Afghanistan Mission - The Right Thing To Do

[jacknameth]

I was shocked to see the new CTV poll which shows less support for the mission in Afghanistan.

International and domestic security was threatened after 9/11. Thousands of innocent North Americans were murdered. Canada began its participation in the U.N. sanctioned mission and provided a measured response to those who would threaten our peaceful nations.

I wish that peacekeeping was enough, but the reality is that it is not. However, we are bringing peace and stability to the Afghan people. With the help of Canada and its allies, Afghanistan has made remarkable strides since the fall of the Taliban, with -

New hospitals and schools built;

Water wells drilled to bring fresh, clean water to communities;

Registration of 10 million Afghans to vote in successive democratic elections;

Enrolment of 5 million children in primary school;

Significant progress made in de-mining; and

Repatriation of 5 million refugees.

I fully support our Governments decision to help the Afghan people. Canada has a history as a nation that helps those in need and I believe we are doing just that.

[normanchateau]

I was shocked to see the new CTV poll which shows less support for the mission in Afghanistan.

I fully support our Governments decision to help the Afghan people. Canada has a history as a nation that helps those in need and I believe we are doing just that.

I wasn't shocked to see these results which indicate that only 44% now support the mission. I suspect with time, that percentage will continue to decline just as the percentage of Americans supporting the Iraq mission has declined. Arguably, the Iraq issue is responsible not only for the Democrats taking control of both Congress and Senate for the first time in 12 years, but also for the Rumsfield resignation.

As Canadians learn more about the corrupt Karzai government and its involvement with warlords, mullahs and drug smugglers, Harper will wish he'd never extended the mission. The Karzai-ruled Islamic Republic of Afghanistan is a corrupt theocracy. Yes, as you say, Canada does have a history of helping those in need but I don't recall that we have a history of helping corrupt Islamic theocracies

[Canadian Blue]

Afghanistan and Iraq aren't even close to the same situation. First of all Astan is a NATO mission, which has British, French, German, American, and Dutch troops. This is a multilateral operation which has been sanctioned by the UN. As for the corrupt Karzai government, at the time I'll take Karzai over the Taliban.

As Canadians learn more about the corrupt Karzai government and its involvement with warlords, mullahs and drug smugglers, Harper will wish he'd never extended the mission. The Karzai-ruled Islamic Republic of Afghanistan is a corrupt theocracy. Yes, as you say, Canada does have a history of helping those in need but I don't recall that we have a history of helping corrupt Islamic theocracies

Sorry to dissapoint you but alot of soldiers returning from Afghanistan seem to think that the country is starting to improve, even in the volatile south. Consider this women are allowed to vote, go to school, have rights, etc. Something which would have never been imaginable under the Taliban. Canadian's have also cleared a large number of land minds and are contributing to rebuilding Afghanistan. Afghanistan isn't perfect, but its a much better situation then before we went in. The only major problem is that their needs to be more troops brought into the southern part of Afghanistan.

[Figleaf]

If continuing the Afghanistan mission is to be justified on humanitarian grounds, there are a couple of questions that we need to ask:

-Why Afghanistan instead of other places? Darfur could use our help too. So could Myanmar.

-Can Afghanistan be helped? Does building schools in a place where they are murdering teachers and kidnapping students and preventing girls from attending make sense? Will any of our aid be lasting?

[Cameron]

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/taliban/view/

Watch, I'll elaborate later.

[White Doors]

I was shocked to see the new CTV poll which shows less support for the mission in Afghanistan.

International and domestic security was threatened after 9/11. Thousands of innocent North Americans were murdered. Canada began its participation in the U.N. sanctioned mission and provided a measured response to those who would threaten our peaceful nations.

I wish that peacekeeping was enough, but the reality is that it is not. However, we are bringing peace and stability to the Afghan people. With the help of Canada and its allies, Afghanistan has made remarkable strides since the fall of the Taliban, with -

New hospitals and schools built;

Water wells drilled to bring fresh, clean water to communities;

Registration of 10 million Afghans to vote in successive democratic elections;

Enrolment of 5 million children in primary school;

Significant progress made in de-mining; and

Repatriation of 5 million refugees.

I fully support our Governments decision to help the Afghan people. Canada has a history as a nation that helps those in need and I believe we are doing just that.

I agree 100%

[White Doors]

If continuing the Afghanistan mission is to be justified on humanitarian grounds, there are a couple of questions that we need to ask:

-Why Afghanistan instead of other places? Darfur could use our help too. So could Myanmar.

-Can Afghanistan be helped? Does building schools in a place where they are murdering teachers and kidnapping students and preventing girls from attending make sense? Will any of our aid be lasting?

You should ask the UN. They are the one's that asked us to go there.

[Figleaf]

If continuing the Afghanistan mission is to be justified on humanitarian grounds, there are a couple of questions that we need to ask:

-Why Afghanistan instead of other places? Darfur could use our help too. So could Myanmar.

-Can Afghanistan be helped? Does building schools in a place where they are murdering teachers and kidnapping students and preventing girls from attending make sense? Will any of our aid be lasting?

You should ask the UN. They are the one's that asked us to go there.

What do you think they'd say? Would you believe them?

[scribblet]

They would tell you that SAF operates in Afghanistan under a UN mandate and will continue to operate according to current and future UN Security Council (UNSC) resolutions. ISAF’s mission was initially limited to Kabul. Resolution 1510 passed by the UNSC on 13 October 2003 opened the way to a wider role for ISAF to support the Government of Afghanistan beyond Kabul.

[Canadian Blue]

If you thought that we have too many soldiers dying in Afghanistan, then you'd be in for a shock if we got sent to Darfur. No UN Mandate as of yet to go into that region, and if we were to go there soldiers could be getting killed in the hundreds.

-Can Afghanistan be helped? Does building schools in a place where they are murdering teachers and kidnapping students and preventing girls from attending make sense? Will any of our aid be lasting?

We should at the very least try. As I said before we need more troops in the southern region of Afghanistan to help with security. Those that are saying we don't do enough "Humanitarian work" are unaware of the fact the area needs to be secured first. As far as I know things are doing better in the north, as most of our allies are up in that region.

[Figleaf]

They would tell you that SAF operates in Afghanistan under a UN mandate and will continue to operate according to current and future UN Security Council (UNSC) resolutions. ISAF’s mission was initially limited to Kabul. Resolution 1510 passed by the UNSC on 13 October 2003 opened the way to a wider role for ISAF to support the Government of Afghanistan beyond Kabul.

You're saying they would ignore the questions and supply extraneous information?

Remember, the questions I asked were:

-Why Afghanistan instead of other places? Darfur could use our help too. So could Myanmar.

-Can Afghanistan be helped? Does building schools in a place where they are murdering teachers and kidnapping students and preventing girls from attending make sense? Will any of our aid be lasting?

[Figleaf]

If you thought that we have too many soldiers dying in Afghanistan, then you'd be in for a shock if we got sent to Darfur. No UN Mandate as of yet to go into that region, and if we were to go there soldiers could be getting killed in the hundreds.

-Can Afghanistan be helped? Does building schools in a place where they are murdering teachers and kidnapping students and preventing girls from attending make sense? Will any of our aid be lasting?

We should at the very least try.

Why? Why should WE try? Should we try even if it's not likely to succeed? I can't help but notice you're not responding to the likelihood of success question(s).

[Argus]

As Canadians learn more about the corrupt Karzai government and its involvement with warlords, mullahs and drug smugglers, Harper will wish he'd never extended the mission. The Karzai-ruled Islamic Republic of Afghanistan is a corrupt theocracy. Yes, as you say, Canada does have a history of helping those in need but I don't recall that we have a history of helping corrupt Islamic theocracies

Afghanistan's government is no more corrupt than many of the governments we have helped over the years. Where have Canadian soldiers given their lives? In that mess in Yugoslavia, in Syria and Cyrprus, Lebanon, the Congo, Yemen, Vietnam, Iran/Iraq, Namibia, Haiti, etc. How many of them have admirable, honest, caring governments?

We're not there on behalf of local governments, but local people.

[Argus]

If continuing the Afghanistan mission is to be justified on humanitarian grounds, there are a couple of questions that we need to ask:

-Why Afghanistan instead of other places? Darfur could use our help too. So could Myanmar.

Because the former Liberal government commited us to the Afghanistan mission, not those others. Nor is there international agreement to go into those other countries. The Chinese, and French, to begin with, are violently opposed to any UN intervention in Darfur... on humanitarian grounds, of course. The entire Muslim world is opposed to any intervention, as well. You would intervene in the affairs of a sovereign country against the will of the United Nations!? I'm shocked at such a suggestion of violating internatioal law! Shocked!

-Can Afghanistan be helped? Does building schools in a place where they are murdering teachers and kidnapping students and preventing girls from attending make sense? Will any of our aid be lasting?

There are few sure things in the world of international geopolitics. Could it be said when we first sent troops to Yugoslavia that the soldiers whose lives were sacrificed there were on a mission which would definitively make a long lasting difference?

[PolyNewbie]

Argus:We're not there on behalf of local governments, but local people.

No way. We are there to put in corrupt socialistic governments in place of governments that represent the people. In Haiti and Afganistan corrupt governments are in power representing our banks and our corporations for small payoffs - just like here but to a larger extent.

[jdobbin]

I was shocked to see the new CTV poll which shows less support for the mission in Afghanistan.

International and domestic security was threatened after 9/11. Thousands of innocent North Americans were murdered. Canada began its participation in the U.N. sanctioned mission and provided a measured response to those who would threaten our peaceful nations.

I wish that peacekeeping was enough, but the reality is that it is not. However, we are bringing peace and stability to the Afghan people. With the help of Canada and its allies, Afghanistan has made remarkable strides since the fall of the Taliban, with -

New hospitals and schools built;

Water wells drilled to bring fresh, clean water to communities;

Registration of 10 million Afghans to vote in successive democratic elections;

Enrolment of 5 million children in primary school;

Significant progress made in de-mining; and

Repatriation of 5 million refugees.

I fully support our Governments decision to help the Afghan people. Canada has a history as a nation that helps those in need and I believe we are doing just that.

There are 200,000 fewer kids in school this year than last.

Elections can't happen in the volatile south.

Many in the south are becoming refugees again.

More mines are being planted in the south and danger is spreading back north.

The U.S. is spending 25% less on this mission than what they spent in Bosnia.

Taliban are hiding in Pakistan.

People in Canada know all this are worried about long term success in this region.

Harper hasn't allowed Canadian Parliamentarians to travel to the region to see for themselves what can be done.

[normanchateau]

Because the former Liberal government commited us to the Afghanistan mission,

It is the Harper Conservatives who chose to extend the mission. The NDP, BQ and most Liberals opposed this extension. And based on the newest poll, it now appears that most Canadians do not support it either.

[Canadian Blue]

It is also the Liberals who had put us into the volatile south Norman. Do you think Canadian troops would pull out and stab our British, Dutch, and American allies in the back. If we were to pull out it would do harm to our reputation in NATO, and I would presume we would become irrelevant to those countries who are currently in Afghanistan. What we need to push for is more troops in the southern region from other NATO countries.

[jdobbin]

It is also the Liberals who had put us into the volatile south Norman. Do you think Canadian troops would pull out and stab our British, Dutch, and American allies in the back. If we were to pull out it would do harm to our reputation in NATO, and I would presume we would become irrelevant to those countries who are currently in Afghanistan. What we need to push for is more troops in the southern region from other NATO countries.

This is what Canada is doing without much success. The U.S. is spending 25% less in Afghanistan that they did in Bosnia.

[watching&waiting]

I am still trying to hold my tongue in this, but I am sick of the thick head Canadians that thing just because the enemy does not fall down immediately we should then rethink the war effort. These sissy's are never going to agree to any action other then smothering the Taliban with flowers and kind words. Personally they make me sick, and to listen to then in this week where we try to honour our war dead not only from this war but all past wars. But I guess many of the soldiers did die for these guys to have the right to speak their minds. Even though they insult the very being that give them that right.

I do not give a hoot about who brought us to Afghanistan, but rather that we are making a difference. Mindless people have spew but 200,000 les people are in school this year, and I shake my head wanting to show that where the sun don't shine. This is complete posturing and those who use it are traitors and should be stramped out of Canadian society. These people can only find fault in everything anyway. This week is Rememberence week, it used to be just a day in years gone by, but now we feel the need to show more then that for our troops.

We are in afghanistan because it is the right things to do. We are not there alone but with NATO who make up many other countries, and since they also agree that it is right, these whining, and carping naysayers are just a blipm who spout off to get reactions. They lead sad lives as they should. This is Canada and you either support it or leave for somewhere else as we do not want any to stay if they can not be happy here.

You may well see people wearing white poppies this Nov 11 2006. I feel that each of these people should be approached and told that is they can not support Canada as it is they should go home. We do not want their respect because it comes with clauses, and our troops deserve better. I just hope these idiots have the good sense to stay away from the ceremonies.

[jdobbin]

I do not give a hoot about who brought us to Afghanistan, but rather that we are making a difference. Mindless people have spew but 200,000 les people are in school this year, and I shake my head wanting to show that where the sun don't shine. This is complete posturing and those who use it are traitors and should be stramped out of Canadian society. These people can only find fault in everything anyway. This week is Rememberence week, it used to be just a day in years gone by, but now we feel the need to show more then that for our troops.

There you go talking about traitors again.

The Conservatives have talked about how the mission has gotten children, especially girls, back in school.

In one year though that has dropped by 200,000. There is more violence and some people who came back to the south are leaving again because they lack safety.

I don't recall this particular thread being specific to Remembrance Day.

Canadians are concerned that the mission to Afghanistan might not be achievable. You are calling those people traitors. It is up to the government to explain why the mission is achievable.

[Cameron]

Please watch this....please, just once

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/taliban/view/

It's about the Tabilan and Afghanistan. You are making coments about the country and no one really knows anything about it....

[Cameron]

There you go talking about traitors again.

The Conservatives have talked about how the mission has gotten children, especially girls, back in school.

In one year though that has dropped by 200,000. There is more violence and some people who came back to the south are leaving again because they lack safety.

I don't recall this particular thread being specific to Remembrance Day.

Canadians are concerned that the mission to Afghanistan might not be achievable. You are calling those people traitors. It is up to the government to explain why the mission is achievable.

So Jobin, as with the NDP and the likes of the left. How do you plan on getting those children back in school? I've herd NOTHING but criticism about the mission, BUT NOTHING about an alternative solution?

Do you you just want to build schools and send the kids to them with no security?

How do you plan on keeping security?

Please, someone give us ATLEASED one alternative. A plan...I have seen nothing and I'm getting pissed off that everyone is all show and no go.

[bradco]

There you go talking about traitors again.

The Conservatives have talked about how the mission has gotten children, especially girls, back in school.

In one year though that has dropped by 200,000. There is more violence and some people who came back to the south are leaving again because they lack safety.

I don't recall this particular thread being specific to Remembrance Day.

Canadians are concerned that the mission to Afghanistan might not be achievable. You are calling those people traitors. It is up to the government to explain why the mission is achievable.

So Jobin, as with the NDP and the likes of the left. How do you plan on getting those children back in school? I've herd NOTHING but criticism about the mission, BUT NOTHING about an alternative solution?

Do you you just want to build schools and send the kids to them with no security?

How do you plan on keeping security?

Please, someone give us ATLEASED one alternative. A plan...I have seen nothing and I'm getting pissed off that everyone is all show and no go.

They cant offer another alternative because there isnt one. Unfortunatly there are to many isolationists and ignorants speaking their mind in this country. The isolationists think it doesnt matter what happens out side our borders and are either a little foolish or have no conscience and have no problems watching the suffering of others on the evening news. The ignorants think you can make peace by handing out candy to children. Someone needs to break it to these people that in a country where militants are trying to seize the government it is necessary to fight, not just build schools. You cant build a school until you have gotten rid of those who are trying to blow it up. The myth of peacekeeping in this country is still strong. I guess I shouldnt consider it common sense that you cant keep the peace in an area that doesnt have peace.

[White Doors]

If continuing the Afghanistan mission is to be justified on humanitarian grounds, there are a couple of questions that we need to ask:

-Why Afghanistan instead of other places? Darfur could use our help too. So could Myanmar.

-Can Afghanistan be helped? Does building schools in a place where they are murdering teachers and kidnapping students and preventing girls from attending make sense? Will any of our aid be lasting?

You should ask the UN. They are the one's that asked us to go there.

What do you think they'd say? Would you believe them?

What the heck is this even supposed to mean? The UN approved this mission. The UN wants us to all finish the job like honourable people. Unlike the people here who can't see the good we are doing for the anti-americanism in their heads.