Canada sending more troops to Afghanistan

[Topaz]

Canada is sending more troops to train the army and the police forces and they will stay until july 2011 but I'm not sure on that because the US has also been spending billions in training and at what results? http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/canada-to-send-90-additional-training-soldiers-to-afghanistan/article1527230/

[Topaz]

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Military/2010/0325/ Pentagon-wants-33-billion-more-for-war-in-Afghanistan This article is about the money the US is spending and 2.6 billion on training also.

[Dave_ON]

This is a good thing. It's utterly impractical for NATO forces to stay there indefinitely and if we don't train the Afghan troops to stand on their own, then the entire mission will have been for nothing. Granted Karzai is probably one of the most corrupt politicians and I doubt he'll last long after NATO pulls out. That is if he doesn't decide to make good on his threat to join the Taliban.

Overall 90 additional troops aren’t really that many, and their purpose is a good one. Train the Afghan army and police to handle their own affairs and maintain order without NATO assistance. Perhaps then some semblance of order and stability can be brought to the region. I guess the question is can the corrupt administrators of this budding "democracy" keep things running smoothly after we leave?

Edited April 8, 2010 by Dave_ON

[bush_cheney2004]

Wow...90 more troops...that's shocking!

I guess it's because they are going in the wrong direction?

[Smallc]

Wow...90 more troops...that's shocking!

I guess it's because they are going in the wrong direction?

Well, if you multiply that by population, it's like the US sending 850....or if you multiply it by military spending, it's like the US sending about 4000.

[bush_cheney2004]

Well, if you multiply that by population, it's like the US sending 850....or if you multiply it by military spending, it's like the US sending about 4000.

The US has already augmented levels with far more than 850. Ninety troops is less than one company depending on the mission. Politically, the number is not significant, it's the direction of their boots.

[Topaz]

Wow...90 more troops...that's shocking!

I guess it's because they are going in the wrong direction?

Hey BC, the US has spent 6 Bil and here goes another 2.1 Bil. you'd think they would have a really good trained army and police.

[Smallc]

The US has already augmented levels with far more than 850. Ninety troops is less than one company depending on the mission. Politically, the number is not significant, it's the direction of their boots.

In Canada, the number is significant.

[bush_cheney2004]

Hey BC, the US has spent 6 Bil and here goes another 2.1 Bil. you'd think they would have a really good trained army and police.

Not if they die or desert faster than they can be trained. $6 billion is chump change to the US.

[bush_cheney2004]

In Canada, the number is significant.

Why?....mission profiles and force mix can easily be more dynamic than 90 assets....even for Canada.

[Smallc]

Why?....mission profiles and force mix can easily be more dynamic than 90 assets....even for Canada.

Because in Canada, any military deployment is significant. Adding to our largest one is significant.

[bush_cheney2004]

Because in Canada, any military deployment is significant. Adding to our largest one is significant.

So is there similar excitement when force levels are decreased by 90 troop?

[Smallc]

So is there similar excitement when force levels are decreased by 90 troop?

When the mission is decreased in any way, you'll know it.

[dizzy]

In Canada, the number is significant.

No, 90 is not significant at all. With 'TAVs' and 'SAVs', the number of canadian troops in afghanistan is already considerably higher than the offical count.

[Smallc]

No, 90 is not significant at all. With 'TAVs' and 'SAVs', the number of canadian troops in afghanistan is already considerably higher than the offical count.

I realize that, but especially because it's Afghanistan, any number is significant. It's a thing that people care about.

Edited April 8, 2010 by Smallc

[msdogfood]

Wow how stupid can Harper be!!????.

[Topaz]

Mike Harris of the Ottawa Sun has put it the best and I hope everyone here reads this and hopeful Harper will see it too and pull out of Afghansitan and not leave anyone behind. http://www.ottawasun.com/comment/columnists/michael_harris/2010/04/08/13518111.html

[Born Free]

Mike Harris of the Ottawa Sun has put it the best and I hope everyone here reads this and hopeful Harper will see it too and pull out of Afghansitan and not leave anyone behind. http://www.ottawasun.com/comment/columnists/michael_harris/2010/04/08/13518111.html

Agreed.