Daniel76 Posted January 18, 2007 Report Posted January 18, 2007 US DefSec made a big gaffer when on a visit to Afghanistan. Robert Gates could well inspire full-fledged international scandal. Oh dear, he voiced his true thoughts, which is taboo actually for officials of his rank. I don’t know the exact quotation but he meant just this thing. “It’s high time we (Americans) left that @#^*& Afghanistan and took to Iran & Iraq to let our allies sort it out here (in Afghanistan)”. One of the allied countries’ staff officer happened to hear it due to some technical malfunction or smth of the kind. And so out it leaked. Personally, I’ve never been under any illusions relating US attitude towards “allies” and “partners”. It has always been a one-side beneficial relationship and superiority posture on American part. Quote
bush_cheney2004 Posted January 18, 2007 Report Posted January 18, 2007 US DefSec made a big gaffer when on a visit to Afghanistan. Robert Gates could well inspire full-fledged international scandal. Oh dear, he voiced his true thoughts, which is taboo actually for officials of his rank. I don’t know the exact quotation but he meant just this thing. “It’s high time we (Americans) left that @#^*& Afghanistan and took to Iran & Iraq to let our allies sort it out here (in Afghanistan)”. One of the allied countries’ staff officer happened to hear it due to some technical malfunction or smth of the kind. And so out it leaked. Personally, I’ve never been under any illusions relating US attitude towards “allies” and “partners”. It has always been a one-side beneficial relationship and superiority posture on American part. Well yea...like...we all know how much Canada contributed to the Pacific theatre during WW2. The Americans, British, and Australians hogged it all for themselves! Still, I do recall some 'merkins posing and flying as Canadians during the Battle of Britain, not to mention the very minor American allied role in Europe and Africa compared to Canada. Quote Economics trumps Virtue.
Guthrie Posted January 18, 2007 Report Posted January 18, 2007 1942Canada was in WWII before America was. They had several million men in Europe. The unfortunate reality is, there weren't a lot of Canadian troops ready to go to the Pacific. America had a population that swelled the ranks incredibly with volunteers, right around Dex 8, 1942. That said, what has any of it to do today or Afganistan. The Buschistas have a relationship with allies not one tenth as cooperative as Roosevelt. It really is Apples and frost bit Oranges. Quote “Most middle-class whites have no idea what it feels like to be subjected to police who are routinely suspicious, rude, belligerent, and brutal” - Benjamin Spock MD
bush_cheney2004 Posted January 18, 2007 Report Posted January 18, 2007 1942Canada was in WWII before America was. They had several million men in Europe. The unfortunate reality is, there weren't a lot of Canadian troops ready to go to the Pacific. America had a population that swelled the ranks incredibly with volunteers, right around Dex 8, 1942. That said, what has any of it to do today or Afganistan. The Buschistas have a relationship with allies not one tenth as cooperative as Roosevelt. It really is Apples and frost bit Oranges. Actually, America was officially "in WW2" by December 1941, but unofficially engaged long before that. Anyway, I was sarcastically responding to the untidy language of "it has always been a one-sided beneficial relationship", when clearly it is not so. Quote Economics trumps Virtue.
Guthrie Posted January 18, 2007 Report Posted January 18, 2007 ok, I get it now Quote “Most middle-class whites have no idea what it feels like to be subjected to police who are routinely suspicious, rude, belligerent, and brutal” - Benjamin Spock MD
jdobbin Posted January 18, 2007 Report Posted January 18, 2007 Well yea...like...we all know how much Canada contributed to the Pacific theatre during WW2. The Americans, British, and Australians hogged it all for themselves! Still, I do recall some 'merkins posing and flying as Canadians during the Battle of Britain, not to mention the very minor American allied role in Europe and Africa compared to Canada. Canadians were killed in the Pacific Theatre before the U.S. was attacked at Pearl Harbor and right up till the last atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki. Quote
jdobbin Posted January 18, 2007 Report Posted January 18, 2007 1942Canada was in WWII before America was. They had several million men in Europe. The unfortunate reality is, there weren't a lot of Canadian troops ready to go to the Pacific. America had a population that swelled the ranks incredibly with volunteers, right around Dex 8, 1942. Canada was a small country and yet merited its own beach on D-Day. In 1941, Canadian soldiers were defending Hong Kong before it fell and were among the longest serving Allied soldiers in Japanese prison camps. Canadians continued to fight right up till Nagasaki. Following victory, Canada was among the only Allied Nations to be readying tens of thousands of troops for the landing on mainland Japan. The atom bomb development owes a lot to Canada as well. Uranium came from Canada and research came from Canada. Our help probably saved thousands of American and Canadian lives from a full out attack on Japan. http://www.ccnr.org/chronology.html I don't think we need to defend our commitments in the Atlantic or Pacific theatre. Quote
bush_cheney2004 Posted January 18, 2007 Report Posted January 18, 2007 Canadians were killed in the Pacific Theatre before the U.S. was attacked at Pearl Harbor and right up till the last atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki. Correct....Americans and Canadians even killed each other in the Aleautian Islands long after the Japanese abandoned them. So let's dispense with the silly notion of always a one-sided ally....unless you want to undo the AlCan Highway and the effort of the US Army that hacked it out of Canadian wilderness. Quote Economics trumps Virtue.
jdobbin Posted January 18, 2007 Report Posted January 18, 2007 Correct....Americans and Canadians even killed each other in the Aleautian Islands long after the Japanese abandoned them. So let's dispense with the silly notion of always a one-sided ally....unless you want to undo the AlCan Highway and the effort of the US Army that hacked it out of Canadian wilderness. It is usually Americans who seem to ask what Canada ever did in World War II. It is all rather exasperating. As far as Gates goes on his overseas trip, he was trying to reassure everyone that the U.S. was not going to pull out to concentrate on Iraq. http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/01/18/...-Gulf-Gates.php Quote
M.Dancer Posted January 18, 2007 Report Posted January 18, 2007 1942Canada was in WWII before America was. They had several million men in Europe. The first statement is true. Canada was in World War Two before America. (although stylistically it's called the Second World War in Canada) The second statement has no bearing on any reality or facts. We never ever had several million in Europe. For that matter, we never had several million men in uniform, period during the Second world war. Quote RIGHT of SOME, LEFT of OTHERS If it is a choice between them and us, I choose us
bush_cheney2004 Posted January 18, 2007 Report Posted January 18, 2007 It is usually Americans who seem to ask what Canada ever did in World War II. It is all rather exasperating.As far as Gates goes on his overseas trip, he was trying to reassure everyone that the U.S. was not going to pull out to concentrate on Iraq. Nevertheless, and despite the usual WW2 penis size debate, it is remarkable to read the continuing undercurrent on these Canadian forums. There seems to be a group convinced that Canada's extrication from Afghanistan lies solely with the fortunes or misfortunes of American policy. This is in stark difference to the proud, independent execution of NATO member duty back in 2001 by PM Chretien and the LPC. Stop worrying about the damn Americans and do what's best for Canada. Quote Economics trumps Virtue.
jdobbin Posted January 18, 2007 Report Posted January 18, 2007 Nevertheless, and despite the usual WW2 penis size debate, it is remarkable to read the continuing undercurrent on these Canadian forums. There seems to be a group convinced that Canada's extrication from Afghanistan lies solely with the fortunes or misfortunes of American policy. This is in stark difference to the proud, independent execution of NATO member duty back in 2001 by PM Chretien and the LPC.Stop worrying about the damn Americans and do what's best for Canada. I had no problem with the original deployment. Canada knew going in that it would be part of a group of nations. I have a problem with the extension which is now straining the Canadian military to the point that it is raiding other programs needed to defend Canadians soil including sending patrol ships out. Much of NATO has let Canada down by the limitations in their forces. At the moment, I can't see no how Canada could commit beyond 2009 without a further decline in Canada's ability to even stop a fishing boat from one of our European allies fishing illegally within Canadian limits. Quote
Catchme Posted January 18, 2007 Report Posted January 18, 2007 US DefSec made a big gaffer when on a visit to Afghanistan. Robert Gates could well inspire full-fledged international scandal. Oh dear, he voiced his true thoughts, which is taboo actually for officials of his rank. I don’t know the exact quotation but he meant just this thing. “It’s high time we (Americans) left that @#^*& Afghanistan and took to Iran & Iraq to let our allies sort it out here (in Afghanistan)”. One of the allied countries’ staff officer happened to hear it due to some technical malfunction or smth of the kind. And so out it leaked. Personally, I’ve never been under any illusions relating US attitude towards “allies” and “partners”. It has always been a one-side beneficial relationship and superiority posture on American part. How about a link??????????? Quote When the rich wage war, it's the poor who die. ~Jean-Paul Sartre
bush_cheney2004 Posted January 18, 2007 Report Posted January 18, 2007 I had no problem with the original deployment. Canada knew going in that it would be part of a group of nations. I have a problem with the extension which is now straining the Canadian military to the point that it is raiding other programs needed to defend Canadians soil including sending patrol ships out. Much of NATO has let Canada down by the limitations in their forces.At the moment, I can't see no how Canada could commit beyond 2009 without a further decline in Canada's ability to even stop a fishing boat from one of our European allies fishing illegally within Canadian limits. I read you loud and clear. Canada went through the same sort of stretch for Bosnia/Balkans when there was talk of more occupation forces. I would be the first to say that Canadian Forces are playing way above the rim given existing troop levels, slashed budgets, and fickle domestic support. What I don't understand is the projected hope that turnabout in American politics is the cure for political paralysis back home, even as Taliban Jack says to negotiate and pull the plug. Quote Economics trumps Virtue.
Catchme Posted January 18, 2007 Report Posted January 18, 2007 What I don't understand is the projected hope that turnabout in American politics is the cure for political paralysis back home, even as Taliban Jack says to negotiate and pull the plug. The USA are going to pull their troops out of Afghanistan for their Irag surge! They have no other choice, Congress won't give them the money and they are recruiting the dead because recruitment is low. This leaves NATO allies holding the bag on many levels. None good, or right. http://www.thewashingtonnote.com/ Quote When the rich wage war, it's the poor who die. ~Jean-Paul Sartre
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.