Steven Harper considers being a liar of convenience - oh and the rest

[William Ashley]

2011 is the end, no more after 2011, all troops gone by 2011 - by the end of 2011, well maybe some will stay. How many 1/10th of the force? That isn't a removal of troops. I am frankly disgusted by the fact more troops will stay in that god forsaken country, if so.

Let them join the British military as commonwealth citizens if they want to be deployed, or blackwater - one of the many private security firms if they want to stay, or as privately hired guards, but HELL no as Canadian Ambassadors to a butchered country.

If you want to train them, bring the Afghans to Turkey and train them there, in a peaceful environment - BUT no don't keep Canadians deployed in a war environment after they arn't combat troops. Canadians don't need non combat forces in a combat environment. That is utter stupidity.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/amir-madani/the-dilemma-of-afghanista_b_780450.html

600 troops of 6000 to stay, that isn't a removal it is a LIE, and fabricating falsehoods against good public faith. It is called a reduction - of public trust in government, as to stand up to their word.

There are millions of armed militants that can pounce at any time on Canadian forces. Millions.

http://pakistanledger.com/2010/11/04/9th-year-of-afghan-genocide-4-9-million-dead-3-2-million-refugees/

Edited November 8, 2010 by William Ashley

[M.Dancer]

Outrages for the short term memory challenged..

[nicky10013]

Outrages for the short term memory challenged..

He's not the one that's memory challenged, it seems.

Bob Rae can say whatever he wants but Prime Minister Stephen Harper isn't listening. He said today Canada’s military mission in Afghanistan will end in 2011.

Mr. Harper was responding to the Liberal foreign affairs critic’s assertions this week that there should be some serious discussions between NATO and Canada about what the future looks like for Canada in Afghanistan — a future that Mr. Rae believes could include keeping some Canadian troops in the country.

At a press conference with French Prime Minister Francois Fillon, the Prime Minister was asked about Mr. Rae’s remarks that have caused a stir in official Ottawa.

They didn’t seem to move him — Mr. Harper responded curtly and firmly:

“I think we’ve been very clear. We are working according to the parliamentary resolution that was adopted in 2008 by which Canada’s military mission will end and will transition to a civilian and development mission at the end of 2011,” he said.

“And that continues to be our work plan according to the resolution adopted by Parliament.”

He repeated the exact same answer in French.

Next question.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-notebook/harper-remains-firm-on-2011-deadline-for-afghan-military-mission/article1592009/

[eyeball]

What I get a laugh out of is listening to the Liberals beaking off about Harper not having a clear plan after this stupid mission has gone on for 10 years now.

In any case, 10 years ago I figured our troops would be in Afghanistan for at least 50 years and I'm still standing by that.

[bloodyminded]

What I get a laugh out of is listening to the Liberals beaking off about Harper not having a clear plan after this stupid mission has gone on for 10 years now.

It really is funny, in a gallows humour kind of way. The Liberals, unsurprisingly, are behaving rather hypocritically.

[nicky10013]

It really is funny, in a gallows humour kind of way. The Liberals, unsurprisingly, are behaving rather hypocritically.

How so? You're going to fault the party, which does currently have a comprehensive plan regarding Afghanistan for something that was done 6 years ago?

[William Ashley]

1000 troops "post 2011"

http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Canada+will+commit+nearly+troops+Afghanistan+post+2011/3796060/story.html

[scribblet]

Where's the 'flip flop' - he's sticking to a committment.

“I think we’ve been very clear. We are working according to the parliamentary resolution that was adopted in 2008 by which Canada’s military mission will end and will transition to a civilian and development mission at the end of 2011,” he said.

Capice ?

[bloodyminded]

How so? You're going to fault the party, which does currently have a comprehensive plan regarding Afghanistan for something that was done 6 years ago?

They got us in there in the first place, at an imperious nod from the Empire, even as Chretien was (accurately) expounding on the blowback effects of Western criminality in the developing world.

The Liberals want it both ways.

This is by no stretch a defense of the Conservatives, who are equally untrustworthy.

[nicky10013]

They got us in there in the first place, at an imperious nod from the Empire, even as Chretien was (accurately) expounding on the blowback effects of Western criminality in the developing world.

The Liberals want it both ways.

This is by no stretch a defense of the Conservatives, who are equally untrustworthy.

We went in with a non-combat role. I think it was a mistake for Martin to switch roles, but I don't know many people who think it was a mistake to go in altogether.

As for wanting it both ways, I disagree. No one denies what the Liberal position is. Ignatieff and Rae have been arguing for a debate on what our future in Afghanistan should be. What they're complaining about right now is that not only have they not allowed a debate on what that presence should be, but that this has been incredibly hurried. Whether it actually was hurried or not isn't my call. I can say it was completely dishonest. The military has already started to draw down. It seems as though they're only doing this to justify spending 300 million on the new base in Cyprus.

Edited November 8, 2010 by nicky10013

[nicky10013]

Where's the 'flip flop' - he's sticking to a committment.

“I think we’ve been very clear. We are working according to the parliamentary resolution that was adopted in 2008 by which Canada’s military mission will end and will transition to a civilian and development mission at the end of 2011,” he said.

Capice ?

He said today Canada’s military mission in Afghanistan will end in 2011.

Civilian development is incredibly different than a military non-combat role. Note the term, civilian.

[Topaz]

How can you bring peace to a country that is corrupt? The government get money from Iran, probably drug money and the West gives money to this government and I get a feeling all parties are getting scammed by the Afghanistan PM! I read an article it said some of the troops that have been training, just past few weeks, NATO troops were out with these trainees and the trainees turned and killed four NATO soldiers and retreated to the Taliban. We could be training the Taliban for all we know and knowing this novice government, they couldn't tell which way the wind was blowing! If these 1000 troops have to stay in because of Harper's decision, then I'll blame him and the Tory supporters that keep him there especially after the next election.

[Saipan]

In any case, 10 years ago I figured our troops would be in Afghanistan for at least 50 years and I'm still standing by that.

Unfortunately.

We should only bombed Afghanistan after 9/11 and never enter the country. Like Clinton did with Serbia, a country that didn't attack us.

[Saipan]

We went in with a non-combat role.

Really?

We went there just to talk to Taliban?

Maybe like Chamberlain talked to Hitler, no?

[nicky10013]

Really?

We went there just to talk to Taliban?

Maybe like Chamberlain talked to Hitler, no?

Well, considering we stopped talking to them and are now starting negotiations, I'd say that the combat role failed.

Not all examples are alike.

[Saipan]

Well, considering we stopped talking to them and are now starting negotiations, I'd say that the combat role failed.

Yes, because we didn't simply bombed them without talking.

[nicky10013]

Yes, because we didn't simply bombed them without talking.

Actually we did. The US Air Force had to stop airstrikes because the Afghan government (the American installed Afghan government) warned that the destruction of villages was pushing people into the arms of the Taliban.

[Saipan]

the American installed Afghan government

Taliban talk. They hate elections.

[nicky10013]

Taliban talk. They hate elections.

I love them, but you have to call a spade a spade.

[Saipan]

I love them, but you have to call a spade a spade.

I do. Rake different, as is the shovel. And don't forget maul.