is also quite emotional. You may blame the government or the military for what you percieve as a illegal or inneffective war, but please, never blame the soldier.
It's ingrained in them; they are taught the law, and they are taught what is a legal order. And they will never disobey a legal order from a superior.
"If I try and put myself in your shoes however, having killed people thinking you had done it to make "Canada" safer and if I ever found out that I may have been duped, well, I can see that could be a hard reality to deal with and I may never face that."
After Somalia and Croatia, there was an awful lot of chemical and alcohol running through my body because people did blame the soldiers. I still believe what we did there was with good intentions and justified, even though we 'failed'.
"And, I see that as yet another reason to never ever send someone on a mission that is unjustifiable."
When I hear of Sappers who are disarming car bombs daily, at great personal risk, I have no problem justifying it. They could just evacuate the street, toss in a grenade in or shoot it from a distance and detonate it. Lots of property damage, but no risk. But they choose to rish their lives instead.
Opium production fell in 2005, democratic elections were held, and the elected government has asked NATO to stay (so I get irritated at the terms 'occupation' or 'drug fueled').
Perhaps the premise for the mission is flawed, but I believe the actions there are not.
'My dream is like the 1970s movie titled something like "Suppose they gave a war and nobody came?"
Mine is that politicians and their families are the only ones that go to war. But I like yours too.
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"I think it's important to always carry enough technology to restart civilization, should it be necessary." Mark Tilden
Posted: Fri Mar 03, 2006 2:39 am 
