"West won’t win Afghan war"

[Wilber]

I believe the author lived in the Middle-East for many years . I, too, don't think the west can beat this guys unless they go in and bomb continuously for days and then probably kill more innocent citizens in the process like the US has in Iraq. IF, NATO starts to kill the people than more troops will have more enemies, then just the Taliban. That's why Iraq is such a mess. Iraqis loss their loved ones by the US and then they turn on the US soldiers. I hate seeing our soldiers come home in caskets but I fear alot more are going to and then what will Harper do to replace them?? Our military is just as stetched as the US.

Far more Iraqis are killed by other Iraqis than by Americans.

[Jerry J. Fortin]

The fact remains that there have been more deaths since the war began than there was before it started. Under Sadam life was tough in Iraq, but the loss of life to civilians was far less than life under the allied occupation. The war was started by means of a lie, and tens of thousands of innocent people have died because of that lie. That is a fact that is overlooked by far too many people.

[killjoy]

Iraq is not Afghanistan, and for that matter the Taliban were not Saddam, nor are they like Iraqi insurgents.

In fact seeing as they appeared to be willing to let 'their' people starve; that making sure all males either had the right length of beard or were arrested, instead of a means to put food on the table; turning Afghans into prisoners in their own country by not letting them leave; -- basically looking at the last 5 years they had in Afghanistan before 2001 and the way they were behaving - well we've seen these elements all come together many times in the past and it usually ends up with millions starving to death or these neat little pyramids of skulls 6' high littering the landscape to the end of any horizon you look at.

We can leave now and go back in 10 years, after the Taliban have likely killed 100000 for revenge alone, and after another initial 'shock&awe' that will kill many (many) more civilians than is happening right now and against a Tougher Taliban, or Canadians can just change the channel and preoccupy themselves with something else while we finish the fight the Tali ran away from the first time.

.

[watching&waiting]

The iraq war I do not believe in and I do think that the USA was wrong to have gone in to this along with Britian. If there is justice in this Tony Blair will have to appear infront of the world court. Bush has removed his USA from the ability for the world court to grab him, but I feel he should also have to appear and explain his illegal actions. That being said there is pretty much not a lot of things that the world can do now in Iraq and it is just better to let the USA and England, try to see if they can just quel the civil war that is breaking out all over Iraq. It is a lose lose situation for both of them and pulling out will also be bad. Maybe it they could just guard the borders against outside interference, while the Iraqi people go about their civil war, would be the best thin g for that.

Afghanistan is a legal war and we are there at the behest of NATO and the elected government of Afghanistan. We are fighting against the taliban and the drug lords and also war lords, who believe they can control the people in thei areas by force no matter the laws of the land. That is going to be a hard fight but just the other day the USA has turned over 12,000 troops to the NATO commander, to taken on the NATO missions. These are not new troops but rather they are from troops where the USA had their own operations and now see it best to let NATO take over and use them as they see fit. This is a very good thing and it does give the USA better optics in this dispute.

There is one area that NATO has not used mostly because these are not part of their organization, but if Nato asked the Soviet Union for battle trianed special operations forces, that could be deployed along the Afghanistan border with Pakistan, this would make the Taliban want to crawl into their skins. There would be huge phsycological advantage in this, and it would scare most of the insurgents completely. But it would also cost a lot of the good will we have received from the rest of Afghanistan. Or we could ask the Chinese government for the same as we would have the S.U. and not have the back lash. In fact a joint effort of Nato with Chine would also be very good for world politics, and would also make running a pipeline for mideastern oil that would be shipped to China thru Afghanistan, a much easier sell to the Afghani people. Since this war can be won with a simple fact of man power, then China would to me be the logical choice.

[jdobbin]

I don't think there is any question people support the troops in Afghanistan but the toll of Canadian deaths is one that might go on for some time.

A Canadiian soldier was killed today in a booby trap.

http://www.turkishpress.com/news.asp?id=144282

Victory might never be clear according to our own top brass.

http://www.mytelus.com/news/article.do?pag...ticleID=2399903

The Taliban can keep changing strategies constantly. The only ones that can defeat them is the Afghan people. The question remains whether they are really willing to do that or if they see Canada and NATO as just another in a long line of occupying forces that prevent them from fighting with one another.

[TravellingTimeMachineSalesman]

The public don't seem to get it! NATO members don't have enough troops on the ground in Afghanistan to win the war against the Taliban. Nation building, reconstruction along with humanitarian aid along with helping

to build up and train the Afghan National Army and police is the main aim of the Americans, British, Canadia-ns, Germans and others. To win the war would require three times the amount of troops that are presently there which would also means that the border with Pakistan would need to be sealed. Seems the western alliance is making the mistake of allowing the Taliban a virtual "safe sanctuary" across the border inside of neighbouring Pakistan.

[jdobbin]

The public don't seem to get it! NATO members don't have enough troops on the ground in Afghanistan to win the war against the Taliban. Nation building, reconstruction along with humanitarian aid along with helping

to build up and train the Afghan National Army and police is the main aim of the Americans, British, Canadia-ns, Germans and others. To win the war would require three times the amount of troops that are presently there which would also means that the border with Pakistan would need to be sealed. Seems the western alliance is making the mistake of allowing the Taliban a virtual "safe sanctuary" across the border inside of neighbouring Pakistan.

The reconstuction teams never even leaves the base anymore.

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/30092006/2/nati...m-kandahar.html

[geoffrey]

The reconstuction teams never even leaves the base anymore.

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/30092006/2/nati...m-kandahar.html

That's because the Taliban enjoys the suffering of "their" people.

[jdobbin]

That's because the Taliban enjoys the suffering of "their" people.

I wonder if NATO can ever secure the area so that it will be safe for the people.

[geoffrey]

That's because the Taliban enjoys the suffering of "their" people.

I wonder if NATO can ever secure the area so that it will be safe for the people.

I think they can. A solidly supported force without restraint to chase down and eliminate every last Taliban supporter and operative will eventually destroy the Taliban. We can win. The average Afghan person just wants best for their family and kids, and they all know that isn't the Taliban.

[jbg]

I think they can. A solidly supported force without restraint to chase down and eliminate every last Taliban supporter and operative will eventually destroy the Taliban. We can win. The average Afghan person just wants best for their family and kids, and they all know that isn't the Taliban.

"Without restraint" is key. Everey single accidental civilian casualty cannot be made cause celebre on the night news.

[Army Guy]

Jdobbin:

I don't think there is any question people support the troops in Afghanistan but the toll of Canadian deaths is one that might go on for some time.

Thats not the message that the troops are getting, actions speak louder than words, and so far we have yet seen any action on the part of the majority of Canadians.

There are alot of Canadians out there that do support us, and to them i say thank you, your support means everything.

The Taliban can keep changing strategies constantly. The only ones that can defeat them is the Afghan people. The question remains whether they are really willing to do that or if they see Canada and NATO as just another in a long line of occupying forces that prevent them from fighting with one another.

The Taliban will be defeated by direct action, and until the Afgan armed forces grows large enough that task has fell on NATO, despite everything you read in the media. we are winning, but it is a slow process. to bad Canadians are not patient enough to see that that thru.

The reconstuction teams never even leaves the base anymore

This is another example of the media printing garbage or half truths, The last 4 soldiers to be killed were from the PRT, the reconstruction team is involved in constrution projects, and winning the hearts and minds of the locals. The reconstruction team is made up of many different teams if you will, construction is just one, there is the polictical side, the construction side, the public relation side. ETC these teams are as busy as the Battle group. Lets keep our eye on the ball here, because it is printed does not make it true.

I'm sure this reporter just made a few new Army friends with this trash...The same guys that will be providing him a protection detail when he goes outside the wire...

geoffrey: Thanks for the vote of confidence, it means alot.

[jdobbin]

Thats not the message that the troops are getting, actions speak louder than words, and so far we have yet seen any action on the part of the majority of Canadians.

There are alot of Canadians out there that do support us, and to them i say thank you, your support means everything.

The Taliban will be defeated by direct action, and until the Afgan armed forces grows large enough that task has fell on NATO, despite everything you read in the media. we are winning, but it is a slow process. to bad Canadians are not patient enough to see that that thru.

This is another example of the media printing garbage or half truths, The last 4 soldiers to be killed were from the PRT, the reconstruction team is involved in constrution projects, and winning the hearts and minds of the locals. The reconstruction team is made up of many different teams if you will, construction is just one, there is the polictical side, the construction side, the public relation side. ETC these teams are as busy as the Battle group. Lets keep our eye on the ball here, because it is printed does not make it true.

I'm sure this reporter just made a few new Army friends with this trash...The same guys that will be providing him a protection detail when he goes outside the wire...

I'm not sure what actions you mean. There are yellow ribbons up and down my street, rallies in support of the troops. I haven't heard of anyone critizing those that serve in the military.

I sincerely believe you are confident that the Taliban are well on to defeat and I keep looking for signs that they won't rear their ugly heads anymore.

I just haven't seen it yet and I think the recent poll numbers show that many people in Canada think this is going to be just like Iraq. Endless.

Kabul now is becoming a dangerous place again. The BBC is reporting some families are thinking of evacuating again.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/5394628.stm

The CP report seemed pretty clear about the lack of progress on the part of the reconstruction team. He talked to the senior office who was pretty discouraged. Hillier was on CBC and CTV Monday night saying that the reconstruction teams have been severely hampered by the insurency. You say the media is wrong but I hear Hillier saying the same thing. Are you saying he is wrong?

If the military is unhappy with the message that is being sent out, they have only the government to blame. The Conservatives weren't out there in the summer explaining what is happening.

[Army Guy]

Jdobbin:

I'm not sure what actions you mean. There are yellow ribbons up and down my street, rallies in support of the troops. I haven't heard of anyone critizing those that serve in the military.

The support you mention is well recieved, and i thank you all for it. But take a minute and view it from our side. one thing that you have to understand that in our profession there can be "no indecission", no hesitation, we must have a can do attitude and if we don't have the solution to a problem we invent one, don't have the right equipment we build it or make do....now transfer this way of getting things done to the outside world and we can not understand WHY ? Why there is a need for debate ? Why canadians support the troops but not the mission ? Why do we not have all the right equipment, such as Big Honking helo's?

Why with all this support that things are not getting down?

I guess my piont is that perhaps Canadians need to step it up a notch, by putting those yellow ribbons in an envelope and sending them to your MP's demanding that the government buy us the equipment we need, equipment that will save lives. Our big honkin helos are not due in until 2010, in the mean time soldiers travel by road. just one example...

If Canadians put as much effort into getting us home ,into supporting the mission this thing would be a done deal by now, If all canadians supported the mission our government would be pouring more funding into re construction, rebuilding, more troops on the ground, "Sort of build it and they will come" and other nations would follow suit. Instead our current government has to put out fires started by the NDP, and now most of the liberals, and spending most of thier energy defending the mission.

Canadians are not getting the true picture of events here from the media, and in this task the media has failed the public, allowing personal feelings, opinions and emotions to get involved. no wonder Canadians are confused about this mission. And the media is fueling this doubt to sell more copies.

One has just got to look at how the same events are covered...One sucide bomber attacks us and we are lossing the war, and the taliban are taking back the country, while the next paper reports it as a desparite attack, of an army on it's last legs...even i'm getting confused and i was there...

I sincerely believe you are confident that the Taliban are well on to defeat and I keep looking for signs that they won't rear their ugly heads anymore.

I just haven't seen it yet and I think the recent poll numbers show that many people in Canada think this is going to be just like Iraq. Endless.

An army that size does not just lose over 500 of it's fighters in one attack and not have an effect. there losses out number ours every day, by many times... and we are not going to get rid of them completely until the rest of the mission gears up to full potential IE reconstruction, polictical reform etc etc.

The proof is in the history, every peace keeping ,peace making mission that has been sucessful has been long term, well over 10 years, rebuilding a nation is not a fast order restrauant. generations of problems need to be solved one person at a time. long imbedded ideals need to be changed.

I know this history post will come back and bite me on the ass, History has shown us that Afgan has never been at peace...they will not be controlled or influenced by any nations...the british, russian, all tried and failed. we are not there to conquor any one, in fact we make it a piont to say we are just there to help then leaving...But then again we knew all that history before we went did we not. then Why did we not say "NO" at that time

The CP report seemed pretty clear about the lack of progress on the part of the reconstruction team. He talked to the senior office who was pretty discouraged. Hillier was on CBC and CTV Monday night saying that the reconstruction teams have been severely hampered by the insurency. You say the media is wrong but I hear Hillier saying the same thing. Are you saying he is wrong?

Lets not confuse the issue, there may be a lack of progress, but that does not mean they are sitting around the barracks getting suntans to suggest it, is dishonoring them and thier accomplishments. As i said before the PRT is made up of many sections and depts, construction teams have been outside the wire regularly, doing other taskings, what your article failed to mention is the rebuilding of the villages destroyed during our last offensive. But rebuilding villiages don't sell papers like destoying them does.

If the military is unhappy with the message that is being sent out, they have only the government to blame. The Conservatives weren't out there in the summer explaining what is happening.

I blame alot of things, the government, the media it self, and politics for taking advantage of this whole mission in order to sell copies or get votes.

[watching&waiting]

Armyguy do not get the wrong idea of who and waht is to blame. The present government has done more for updating the forces in the last six months then the Liberals did in 13 years. Yes it is going toi take time, and that is not much good when you ride in vehicles that should have been amoured better. There are many needs that you guys over there have and yes if it were up to me you would have all you need asap. But both you and I know this is not going to happen any time soon. But if the money that was alloted so far gets some of the things needed, then it will be a small step in a long march. I am too old now to ever be over there, but I am not too old to stand up for a well equipeped standing army or for that matter all forces.

Yes we still have to allow the likes of Gerryhatrick to spew their twisted views, and he is only here to stir things up. Best ignore him, and remember that the vast majority see the need to be there and yes we can see that it will be a fight but in the end we will win out. I hope and pray that you and yours can be returned back here and that the Afghani army will soon have suffient numbers and equipment to keep the land safe for the afghani people. Keep your head down and saty safe, you are more then a welcome member here anytime you can get on the net

[gerryhatrick]

The Taliban will be defeated by direct action,

Not according to a rightwing US Senator:

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist said Monday that the Afghan war against Taliban fighters can't be won militarily and urged support for efforts to bring "people who call themselves Taliban" into the government.

The Tennessee Republican said he learned from briefings that Taliban fighters were too numerous and had too much popular support to be defeated on the battlefield.

http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2006/10/03/taliban-frist.html

[Army Guy]

watching&waiting:

Armyguy do not get the wrong idea of who and waht is to blame. The present government has done more for updating the forces in the last six months then the Liberals did in 13 years. Yes it is going toi take time, and that is not much good when you ride in vehicles that should have been amoured better.

Don't get me wrong i'm a big fan of the present government, but like any government they are guide by opinion polls and votes, and yes they atleast have a plan in place, and have committed money to boast DND. in the long term. But my piont is are they doing everything they can, is the people of Canada doing all they can in preasuring the government into action.

And i'll give you an example They just decided to put over 13 bil on our nations debt, which in normal times would have been a good plan, in fact an excellant idea. But soldiers are dying today, and tommorrow because we don't have CH-47 chinnok helos. a small portion of this money could have purchased a few of these a/c used off the US to temp fill in our needs and save lives..

Thanks for your praise.

As for gerry, well he is a source of entertainment for us over here, and is entitled to his opinion just wish we could turn him to our side so he could channel his energy for our cause.

Gerryhatrick:

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist said Monday that the Afghan war against Taliban fighters can't be won militarily and urged support for efforts to bring "people who call themselves Taliban" into the government.

The Tennessee Republican said he learned from briefings that Taliban fighters were too numerous and had too much popular support to be defeated on the battlefield.

Sounds like a page out of the Layton hand book, let me ask you gerry why would we traval this far down this road to give the current elected government back to the same people we wrestled it's control from.

Why did we come over here in the first place? Why did i have to watch 10 close comrads get loaded onto the back of a herc?

Both the senator and Mr. Layton need to come over here and take a tour, and see for themselfs that the hills are not crawling with the taliban. that is if they can pull there balls out of thier purses. And they will be defeated with direct action. Our last confrontation proved that. it's to bad that only soldiers see that...It's to bad Canadians did'nt listen to thier soldiers.

[killjoy]

All of a sudden it's time to start paying credence to Right wing Republican Senators from the States!

.

[gerryhatrick]

Gerryhatrick:

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist said Monday that the Afghan war against Taliban fighters can't be won militarily and urged support for efforts to bring "people who call themselves Taliban" into the government.

The Tennessee Republican said he learned from briefings that Taliban fighters were too numerous and had too much popular support to be defeated on the battlefield.

Sounds like a page out of the Layton hand book, let me ask you gerry why would we traval this far down this road to give the current elected government back to the same people we wrestled it's control from.

Why did we come over here in the first place? Why did i have to watch 10 close comrads get loaded onto the back of a herc?

Armyguy, the Afghanistan mission is obviously an emotional issue for you. You should look upon information regarding it with a little more cold impartiality.

Bill Frist is the polar opposite of Layton politically. Frist is a huge supporter of Bush and the war on terror. I say that only because it should lend some perspective to his opinions when they appear on the surface to match those of Layton.

I appreciate that you are on the front lines, but that does not give you a lock on the reality of Afghanistan anymore than a US Senator has. In reality, Frist probably knows more of the reality than you would.

[Wilber]

Armyguy, the Afghanistan mission is obviously an emotional issue for you. You should look upon information regarding it with a little more cold impartiality.

Bill Frist is the polar opposite of Layton politically. Frist is a huge supporter of Bush and the war on terror. I say that only because it should lend some perspective to his opinions when they appear on the surface to match those of Layton.

I appreciate that you are on the front lines, but that does not give you a lock on the reality of Afghanistan anymore than a US Senator has. In reality, Frist probably knows more of the reality than you would.

What an incredibly idiotic thing to say. He is only there getting shot at, just like Frisk, Layton and you, right.

Talk about friendly fire, man you come out with some ____ ass stuff.

Love the way you support the troops.

[gerryhatrick]

Armyguy, the Afghanistan mission is obviously an emotional issue for you. You should look upon information regarding it with a little more cold impartiality.

Bill Frist is the polar opposite of Layton politically. Frist is a huge supporter of Bush and the war on terror. I say that only because it should lend some perspective to his opinions when they appear on the surface to match those of Layton.

I appreciate that you are on the front lines, but that does not give you a lock on the reality of Afghanistan anymore than a US Senator has. In reality, Frist probably knows more of the reality than you would.

What an incredibly idiotic thing to say. He is only there getting shot at, just like Frisk, Layton and you, right.

What an incredibly moronic thing to say. Being shot at in Afghanistan does not automaticallygive you complete insight into the best social and political policies there.

[jdobbin]

The support you mention is well recieved, and i thank you all for it. But take a minute and view it from our side. one thing that you have to understand that in our profession there can be "no indecission", no hesitation, we must have a can do attitude and if we don't have the solution to a problem we invent one, don't have the right equipment we build it or make do....now transfer this way of getting things done to the outside world and we can not understand WHY ? Why there is a need for debate ? Why canadians support the troops but not the mission ? Why do we not have all the right equipment, such as Big Honking helo's?

Why with all this support that things are not getting down?

I guess my piont is that perhaps Canadians need to step it up a notch, by putting those yellow ribbons in an envelope and sending them to your MP's demanding that the government buy us the equipment we need, equipment that will save lives. Our big honkin helos are not due in until 2010, in the mean time soldiers travel by road. just one example...

If Canadians put as much effort into getting us home ,into supporting the mission this thing would be a done deal by now, If all canadians supported the mission our government would be pouring more funding into re construction, rebuilding, more troops on the ground, "Sort of build it and they will come" and other nations would follow suit. Instead our current government has to put out fires started by the NDP, and now most of the liberals, and spending most of thier energy defending the mission.

Canadians are not getting the true picture of events here from the media, and in this task the media has failed the public, allowing personal feelings, opinions and emotions to get involved. no wonder Canadians are confused about this mission. And the media is fueling this doubt to sell more copies.

One has just got to look at how the same events are covered...One sucide bomber attacks us and we are lossing the war, and the taliban are taking back the country, while the next paper reports it as a desparite attack, of an army on it's last legs...even i'm getting confused and i was there...

An army that size does not just lose over 500 of it's fighters in one attack and not have an effect. there losses out number ours every day, by many times... and we are not going to get rid of them completely until the rest of the mission gears up to full potential IE reconstruction, polictical reform etc etc.

The proof is in the history, every peace keeping ,peace making mission that has been sucessful has been long term, well over 10 years, rebuilding a nation is not a fast order restrauant. generations of problems need to be solved one person at a time. long imbedded ideals need to be changed.

I know this history post will come back and bite me on the ass, History has shown us that Afgan has never been at peace...they will not be controlled or influenced by any nations...the british, russian, all tried and failed. we are not there to conquor any one, in fact we make it a piont to say we are just there to help then leaving...But then again we knew all that history before we went did we not. then Why did we not say "NO" at that time

Lets not confuse the issue, there may be a lack of progress, but that does not mean they are sitting around the barracks getting suntans to suggest it, is dishonoring them and thier accomplishments. As i said before the PRT is made up of many sections and depts, construction teams have been outside the wire regularly, doing other taskings, what your article failed to mention is the rebuilding of the villages destroyed during our last offensive. But rebuilding villiages don't sell papers like destoying them does.

I blame alot of things, the government, the media it self, and politics for taking advantage of this whole mission in order to sell copies or get votes.

Sorry for the loss of the two Canadian soldiers today. News is still sketchy about what happened. Only a CP story thus far.

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/03102006/2/nati...ed-taliban.html

The lift helicopters that that Canadian military once owned are right there in Afghanistan. The Dutch own them now. Mulroney sold them.

As far as equipment, the Liberal government rushed in the G-Wagons, the Conservatives have rushed in the Leopards. I wish that they could get lift helicopters but even the last Conservative budget didn't have any money allocated for them.

More troops are on the way. More equipment.

Afghanistan is now the biggest foreign expenditure that Canada has and it is growing all the time.

The NDP and the Liberals didn't start the fire of Afghanistan. It was pretty much going on years before Canada arrived. And in fairness to the job of opposition in a parliamentary government, the Official Opposition are there to criticize the mission whether that be on the lack of equipment or the "winnability" of the war itself.

I wish I knew what the tipping point of turning the situation around in Afghanistan will be. Even Afghanis according to the BBC this week are wondering if it is time to evacuate again.

The motivation to really change the situation in Afghanistan has to come from Afghanistan. Canada could committ 100,000 troops but it wouldn't mean a thing if the Afghans didn't fight back even harder than they are now against the insurgency.

I don't think you or anyone wants to have repeats of this conversation 10 years from now, 20 years from now or 30 years from now.

I suspect that if this low grade war goes 10 years, the arguments about Canada backing its troops will take a turn. Perhaps the troops will be asking why they are being used as fodder for a war that doesn't have an end.

[Wilber]

Armyguy, the Afghanistan mission is obviously an emotional issue for you. You should look upon information regarding it with a little more cold impartiality.

Bill Frist is the polar opposite of Layton politically. Frist is a huge supporter of Bush and the war on terror. I say that only because it should lend some perspective to his opinions when they appear on the surface to match those of Layton.

I appreciate that you are on the front lines, but that does not give you a lock on the reality of Afghanistan anymore than a US Senator has. In reality, Frist probably knows more of the reality than you would.

What an incredibly idiotic thing to say. He is only there getting shot at, just like Frisk, Layton and you, right.

What an incredibly moronic thing to say. Being shot at in Afghanistan does not automaticallygive you complete insight into the best social and political policies there.

But sitting on your ass in Canada listening to people who are sitting on their asses in North America does.

[jbg]

I've seen "idiotic" and "moronic" used above. The only pre-PC category for mental retardation not listed was "imbecilic". Could someone please find a way to weave that term into the "debate"?

[gerryhatrick]

Armyguy, the Afghanistan mission is obviously an emotional issue for you. You should look upon information regarding it with a little more cold impartiality.

Bill Frist is the polar opposite of Layton politically. Frist is a huge supporter of Bush and the war on terror. I say that only because it should lend some perspective to his opinions when they appear on the surface to match those of Layton.

I appreciate that you are on the front lines, but that does not give you a lock on the reality of Afghanistan anymore than a US Senator has. In reality, Frist probably knows more of the reality than you would.

What an incredibly idiotic thing to say. He is only there getting shot at, just like Frisk, Layton and you, right.

What an incredibly moronic thing to say. Being shot at in Afghanistan does not automaticallygive you complete insight into the best social and political policies there.

But sitting on your ass in Canada listening to people who are sitting on their asses in North America does.

You think Bill Frist sits on his ass in Canada listening to people who are sitting on their asses in North America?

Just shut it, please.