Canadians Paying for Our Own Brainwashing Propaganda

[Jerry J. Fortin]

Canadian Blue,

I agree with you. We are behaving in a pathetic manner. We do take much for granted. Perhaps more importantly I owe you a debt of gratitude for wearing the uniform and putting yourself in harms way in defending our national interests. You speak plainly and clearly from a point of reference that most of us cannot even imagine, and you are entitled to your opinion.

Catch Me,

Get a grip fella. Your arguments are pathetic. Had you the courage and fortitude to stand up and fight for what you believe in you would probably be doing so beside Canadian Blue. Think about that for a second dude.

[Canadian Blue]

The point I originally made was in reference to a poster who had called all police officers "things" and "pigs", and is now bashing Canadian soldiers over in Afghanistan over mere speculation and accusing them of being murderers. Here is what I posted that was so controversial.

Baylee remember the only reason you have the ability to make the comments you do is the police who ensure law and order in Canada, and the soldiers who defend this country. So perhaps you should stop hating them so much as they are partially the reason you're living in this pathetic little country were you have so much due to the lives of others who were killed in Europe, Korea, the Balkan's, Mayerthorpe, and Afghanistan.

[White Doors]

Catchme, are you slow or what? You still don't get it do you?

hahaha

nice CB!

keep going.

[Catchme]

Well, your words "pathetic little country" certainly speak for themselves.

If taken out of context.

Actually, the comment I made was a general one with regards to who built this country Catchme. I didn't even mention the military, but the sacrifice of others.

Calling you on your calling Canada a "pathetic little country", is not making accusations or assaulting you.

Accusing me of supporting pedophilia in another thread however was an accusation made by you. Once again, simply because of semantic's.

So once again, bring about your assault.

You used the term twice, in 2 different contexts. Then tried to brush it off as being apathy. Please do not lie, I made NO accusations about you being a pedeophile, ever. Nor have I have been assaulting you, again a mistruth. calling you one your your words of ccalling canadians pathetic yes.

But no matter, it has no bearing on this topic, and I let myself get side tracked from the topic. When the real issue here is Harper using our money to try and brainwash us into believing war is good peace is bad.

[Canuck E Stan]

When the real issue here is Harper using our money to try and brainwash us into believing war is good peace is bad.

Just you believes that,just you.

[Canadian Blue]

You used the term twice, in 2 different contexts. Then tried to brush it off as being apathy. Please do not lie, I made NO accusations about you being a pedeophile, ever. Nor have I have been assaulting you, again a mistruth. calling you one your your words of ccalling canadians pathetic yes.

You just were to simple minded to actually see all of the posts were I called pedophilia immoral and wrong, I'll give you that one. As for the pathetic thing, really read the post. You like to have all this moral outrage over one word in a post which was meant to show the absolute hypocrisy of those who supposedly "love" Canada. Baylee is a "patriotic" Canadian, but what makes him so patriotic. He omits facts in order to make Canadian soldiers out to be murderers.

But no matter, it has no bearing on this topic, and I let myself get side tracked from the topic. When the real issue here is Harper using our money to try and brainwash us into believing war is good peace is bad.

The funny thing is I agreed with you, but then you went about going on a rant over one word in a post which was about the hypocrisy of the people who supposedly say they love Canada, yet hate the people who are their to serve the country.

As for the war is good, peace bad theme. No one believes that, I haven't even met a single person in the military who believes war is good. Some feel war is necessary, but never good. As well I haven't seen the government try to attempt and brainwash us. Even with regards to the military we haven't been brainwashed into believing that war is good as I've met some members who have been against the NATO mission in Afghanistan.

[Catchme]

They could not sell Canadians, the war in Afghanistan on its own merits as support for the war dropped to 35% in late December they had to figure out a way to spin it, so that they can continue to spend tax payers money in a country where our military should not be, propping up a government, that should not be propped and to have a reason, 1 amongst many future ones, to buy billions of dollars of military equipment, some needed, some not I.e. (150 k ea shells).

Again nice try, use our money to try and get us to buy into a war, ooops mission according to Hillier that should've stopped when they stopped searching for Bin Laden, 2003.

[Army Guy]

Poser:

How do you know people are not contributing to the greater good?

You apparently feel the only way one can contribute to the greater good is to be a cop or in the military. If they are not, then accoding to you they are pathetic and have no rights to criticize, apparently because they are not contributing to the greater good, and are all talk and no action in your view. And it is a very narrow one at that if you really believe this.

This nation was built by many different people with many different back grounds, and trades or professions. that being said a special mention should be given to those that have contributed to this nation, by either putting thier lives at risk or dieing in the line of duty. And yes i agree totally that some slug behind a computer who's only contribution to this nation is paying taxes, does not have a right to judge those that have done so much more.

How do you know people are not contributing to the greater good?

Like i said before contributing to the greater good takes more than paying your taxes and voting every 4 years.

What have you done to contribute to the greater good Poser.

Again, you were the one that keeps mentioning the fact that the military is protecting Canadian values, and I am still waiting to hear what you think Canadian values are?

There is a loaded question, one that most Canadians could not answer, ask 1000 people and you will get a 1000 different answers. Case in piont do you think CB values are the same as yours. Not even close, perhaps a few are, but the majority of the are very different. So when it is said we are protecting Canadian values we are protecting all of them including yours poser, thats got to burn your ass, with a four foot flame.

Canadian deployment to the Balkans did nothing to assure our rights and freedoms, Canadian deployment to Korea did nothing to assure our rights and freedoms, Canadian deployment to Mayerthorpe did nothing to assure our rights and freedoms, and Canadian deployment to Afghanistan is doing nothing to assure our rights and freedoms. However, I do believe that WWI and II deployments actually did assure our rights and freedoms.

I'm curious how WWI and WWII wars are any different than say Korea and how did they assure us our rights and freedoms. One could also look at the Balkans, Afgan and ask the same question, or is it that we went because thats what Canadians thought was the right thing to do at the time... And sorry but i never heard of a deployment to Mayerthorpe, can you clue me in, as i'm interested...

It was not the military that built this country, it is ludicrous to think so, it was individuals, some of whom did serve in the military, both willingly and unwillingly.

Actually you should take that up with the historians, many whom have quoted the opposite, in fact many will say that Canada became a nation after the battle for Vimy ridge, or it became into it's own same thing..

and the last time i checked, yep no computer geeks there...all military people, Canadian citizens doing that little bit extra in forging this great nation we have today...It would be ludicrous to say they the military did not play a major role in the forging of our nation...

funny you mention willingly and unwilling Vimy ridge was fought on Apr 9 ,1917...Conscription or the Military services act was not passed until aug of that year, of the 99,561 troops conscripted only 24,100 actually fought at the front before the war ended. So although your comment is somewhat true, it should be taken in context that over 600,000 served in WWI and more than 500,000 chose to do so on thier own...

One last question, above your quoted as saying that the military did not build this country, but the quote above you said WWI and WWII did assure our rights and freedoms, are our rights and freedoms not part of building this nation, or is this Poser double speak, i'm confused.

They could not sell Canadians, the war in Afghanistan on its own merits as support for the war dropped to 35% in late December they had to figure out a way to spin it, so that they can continue to spend tax payers money in a country where our military should not be, propping up a government, that should not be propped and to have a reason, 1 amongst many future ones, to buy billions of dollars of military equipment, some needed, some not I.e. (150 k ea shells).

So tell us poser where should we be, pick any spot in the world where you think the Canadian armed forces could be best deployed, and serve the interests of the Canadian people. Also keep in mind that it was the Canadian people that sent us over to afgan in the first place...

Something else i want you to think about, is what is the world going to think of us as a nation if we pull out without completing the job,or upholding our NATO commitments or is it going to be added into our foreign policy to cut and run whenever we run into something that conflicts with our standards or moral's.

[Hydraboss]

Catchme, allow me to let you in on a few things:

1) Propaganda has always been, and will always be, used by the government of the day. Kyoto is good? Brainwashing .

2) The Liberals will ensure that Canada remains vibrant and economically viable. Brainwashing . See point 1.

3) Canada, as a country, has values. Brainwashing . Canadians have values, not countries.

4) Canadians are not apathetic. Brainwashing . Canadians are as apathetic as people can get.

5) The members of the military do not want to be in Afganistan. Brainwashing . Canadian troops believe in their mission.

A suggestion for you: IF YOU DON'T STAND BEHIND OUR TROOPS, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO STAND IN FRONT OF THEM!

Incidentally, Canadians ARE pathetic. CB hit it on the head in his posts. As long as the people of a country are willing to allow millions and billions to be spent on "culture" and "foriegn aid" while Canadian children starve, the word pathetic will have to do.

[Catchme]

Well, I certainly am glad we have these type of people in our military today!

The best way Canadians can stand up for our military is to demand they be removed from Afghanistan.

The bluster and bravado that brooks no criticism of the military, and touts that criticism of the military is wrong, is actually wrong headed thinking. Of course, to question and seek answers is acceptable and moreover, it should occur. We have a good many examples around the world of peoples not questioning the actions of their military, and operating on blind trust, only to find out later, when it is too late, they should not have been.

The military are our employees. Employees that have voluntarily taken a job that is paid for by Canadian taxpayers. It is our responsibility to know what they are doing and to ask questions, if things do not appear to be functioning properly and/or improper conduct is being reported. Just as it is for us to question the RCMP's, public works, human resources, and every other type of Canadian government personal/employee about their actions and conduct, to suggest otherwise is irrational and wrong.

We can plainly see where blind patriotism got Americans with their military, and it seems the Canadian military is sounding more like the American one everday, by demanding/expecting blind support, as tif they are above reproach, and can do no wrong. Unfortunately, hydraboss is a fine example.

[White Doors]

I haven't heard you say ONE THING positive about our military poser.

What you are doing is not critiqing, you have an agenda to discredit our military.

(you know the one that you lied about being a member of).

[Canadian Blue]

Well Catchme accusing Canadian soldiers as being no different then murderer's is really showing alot of support for our troop's. How can you say you care about the troop's if you believe they are no different then the murderers we have back at home.

We can plainly see where blind patriotism got Americans with their military, and it seems the Canadian military is sounding more like the American one everday, by demanding/expecting blind support, as tif they are above reproach, and can do no wrong. Unfortunately, hydraboss is a fine example.

Hydraboss is realistic, you are an ideologue. You believe that you are the only one who is right, and it doesn't matter what anybody else think's. The funny thing I find about people who say that they support the troop's but want to pull out is that they never ask the troop's what their opinion is.

[Catchme]

I haven't heard you say ONE THING positive about our military poser.

What you are doing is not critiqing, you have an agenda to discredit our military.

(you know the one that you lied about being a member of).

White doors, I would ask respectfully that you please refrain from this type of personal commentary, it is both against the rules, and it is erroneous. Moreover, I have lied about nothing, apparently you and others have failed to note, that I gave my regiment out here. Can Blue noted it, and has never made this type of false statement against me, that you have just made, again.

[Canadian Blue]

Yeah Catchme claimed to be with the Saskatchewan Dragoons I believe as a reservist. However I've got no clue what else she did with them, what training, etc.

But at the same time it seem's she has forgotten or wasn't trained with regards to ROE's. Because as you can tell most current military member's disagree with her position's.

[Catchme]

Well Catchme accusing Canadian soldiers as being no different then murderer's is really showing alot of support for our troop's. How can you say you care about the troop's if you believe they are no different then the murderers we have back at home.

We can plainly see where blind patriotism got Americans with their military, and it seems the Canadian military is sounding more like the American one everday, by demanding/expecting blind support, as tif they are above reproach, and can do no wrong. Unfortunately, hydraboss is a fine example.

Hydraboss is realistic, you are an ideologue. You believe that you are the only one who is right, and it doesn't matter what anybody else think's. The funny thing I find about people who say that they support the troop's but want to pull out is that they never ask the troop's what their opinion is.

Can blue, I never accused Canadian soldiers of any such thing, please provide proof of your accusation as it is spurious. Just as spurious as saying I believe they are no different than murders back home Again provide proof please, or withdraw your commentary.

One could say the same thing then Can Blue about your position, and those like you, that you feel that you are the only one right and it does not matter what anyone else thinks. Condemning me for what you yourself does is incorrect and it is also fallacious. You are acting as if I am the only Canadian in Canada stating the military needs to be brought home. And this flies in the face of the actual of majority of Canadians who perceive the same way as I do.

Of course nobody is asking the Canadian military personal in Afghanistan what their opinion is. Such is the nature of an enlisted persons life. Moreover, it really isn't up to them whether there is a pull out, or not, now is it? That type of thing is not done either by civilian employee rules and definitely not by military rules, where military personal goes where they are told, and do as they are told, no questions asked. In fact, I find it strange that you would say such a thing, as a military person.

A military enlisted person knows full well, that enlisted personal would never be asked for their opinions on pulling out, or not pulling out. That type of decision is made by the top brass, commanding officers and the Canadian government, either with the Canadian government acting alone, or at the behest of the Canadian peoples.

[Alexandra]

We can plainly see where blind patriotism got Americans with their military, and it seems the Canadian military is sounding more like the American one everday, by demanding/expecting blind support, as tif they are above reproach, and can do no wrong. Unfortunately, hydraboss is a fine example.

Oh, right. We can plainly see it's all George Bush's and those deaf, dumb and blind Americans' fault for demanding/expecting Canada to comply with it's NATO treaty commitments.

Oh, wow. Look out ....... they're gaining on you. Paranoia indeed.

heh

Agreed. Hydraboss is a fine example. Trust this was intended as a compliment rather than an insult btw Mrs. catchme.

[Catchme]

Yeah Catchme claimed to be with the Saskatchewan Dragoons I believe as a reservist. However I've got no clue what else she did with them, what training, etc.

But at the same time it seem's she has forgotten or wasn't trained with regards to ROE's. Because as you can tell most current military member's disagree with her position's.

This is the first time since WW II that the Canadian military rules of engagement include actively seeking out and killing the "enemy" or, as the Brigadier General excitely puts it "pre-emptive offensive operations." Of course, one could include our airforce's bombing of Yugoslavia, but it is not actually the same now is it?

Moreover, the ROE's are not the same in any given deployment, nor do they always remain the same through any given deployment period. It is disengenuous to suggest they are rigid and to suggest that they are the same for each and every deployment.

First, they define the degree and manner of the force to which soldiers may resort.

Second, they delineate the circumstances and limitations surrounding the application of that force.

ROE's are developed for each and every Canadian military operation, on an individual operational basis. Some operations may not even have ROE's when they commence, and have to be officially requested at a later date. Some operations have NO ROE's at all. While still others may have ROE's at the beginning, that are later withdrawn. And ROE's must be framed around ALL legal obligations the government has, and they must be made inconjunction with national policy.

[Canadian Blue]

Can blue, I never accused Canadian soldiers of any such thing, please provide proof of your accusation as it is spurious. Just as spurious as saying I believe they are no different than murders back home Again provide proof please, or withdraw your commentary.

One could say the same thing then Can Blue about your position, and those like you, that you feel that you are the only one right and it does not matter what anyone else thinks. Condemning me for what you yourself does is incorrect and it is also fallacious. You are acting as if I am the only Canadian in Canada stating the military needs to be brought home. And this flies in the face of the actual of majority of Canadians who perceive the same way as I do.

I was making reference to Baylee's comment's which many criticized. He went on to call it "blind patriotism".

You are acting as if I am the only Canadian in Canada stating the military needs to be brought home. And this flies in the face of the actual of majority of Canadians who perceive the same way as I do.

It's not a majority, it's been around 50-50 for quite some time now.

Of course nobody is asking the Canadian military personal in Afghanistan what their opinion is. Such is the nature of an enlisted persons life. Moreover, it really isn't up to them whether there is a pull out, or not, now is it? That type of thing is not done either by civilian employee rules and definitely not by military rules, where military personal goes where they are told, and do as they are told, no questions asked. In fact, I find it strange that you would say such a thing, as a military person.

Because you refuse to take into account the statement's made by member's of the military over there.

This is the first time since WW II that the Canadian military rules of engagement include actively seeking out and killing the "enemy" or, as the Brigadier General excitely puts it "pre-emptive offensive operations." Of course, one could include our airforce's bombing of Yugoslavia, but it is not actually the same now is it?

Korea, and the airstrikes in Kosovo.

Moreover, the ROE's are not the same in any given deployment, nor do they always remain the same through any given deployment period. It is disengenuous to suggest they are rigid and to suggest that they are the same for each and every deployment.

When it comes to engaging a person who is considered a threat. If you are in a situation where you see wires on a person's body, and the person refuses to stop, you don't really have much of a choice like some seem to think.

[imatitlover]

You are acting as if I am the only Canadian in Canada stating the military needs to be brought home. And this flies in the face of the actual of majority of Canadians who perceive the same way as I do.

It's not a majority, it's been around 50-50 for quite some time now.

Well not according to the Conservatives.

OTTAWA–The Conservative government has been "too American" in its attempts to justify the Afghan war to a skeptical Canadian public, according to an internal report commissioned by the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Public support for the mission in Afghanistan stood at 35 per cent in late December, the report said.

http://www.thestar.com/News/article/182857

[scribblet]

What else do you expect from the Star - 'too America' is just part of the propaganda spouted by liberals and their followers to smear the CPC. It is on a par with all the hyperbole of 'theo con' smears, or what ever the '...con' of the day is. It is simply preying on the anti American prejudice of many Canadians, something which seems to a staple of Canadian life these days, probably because it gives people with an inferiority complex a bit of a lift.

[imatitlover]

What else do you expect from the Star

I guess you misread.

The study and the quote were done by the Conservative party.

The Star just simply reported it

[Catchme]

Can blue, I never accused Canadian soldiers of any such thing, please provide proof of your accusation as it is spurious. Just as spurious as saying I believe they are no different than murders back home Again provide proof please, or withdraw your commentary.

One could say the same thing then Can Blue about your position, and those like you, that you feel that you are the only one right and it does not matter what anyone else thinks. Condemning me for what you yourself does is incorrect and it is also fallacious. You are acting as if I am the only Canadian in Canada stating the military needs to be brought home. And this flies in the face of the actual of majority of Canadians who perceive the same way as I do.

I was making reference to Baylee's comment's which many criticized. He went on to call it "blind patriotism".

You are acting as if I am the only Canadian in Canada stating the military needs to be brought home. And this flies in the face of the actual of majority of Canadians who perceive the same way as I do.

It's not a majority, it's been around 50-50 for quite some time now.

Of course nobody is asking the Canadian military personal in Afghanistan what their opinion is. Such is the nature of an enlisted persons life. Moreover, it really isn't up to them whether there is a pull out, or not, now is it? That type of thing is not done either by civilian employee rules and definitely not by military rules, where military personal goes where they are told, and do as they are told, no questions asked. In fact, I find it strange that you would say such a thing, as a military person.

Because you refuse to take into account the statement's made by member's of the military over there.

This is the first time since WW II that the Canadian military rules of engagement include actively seeking out and killing the "enemy" or, as the Brigadier General excitely puts it "pre-emptive offensive operations." Of course, one could include our airforce's bombing of Yugoslavia, but it is not actually the same now is it?

Korea, and the airstrikes in Kosovo.

Moreover, the ROE's are not the same in any given deployment, nor do they always remain the same through any given deployment period. It is disengenuous to suggest they are rigid and to suggest that they are the same for each and every deployment.

When it comes to engaging a person who is considered a threat. If you are in a situation where you see wires on a person's body, and the person refuses to stop, you don't really have much of a choice like some seem to think.

If you were referring to baylee's comment then why did you attribute it to me, that is slander.

No, support for the mission in Afghanistan is around 35%. Those who suppot the mission are in a minority.

Of course, I refuse to take into account what military personal are saying in Afghanistan. They have NO say. And they have no right to say anything. I covered this in the Afghan thread.

No one cannot include Korea for the very same reason one cannot include Kosovo. They were NOT "pre-emptive" engagements. Notwithstanding of course, is the fact that pre-emptive engagements are illegal under International Law.

Military personal, are governed by their ROE's and within that specified framework, you can choose to use lethal force, or NOT.

[Canadian Blue]

If you were referring to baylee's comment then why did you attribute it to me, that is slander.

Because you were ranting about how those of us who support the action in Afghanistan are simply blindly patriotic, and I was saying the same argument was made by Baylee when making rediculous accusation's against Canadian soldiers. It's not slander, please, I've been slandered much worse in the past three days.

No, support for the mission in Afghanistan is around 35%. Those who suppot the mission are in a minority.

Actually, the poll that I'm looking at says a different story, it's actually quite the opposite of what you are saying.

http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/index.cfm/...em/itemID/14414

No one cannot include Korea for the very same reason one cannot include Kosovo. They were NOT "pre-emptive" engagements. Notwithstanding of course, is the fact that pre-emptive engagements are illegal under International Law.

So when the United Nation's sanctioned the NATO action against Afghanistan, the UN broke international law.

[Catchme]

I will refer you back to the topic of this thread, and the focus groups, that we paid for, that were prompted by the 35% approval that was current in December 2006.

There was no mention of balyee your post to me.

NATO sanctioned action to go after Osama.

There were no pre-emptive components until after the hunt and battles for Osama were over.

Canadians were there on a reconstruction mission and security mission until Martin changed it. Y

International Law does NOT encompass pre-emptive actions. Which is why the war in Iraq is considered illegal under International Law.

In a few years, perhaps not so many now, who knows how those who engaged in pre-emptive actions are going to be dealt with. As International Law also states that it is up to the individual military person to adhere to Inrenational Law, as well as the Laws of their Land, and if they do not and accept orders and carried out orders, that were in violation od said laws, they could be charged under International Law.

It would seem that angus reid is more than a little off in their poll, because the Canadian taxpayers paid large so the CPC could find out exactly where we stood.

The Conservative government has been "too American" in its attempts to justify the Afghan war to a skeptical Canadian public, according to an internal report commissioned by the Department of Foreign Affairs.

The extensive critique of the Tory communications strategy on the war comes from a series of cross-country focus groups conducted in November 2006 at a cost of almost $76,000.

Public support for the mission in Afghanistan stood at 35 per cent in late December, the report said. It had been as high as 55 per cent in March 2006, before a deadly summer for Canadian soldiers.

Since sending troops to Afghanistan in 2002 as part of the U.S.-led war on terror, Canada has lost 44 soldiers and a diplomat – most of them killed last year.

It appears the taxpayer-funded study sought feedback from the focus groups on the sway of arguments made over the past few months by the NDP and the Liberals.

The NDP, for example, frequently points out the mission is unbalanced because the government spends $9 on combat efforts for every $1 on development.

Liberal MP Keith Martin (Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca) said the existence of the report was "quite shocking," though he didn't take issue with its findings.

"The Taliban of 2007 is not the Taliban of 2001," said Martin, his party's foreign affairs critic.

A section of the focus group examined words and pictures that were to be placed on the federal government's main website explaining Canada's involvement in Afghanistan.

Instead of references to threats or terrorism, which the study found only underscored the Harper-Bush link, there are pictures of children in schools, references to progress and development, and the explanation that Canada is in Afghanistan at the request of the democratically elected government.

So, as result of the focus group, we paid for, we are now being told lies on the Can Gov website. They are portraying kids and reconstruction with false references to development and reconstruction. When we are now spending more than $9 on combat for every $1 dollar spent on reconstruction.

Moreover, it was released today in the HoC, that the CPC are drawing up plans to stay until 2011.

[Catchme]

Too bad Harper used all that money of us taxpayers to try and sell us the War in Afghanistan, when he should have been listening to what we Canadians were saying about what should've been going on in Afghanistan in the first place as opposed to pre-emptive actions, against just whom?

Canada can’t win this way; Think-tank: NATO policy called ‘misguided’ (Richard Foot)

Vancouver Sun, Thursday, February 15, 2007

Canada and its allies in Afghanistan are waging a losing war against the Taliban that’s killed thousands of innocent civilians, harmed the reputation of coalition forces and fuelled support for the insurgency, says a new report on the conflict by the Senlis Council.

The council is an independent, London-based think-tank for security and development issues. A team of researchers led by the council’s president – Canadian Norine MacDonald, who lives in Afghanistan — interviewed more than 500 ordinary citizens in the war-torn south over the past two months.

The results of that research were released on Wednesday in a 186-page report titled, Countering the Insurgency in Afghanistan: Losing Friends and Making Enemies.

The report is an indictment of the war’s conduct by NATO governments, especially through 2006, the first year of Canada’s mission in the volatile province of Kandahar...

“Through these misguided policies, the international community has turned southern Afghanistan into a recruitment camp for the Taliban.”

Officials at both the Defence Department and Foreign Affairs declined comment on the report Wednesday.

The council is particularly critical of the use of aerial attacks in southern Afghanistan, where it says NATO carried out more than 2,000 bombing attacks in 2006, leading to the deaths of an estimated 4,000 civilians.

What the Council says:

COUNTERING THE INSURGENCY IN AFGHANISTAN: LOSING FRIENDS AND MAKING ENEMIES

With a rapid rise in violent insurgency, southern Afghanistan is at tipping point, and the international community’s counter-insurgency strategy is in urgent need of reassessment.

The general Afghan population is feeling increasingly alienated from and hostile to the international community. The practice of counter-insurgency in Afghanistan has so far predominantly focused on military instruments to fight against the insurgency. By doing this, it has wrongfully left out all the non-military elements that form part of counter-insurgency strategy – for example, humanitarian aid, economic development, establishing health care and developing the education system. What Afghans in the south see instead in their daily lives are the military bombing campaigns, where bombs do not distinguish between innocent civilians and insurgents.

What is required is a frank reassessment of the realities of the current insurgency dynamic, the declining credibility of the international community and an acknowledgement of the legitimate grievances of the Afghan people. If properly applied, the non-military elements of classic counter-insurgency practice would immediately improve security and create more support for the Karzai government.

WAR ZONE HOSPITALS IN AFGHANISTAN: A SYMBOL OF WILFUL NEGLECT

The war in Afghanistan is being unnecessarily prolonged, and even conceded, by the international community’s decision not to use obvious strategic instruments – such as the provision of effective assistance to injured and displaced civilian casualties – to build trust and win the hearts and minds of the Afghan people. The international community’s military actions, particularly its bombing campaigns, are causing injury and death to innocent Afghan civilians. These attacks are making the situation worse for local Afghans, not better, provoking anger and frustration, and providing the perfect conditions for insurgents to gain support.

However, the hospitals in Kandahar and Helmand are dilapidated, barren and filthy. The current situation of medical care in southern Afghanistan symbolises to Afghan the international community’s wilful neglect to support and partner the Afghan people in the meeting of vital health needs.

In fact, just a fraction of the money spent on military activities in Afghanistan could significantly improve the quality of Afghans people’s lives, through the introduction of simple, inexpensive, low-technology health and infrastructure. The provision of healthcare is particularly important for those civilians injured by the international community’s war actions.

http://www.senliscouncil.net/modules/publi...018_publication