Training mission to cost 1 million per soilder per year

[PIK]

If the liberals here don't like it bring it up with iggy and rae , the truth is coming out that ahrper wanted everyone out, but the pressure from them 2 and the army and some common sense ,we are not gfoing to cut and run,personally I could not believe that harper wanted everyone out, I am glad he came to his senses.And remember this was originally a liberal war, a poorly planned liberal war ,that harper came in and cleaned up and took the steps to protect out soldiers.

[M.Dancer]

And given that the Soviet Union got its ass handed to it in Afghanistan, it is highly unlikely that any training we offer military or police forces is going to solve their problems.

Any comparisons to the USSR are inherently false. First, the USSR lost 10 times the number of soldiers in Afghanistan as NATO.

Secondly, the USSR fought a united resistance, the Taliban is anything but, over half the forces the USSR fought are now fighting the Taliban.

Thirdly, the mujahedin never made peace overtures to the Afghan government.

Finally, the USSR was not there to provide stability to the democratic government of Afghanistan.

[Saipan]

should have hired the Taliban to do the training they're obviously better than we are...

We could exterminate them all, a looong time ago (like they did to Jews and Buddhists) Fighting Taliban style. Just send civilian plane with nuclear bombs and make a large airport out of Afghanistan, decorated by glass ornaments.

[Topaz]

Again, I question Harper's word and others are too. The following article asking that question, are Canadians REALLY staying inside the wire? The trained troops will have to leave inside the wire for more training and who will take them out and about? http://www.torontosun.com/comment/columnists/peter_worthington/2010/11/16/16173276.html

[Topaz]

All this money we are spending for this war zone country will probably be a waste after all NATO countries are gone and things go back to the way they were before we got there. If we are having trouble keeping trained soldiers and police over there what makes anyone think it will be better after we leave?

[Wilber]

All this money we are spending for this war zone country will probably be a waste after all NATO countries are gone and things go back to the way they were before we got there. If we are having trouble keeping trained soldiers and police over there what makes anyone think it will be better after we leave?

Maybe it will be a waste and maybe it won't, there are no guarantees. Because there are no guarantees doesn't mean something shouldn't be done or at least tried. What you makes you think it won't be worse after we leave?

[Army Guy]

Canada's debt is $522.337 billion for 2010. The deficit (shortfall in paying back the debt) is over $55 billion, meaning that we are adding that to the debt this year.

Thanks for confirming that our debt load is not 750. bil,

Neither the war or the police training post war can be financially justified.

Thats not what the liberals or Cons think.

There have to be other reasons. And given that the Soviet Union got its ass handed to it in Afghanistan, it is highly unlikely that any training we offer military or police forces is going to solve their problems. Therefore in my mind the extra years over there are not easily justified on any front.

For that matter anyone who has gone in to occupy or conquor the region has had thier asses handed to them...Thank god we are not doing any of that.

[wyly]

But that's not surprising. It isn't really much better than it was, but not much worse either.

It would be better for us to guage the status of the war with numeric graphs as Drew Conway has done.

120,000 professional nato troops and they can't (just like the soviets before) defeat a low tech rag tag milita force...how can anyone have any confidence that the afghan military can do the job any better without nato and it's uber weapons...the war wasn't winnable when we went in and it isn''t winnable now, a waste of money and lives...

[Bob]

For the sake of discussion, let's just assume that it really does cost one million dollars per year to train individual soldiers. It's quite a red herring to suggest that this money would be better spent on education, as if there is some sort of shortage of funding for education in this country. There are already extensive loan programs available in Canada, at both the federal and provincial levels. Beyond that, there are many grants and scholarship programs - primarily rewarding high academic achievement, as well as funds for athletic and artistic achievements, and also ethnic/minority/religious interests. There is simply no reason (virtually) why anyone who sincerely wants a university or college education to not be able to get one.

[Wilber]

120,000 professional nato troops and they can't (just like the soviets before) defeat a low tech rag tag milita force...how can anyone have any confidence that the afghan military can do the job any better without nato and it's uber weapons...the war wasn't winnable when we went in and it isn''t winnable now, a waste of money and lives...

There ya go, because we can't win this thing on our own we shouldn't help the only ones who can which are the Afghanis themselves. This is where our efforts should be going if we want a chance of getting out of this country without leaving chaos behind.

Edited November 17, 2010 by Wilber

[wyly]

There ya go, because we can't win this thing on our own we shouldn't help the only ones who can which are the Afghanis themselves. This is where our efforts should be going if we want a chance of getting out of this country without leaving chaos behind.

it will have no effect...

[Wilber]

it will have no effect...

Keep up with that positive attitude, you will accomplish miracles.

[Guest TrueMetis]

Keep up with that positive attitude, you will accomplish miracles.

I'm not known as an optimist but this guy is a downer.

[maple_leafs182]

These wars are destabilizing Afghanistan.

We are increasing the risk of terrorist attacks by occupying this nation. When you kill peoples family and friends, people tend to get pissed off at you.

This war was lost the day it began.

Teaching people how to kill will only create more problems. Why don't we spend the money building schools, feeding and clothing the poor. Lets do something that would actually benefit people.

[Guest TrueMetis]

Teaching people how to kill will only create more problems. Why don't we spend the money building schools, feeding and clothing the poor. Lets do something that would actually benefit people.

Not having to worry about your school being blown up or being killed is something most people would consider a benefit.

[M.Dancer]

These wars are destabilizing Afghanistan.

And when pray tell was Afghanistan stable?

We are increasing the risk of terrorist attacks by occupying this nation. When you kill peoples family and friends, people tend to get pissed off at you.

The WTC bombing, Cole Attack, African embassy bombings, (11 were all before the liberation of Afghanistan, what's is your point? It could get worse?

This war was lost the day it began.

That was September 11th...so you think we should surrender?

Teaching people how to kill will only create more problems. Why don't we spend the money building schools, feeding and clothing the poor. Lets do something that would actually benefit people.

No one needs to be taught to kill..it is an instinctual skill. On the otherhand it can be made more efficiant....and that saves lives.

[Army Guy]

120,000 professional nato troops and they can't (just like the soviets before) defeat a low tech rag tag milita force...how can anyone have any confidence that the afghan military can do the job any better without nato and it's uber weapons...the war wasn't winnable when we went in and it isn''t winnable now, a waste of money and lives...

Based on what facts, here some facts for you, your contribution as a tax payer is 20 dollars a year...and after 2011 it will be reduced to 10 dollars a year...the lives you talk about are our lives, and for the most part Soldiers happen to think this is winnable and that they readily put thier lives on the line most soldiers and have spoken with their actions by returning to this very mission multi times...i guess you did'nt recieve that message...

[Army Guy]

Teaching people how to kill will only create more problems. Why don't we spend the money building schools, feeding and clothing the poor. Lets do something that would actually benefit people.

Most of the NGO's have hundrds of postions open to do just that, i can send you contacts if you want to sign up....pay sucks, living conditions suck, get to see a whole new part of the world, see the effects of war, people for the most part are great,well except those damn taliban guys. everything is gravy until they drag your infidel ass off to some desert camp to make video's.

[PIK]

Maybe it will be a waste and maybe it won't, there are no guarantees. Because there are no guarantees doesn't mean something shouldn't be done or at least tried. What you makes you think it won't be worse after we leave?

Just like there is no guarantee that the kid that was sent to college on the goverment dime ,stays in college.

[PIK]

And when pray tell was Afghanistan stable?

The WTC bombing, Cole Attack, African embassy bombings, (11 were all before the liberation of Afghanistan, what's is your point? It could get worse?

That was September 11th...so you think we should surrender?

No one needs to be taught to kill..it is an instinctual skill. On the otherhand it can be made more efficiant....and that saves lives.

Back in the 60's 70's afghanistan was a vibrant place to be,with markets and business's ,it was doing quite well I understand till the russians showed up.

[M.Dancer]

Back in the 60's 70's afghanistan was a vibrant place to be,with markets and business's ,it was doing quite well I understand till the russians showed up.

The Russsians didn't show up for no reason....the was a little something called the Afghan civil war started on or about 1976. It got worse when the regime tried to break the power of the warlord...The communist afghan government called on the Soviets to assist in 1979...

[wyly]

Keep up with that positive attitude, you will accomplish miracles.

ya ignoring history is so wise...the day canada went in I said we can't defeat this enemy and I was right...negotiated settlement was the only solution to ending the conflict other than ethnic cleansing and I was right again, now both sides are talking...

continue on wearing your rose coloured sunglasses your delusions are fun...

[wyly]

Back in the 60's 70's afghanistan was a vibrant place to be,with markets and business's ,it was doing quite well I understand till the russians showed up.

oh the hypocrisy...ya those idiot russians who tried to open schools for girls and give women equal rights and a secular government free of religious influence..

it didn't go well for them and our government was to stupid and arrogant to see it would go the same way for us...

[M.Dancer]

.....now both sides are talking...

One day, you may be right. But not today.

Afghan Taliban threaten death to all talking peace

(AP) – Nov 5, 2010

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Scribbled notes from Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar have surfaced in mosques all over Afghanistan's ethnic Pashtun heartland, threatening death to anyone who takes up a government offer to negotiate for peace, according to a longtime Taliban member.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5js1Usg_Q8xJGyX8JerUauwXFb_Xg?docId=4b1d987587244fdc83638e225f4d189b

There are, regrettably, explanations for this bonhomie that have nothing to do with religious sentiments. For months now, figures linked to the Taliban have been holding a not-so-secret dialogue with Mr Karzai. Mr Karzai believes that Pakistan, the patron of his interlocutors, will be able to deliver a workable deal. Like many in Afghanistan, Mr Karzai believes the West will one day walk away. When that happens, he wants to be on the winning side.

But there’s a catch: the jihadists who are talking peace aren’t the ones making war

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/praveenswami/100064208/in-afghanistan-the-jihadists-talking-peace-aren%E2%80%99t-the-ones-making-war/

[eyeball]

That was September 11th...so you think we should surrender?

This conflict started long before September 11th.

That's when we should have begun suing for peace.