Unfortunately, it appears that support was fleeting because the opposition actually has control of the House. Even with two anti-military parties (NDP/Bloq) the government has been able to extend the mission twice thanks to some level headed Liberals. I think PM Harper made a huge mistake by allowing Parliament to vote on matters of military importance. Only the government of the day can send troops into battle. The Liberals sent our troops into Afghanistan without consulting Parliament. I will never forget the pictures of our troops in green camo's out in the desert. We had to rely on Russia to transport our troops and equipment. That has changed, it started with Paul Martin, and continued with PM Harper, and it should continue every year no matter who is in power. A country is only as strong as it's military.
Now we have Hillary telling us to stay the course. Normally I would be agreeing, but my opinion has changed.
I wanted our troops in Afghanistan to protect the women and children, and I support the desire of our troops to stay the course. They are the pros, and we should listen to them, and respect the memory of those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice. The political landscape has unfortunately changed, and the Conservatives have gone from outright support of our troops, to a, sorry boys/girls we can't do it, because the opposition are anti-war. Consider what province is most anti-military in Canada! Right, Quebec. This should not be about votes. This does not wash with me or the millions of Canadians who have gone from indifference towards our troops, to support like on the Highway of Heroes. Canadians do not want peacekeepers, they want warriors. I want to know that the government supports our troops and will continue to fund them.
My support for our troops remains solid, what has changed my opinion is the corrupt government of Afghanistan. They do not care about their own people. They want to invite the Taliban to the table. If that is the case, it's time for our troops to leave. The Afghan people supposedly want us, but Karzai seems to be abandoning his own people.
NATO offensive may not go ahead: Karzai
At a fractious "jirga" meeting of about 2,000 tribal elders, politicians and citizens from Kandahar province and neighbouring provinces, Mr. Karzai asked those assembled if they were worried about the operation, expected to be NATO's largest-yet in Afghanistan.
"We are worried!" many shouted back. Mr. Karzai then assured them, "There will be no operation unless you are happy."
His administration will engage in further consultation with the province's people before deciding about the operation, Mr. Karzai promised at the meeting in Kandahar City.
It is time for the Afghan people to take up the reins of their own country. Karzai wants the Taliban back, and the people are unwilling to give our troops information that would lead to the capture of the Taliban.
I wish our troops could stay, but as a strong supporter of our military, I want them home, because as far as I can see, Afghanistan doesn't want to change. Iraq changed because the people wanted it, I see more hope for Iraq than I do for Afghanistan. Afghans do not want to help themselves, if they did they would have built up a professional army to look out for it's people. They would have a law system that would protect the women and children, and lock up the drug criminals. The problem is that most of the drug criminals are part of the Afghan government.
Keep some troops there to train the Afghan military and protect the companies doing reconstruction work, but that is it. Do we stay or do we go? It pains me immensely to say this, but I say go. Enough!
11 comments:
I guess that's the thanks you get.....they now want the headhackers back (Taliban) in control. I say when we pull out, how about we fly a few CL-215 water bombers over the poppy fields and let the agent orange rain down?
With Kazari threatening to quit and join the taliban, and the refusal of the afghan people to help themselves, I say, bring our troops home.
Re Hillory, hasn't O already told the afgnans that his troops will all be leaving next summer.
It wouldn't bother me if we got out of the UN, and maybe even NATO.
The afghans have not appreciated what our, and other troops, have tried to do for them.
Well, Hunter, I have to say that I am totally against our troops in Afghanistan. We keep losing our men and women and for what? Not much has changed. Women are still living in fear, still wearing those wretched burkhas and the Taliban is still alive and well. The drug trade seems to be the main economic driver and I don't see people living any better than they were before. So many countries have troops there and yet it remains the same. I am looking forward to our withdrawal from that country.
Agree 110% Hunter.
It appears the Afghans have modernized to a point where they now want to take over the reins, and boot NATO to the curb....and they have that right.
Afghanistan will not be a Canada or Italy, unless they decide that is what they want.
It's that old story of stop giving them fish, teach them how to fish and move on.
It's not true to say nothing has changed in Afghanistan.
we defintely made a difference.
It was naive to think the Western world could drag Afghanistan out of the 14th century into the 21st, in 10 years.
Eskimo and MaryT nailed it - not only is Karzai turning out to be a zero (how many lives were lost getting him into office) but the people don't want to change. I don't know why we insist on sending our people to die for ungrateful people who don't want to change. Bring our troops home ASAP.
Agreed. Bring them home.
I say stay. Soon we will have a competent government in Canada. The current government has botched this mission to say nothing of our international stature. But the next government will fix the problems, stop using this war for its own political ends and continue to help the people there.
It's the CPC government that has so badly lost the hearts and minds battle. The next government will face an uphill climb to win it back.
Just the fact that we can shake off our own would be dictatorship here would encourage the Afghans to work with us.
And that competent government will be a conservative majority.
"Would be dictatorship"? WTF are you talking about LS?
What part of minority government don't you understand?
How many opportunities have Dion and Iggy had to bring the government down during the past several years? How many times did they vote along with CPC legislation? (That is, when they even bothered to show up to cast a vote in the House).
It was 13 years of dictatorial LIBERAL government and incompetence of gutting our Canadian military that made us weak. The CPC has shown the respect our military deserves and pantywaists like you piss and moan that Harper has brought disrespect upon Canada's world standing. Give your little socialist head a shake.
You want an election? Bring it on. I would crawl over broken glass to get to the polling station so that your party of corrupt thieives NEVER return to power.
Oh and by the way, who got us into Afghanistan in the first place? None other than you beloved dithering party of losers.
Hunter, please excuse my Francais should you chose to post this.
Eskimo, I posted that garbage so that Conservatives get to see the delusional lefties point of view. Liberal supporter sometimes has something constructive to say, but I think this time he was just trying to rile up us Conservatives.
I would like to say that LS was joking, but unfortunately he was probably serious. Liberal minds, lost in space.
"And that competent government will be a conservative majority."
Zzzzzzzzzing. Smackdown. Slam Dunk.
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