76,000$ study to sell Afghan "war"

[mabudon]

Bear- I think I object to the actual purpose, or even the existence, of this kind of "market research" on this type of HUGE issue especially- I mean, polling as a partisan thing is all well and good, but getting a study to basically see how to continue to either fool or at least confuse the issue, by the government itself, is kind of over-the-top in my view.
I don't know if that makes it any more clear, but I think that's what you're asking?

The methods are unobjectionable, I suppose, and the funding- well, I think it's money wasted if it was spent on something I don't believe has a reason to exist- if the mission were such a GREAT thing, you would think that the people who are making it keep happening (bad sentence here but I can't get out dammit) would be able to just explain it, exactly like it is, and that would be enough to "convince" people one way or the other.

The simple fact that these "justifications" are interchangeable (top-down, of course) points to a problem of some sort, I personally believe, with both the "mission" itself AND the system overall

Is that any more clear?? Not complaining- I haven't had to think so hard yet on this board is all, so thanks!!

 

[CDNBear]

Thanx mabudon, your position is clear to me now.

I guess my position on the war is jading my take on it. I support my friends and brothers in arms. I support the mission mandate as it is written, but as we all know, that is as fluid as water, when we're taking on the ground in Afghanistan.

I can't say I'm comfortable with the notion of doing market research, just to 'sell' the war to the home front either. But the market research program isn't anything new, it's used by most levels of government, effectively doing the samething, 'sellin' a notion to the humble folks that foot the bills. In most cases, if they need to do a marketing survey, you gotta know what they're selling ain't gunna be tasty, lol. So yes, even the process is objectionable to me.

The funds in this case are astronomically low, in fact I was quite surprised as to how low it cost.

Now the lil cost over run I posted at the end of my last post, now that pisses me off.

 

[BitWhys]

So it's not the money or the process, it's the purpose that has you all upset?...

Its what I find it objectionable about it, if that's what you mean. Casis belli really shouldn't be something that need to be developed by a marketing firm.

 

[mabudon]

Thanks for pointing that overrun out Bear, that truly IS ludicrous, too bad that's the first I've heard- shows someone is good at working the media, even when there's very little good to report, THAT nugget doesn't seem to have come up at all, weird...

And I get ya on your position- I sort of feel that I am probably unfit for military service myself, and so my natural tendencey is to identify (and thus criticiz, I suppose) more at the policy level, thus the same "support" you feel the need to show in your own way, I feel a strong need to do the same only in my "strong suit" areas.

I understand the need for certain types of "research" but in this instance it's kinda unnerving to me, in relation to certain other trends that have been developing over the last few years. The very fact that Harper had to be told by a "pollster" that he was being seen as "in Bush's pocket" is maybe the most striking "finding"- doesn't the guy have access to them thar internets?? Or maybe television?? Or maybe even just a few of Dubyas SOTU speeches?? Harper used the SAME talking points, and I could have told him that for nothin. If he truly couldn't see THAT and the problems it could potentially cause, it seems like he is, at the least, a VERY bad leader.

It has been fun and interesting trying to get certain things hammered out, glad we all managed to work it through!

Bitwhys- you fairly much summed up what I was trying to say, only with less words

 

[Sparrow]

Sadly Sparrow, I agree, it has been proven several times in history. The west comes, brings democracy or installs a dictator and the place goes for a shyte.

I'm holding out hope Sparrow. Partly because Canada is there.

In my last post I said I would try to find something about Afghanistan. So far I have found this:
http://www.afghangovernment.com/briefhistory.htm I will keep looking but this is interesting. It sort of support my thought that this war will not be won by weapons and we must look for alternatives, their history resembles Vietman.