Afghanistan Mission Gains Backers.

MikeyDB

House Member
Jun 9, 2006
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Do you honestly believe that Bin Laden worldwide construction enterprises didn't fund the Taliban and find support throughout Pakistan and all the other "stans" that money can influence?
 

tracy

House Member
Nov 10, 2005
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Do you honestly believe that Bin Laden worldwide construction enterprises didn't fund the Taliban and find support throughout Pakistan and all the other "stans" that money can influence?

I personally don't know. OBL was one of what, 40+kids to one man? I have one brother and don't control his life, so I really don't know how he interacts with his family.
 

Colpy

Hall of Fame Member
Nov 5, 2005
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Do you honestly believe that Bin Laden worldwide construction enterprises didn't fund the Taliban and find support throughout Pakistan and all the other "stans" that money can influence?

I don't doubt it a bit. In fact, I think anyone who knows anything realizes that MOST of the money supporting Islamofascist terror comes from rich Saudis, most of whom are part of the royal family.

Indeed, radical Islam was nutured by Saudi support for Wahhabism, a method the Royals used to deflect anger from their own terribly unjust system.
 

Curiosity

Senate Member
Jul 30, 2005
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Why is Canada in Afghanistan?

What I read from the writers here is Canada does not belong in Afghanistan and has no business being there.

Then I am prompted to ask why you are there? Pressure from NATO? Canada is capable of refusal are they not?

I understand it to be a U.N. Mission (as you were told originally) and it has turned into an occupational war in which your people are losing their lives.

Who sent you in the first place? You blame Harper but Canada was in Afghanistan before Harper took office. You blame Bush - who has no control over what your government does with its military forces. Who sent you???

I am bothered by only one thing I have read here...that unless Canadians are involved (I take it to mean attacked or one of your properties/people were attacked) on your own land, then you would be justified in going to war but under no other conditions.

So why are you there?

What has your presence in Afghanistan to do with the U.S., George Bush or anything other than your agreement to take on the U.N. Peacekeeping mission.

Is Canada now to be regarded as a western Switzerland who will not be called up to serve any military mission no matter which countries are involved? If that is the case....that peace is the only thing Canadians will agree to....

Tell the U.N. the situation has deteriorated into an all out war...tell them to shove it and bring your military home.

Or give me good reasons why it can't happen or doesn't happen or will not happen...
 

Sassylassie

House Member
Jan 31, 2006
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Canada is there because the "Liberals" sent us under a UN mandate, the US had nothing to do with it. Remember Liberals weren't on good terms with the US, so using Bush isn't a legit argument. Blaming the current government is just another example of being a hypocrit, do Liberals really think the voting public is to stupid to see what they are doing? Using our soldiers to get votes visa vie the New Liberal Mantra of "Oh the Mission has changed dah". Hypocritical and two faced, way to go to get the undecided voter.

For those against the Mission call your MP, send him an Email. The Troops are doing what Canada sent them to do, and I support them 100%.
 

Sassylassie

House Member
Jan 31, 2006
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An up-dated poll.

Andrew Mayeda, CanWest News Service

Published: Friday, October 06, 2006


But the poll also reveals significant public doubt about the success of the mission.
Only 41 per cent believe that troops are winning the battle against Taliban forces, despite the military's recent declaration of victory in a large-scale offensive called Operation Medusa.
''It's a realistic response,'' said Wright of poll respondents. ''The question is when are we winning and what will a win look like? We're not winning yet. There are still firefights and there are still a lot of casualties.''
And the survey shows substantial differences in support between regions.
Backing for the mission was highest in Atlantic Canada and Saskatchewan and Manitoba at 67 per cent. Support was lowest in Quebec, at 45 per cent.
In the other provinces support for the war in Afghanistan stood at 66 per cent in Alberta, 59 per cent in Ontario and 56 per cent in B.C.
Sixty-three per cent of men support the mission, while only 51 per cent of woman support the war.
Ipsos Reid interviewed 1,009 adult Canadians by phone to complete the poll, which is considered accurate within plus or minus 3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
CanWest News Service

Wow 45% in Quebec, that's purdy good.
 

tracy

House Member
Nov 10, 2005
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Canada is there because the "Liberals" sent us under a UN mandate, the US had nothing to do with it. Remember Liberals weren't on good terms with the US, so using Bush isn't a legit argument. Blaming the current government is just another example of being a hypocrit, do Liberals really think the voting public is to stupid to see what they are doing? Using our soldiers to get votes visa vie the New Liberal Mantra of "Oh the Mission has changed dah". Hypocritical and two faced, way to go to get the undecided voter.

For those against the Mission call your MP, send him an Email. The Troops are doing what Canada sent them to do, and I support them 100%.

Are the Liberals advocating a pull out of Canadian troops in Afghanistan? I thought it was just the NDP even broaching that idea.
 

MagnoliaApples

Electoral Member
Apr 26, 2006
383
0
16
The problem about supporting this war is that no one knows what is going on? What the real motives are? Who's in cahoots with who? The TRUE reason why we're there? What really did happen sept 11?

How am i supposed to support something that i have yet to be given real answers to? Everybody involved in this thing can't give straight answers. When you do some background checking (Bush family's involvement with the BinLaden's in the first place, past secret US Military OPs with the whole 9/11 plot on paper) the whole thing starts to totally unravel and the average citizen realises that there is so much more to this whole thing than meets the eye. It's dumbfounding!

Then in the very first post, it's said that Harper's first official trip as head of government was to Afghanistan as a show of support to the troops. This is just not true! I clearly and distinctly remember the very next day, he went to Washington to have lunch with Bush. THAT was the very first trip he made after becoming head of government. And that in itself doesn't look good! That doesn't look like a PM who is calling the shots of his own accord. It makes him look like a puppet! I didn't like that. Of course, if doesn't necessarily mean that Harper is corrupt but it definitely sent a message to me about who he is trying to impress.

Now, with all that being said, Statistics are impossible to check up on! I personally don't pay too much attention to stats because, being a person who actually worked for a level of the federal government conducting surveys all over the country and at times the US, i know that you can't count on them. You realize that if only 2 people answer a poll or survey, that it will register as a 50% result for or against whatever point you're trying to prove. Plus, they can be skewed in favor of whatever kind of result you want.

The truth is, NO ONE in this forum or anywhere for that matter know what is going on because there has been just way too many inconsistencies as to what happened sept 11, what exactly we are fighting for. Until it is clear to everyone what exactly happened, i believe that alot of us are speaking out our asses!

We can have our opinions and suspicions, but for anyone to say that somebody is right or wrong and to get on our high horses about all this, is plain ignorance.

I guess i think Canada is a little ignorant to have gotten into a situation that we know nothing about.

My question is WHERE WAS/IS THE INVESTIGATION INTO THIS MATTER. We sent our troops into a den of lions without a shred of truth to stand on. We didn't know a damn thing about it, we still don't and as yet we haven't done a thing to figure out wether the motives behind it are worth the cost. THIS is what pisses me off the most!!
 

Curiosity

Senate Member
Jul 30, 2005
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There are two threads going on Afghanistan right now....

The writers seem to be all over the place - with one common denominator - they want to be out of it.

Why don't they pull back then?

Canada is an autonomous nation which can join or refuse to join any conflict which has escalated and is not in keeping with their primary goal.

It is confusing.... but that is nothing new to me.
 

Curiosity

Senate Member
Jul 30, 2005
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Magnolia

Can you possibly write about why Canada is in Afghanistan - not a history of the Bush family? Looking over your conversations and questions leads me to believe your original questions already had answers - you were looking for validation of your own opinions. That would ok if you were correct.

Harper was not the Prime MInister when the military agreed to go to Afghanistan.

Bush is not the commander of the Canadian Forces.

You are merely repeating what appears to be current misinformation.

That Harper met with Bush was nothing new - he was mending the fences which had been broken down between Chretien and Bush - it was an act of diplomacy not discussion of invading Afghanistan. It was long after the military had been deployed.

I thought Canadians were up for reality and truth but all I read here is rhetorical play by play over and over with no thought to where your government was in the actual commission of troops to Afghanistan...

Anyone up for the real story?
 
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Curiosity

Senate Member
Jul 30, 2005
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http://www.canada-afghanistan.gc.ca/mission-en.asp

This from the Canadian Government pages.....Why We Are There....

Why We Are There

The key to achieving our important goals in Afghanistan is an integrated approach that combines our military presence with active civilian support for Afghan governance and development.
Canada is in Afghanistan today at the invitation of the Afghan government. We are there to:
  • defend our national interests
    We have a national interest in a secure and self-sufficient democratic state that never again serves as a terrorist haven.
  • ensure Canadian leadership in world affairs
    Nation-building takes time and requires sustained support. Abandoning Afghanistan prematurely would have consequences for Canadian interests, international security and Afghans themselves.
  • help Afghanistan rebuild
    Much progress has been made to date; but the work on the ground must continue. With the full support of the Afghan government, Canada is helping the Afghan people bring stability to their country, strengthen governance and reduce poverty.
Download Canadians Making A Difference: Afghanistan [PDF 4MB | HTML]
Key figures

$1 billion
Canada's total contribution (2001-2011) in development aid. Afghanistan is Canada's largest recipient of bilateral development assistance.
157,000
Number of recipients (78% women) of loans totaling US$12 million. Canada is a lead donor of microfinance to Afghans.
63,000
Number of soldiers disbanded through the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) process. Canada is the second-largest contributor to the DDR process, through which 35,000 weapons have been collected.
10,800
Number of heavy weapons cantoned in Afghanistan – the same tanks, heavy artillery and other weapons that were used to destroy much of the country. Canada was instrumental in establishing the cantonment process, which is 97% complete.
2,300
Number of Canadian Forces (CF) personnel comprising Task Force Afghanistan, currently deployed to improve the security situation in southern Afghanistan. Since 2001, over 14,000 CF personnel have been deployed to Afghanistan as part of the UN-supported ISAF and OEF missions. [more information]
12 million
Number of Afghans who registered to vote in successive, successful elections. Canada has contributed greatly to democratic development in Afghanistan, through financial contribution, deployment of election observers and provision of security.
4.8 million
Number of Afghan children - one-third of them girls - that are back in school.
70
Number of diplomatic officers dedicated to supporting the efforts of our embassy in Kabul, both at headquarters and at various missions abroad; such strong political support ensures the strategic coordination of Canadian involvement in Afghanistan.
 

MagnoliaApples

Electoral Member
Apr 26, 2006
383
0
16
Okay Curiosity!

Seeing as how you seem to know what "Reality" is in all of this, why don't you enlighten us!

I want FACTS, curiosity. If you can give them!!! Tell us exactly what happened the day of Sept 11!

I love how people think they know what the truth is in all of this! People are so unbelievably arrogant!!!


P.S - I would just like to add that i, for one, don't believe everything i read. Propaganda begins with the news.
 

Curiosity

Senate Member
Jul 30, 2005
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MagnoliaApples

Well that exchange went nowhere. My posts were built with questions about Canada's deployment to
Afghanistan.

I asked the members here why the military are still in Afghanistan rather than constantly whining about the fact they are there, and pointing fingers due south - which is defeatist thinking. Canadians are in control of Canada - why do members here insist the government is being manipulated by some nefarious evil doers...it is so very un-Canadian...so unworthy of Canadians.

Also....I don't do drama well on Friday afternoons...

Your assumptions thrown at me lead me to believe there will be no middle ground, just two people writing back and forth with no solutions in sight.

I'll watch with interest to see how your truth is found.
 

Sassylassie

House Member
Jan 31, 2006
2,976
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She's had her mind up re: Afghanistan before she posted and I believe she's just mocking those of us who don't agree with her. I'm through trying to have an adult conversation with a child.
 

MikeyDB

House Member
Jun 9, 2006
4,612
63
48
C'mon now Sassy you know you're just delighted to have another elk to identify!
 

MikeyDB

House Member
Jun 9, 2006
4,612
63
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Curiosity

Hi Ya!

Listen to the Conservative government dancing around the issues and you get whatever rationale pleases any particular interested party….

“We’re cutting spending so we can optimize on the surplus….”

“We’re spending taxpayer’s dollars in Afghanistan to represent the will of the people of Canada….

“We’re extending a hand (in the form of a billion dollars) to the American forest products people to secure a favorable deal when we buy eight million dollars worth of American built aircraft to carry our Disaster Assistance Relief Team that we designed so clumsily and forgot that we didn’t have aircraft capable of deploying them where they’re needed….

“We’re demonstrating to the world that unlike that near-Commie Jean Chretien that if a Conservative had been in office when the U.S. invaded Iraq by golly gee we’d have been right there too….even though of course the Americans were entirely disingenuous and really in fact knew absolutely nothing about what they were getting into….

Canadian politics is like “Crown and Anchor” at the fair…

‘Ya takes yer spin and yer takes yer chances…’

Canadians love fairs.
 

mabudon

Metal King
Mar 15, 2006
1,339
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Golden Horseshoe, Ontario
Curiousity- You know, I've called my MP on a number of issues, such as our participation in the US backed coup against Aristide in Haiti (NOT a slam against the US, here, just a point of fact- they initiated and financed it, and we joined up and it pissed me off, at least) and our involvement in Afghanistan. I get the patronizing "Oh, your opinion is important and very interesting BUT" and then get handed the talking points, the classic "whys" like "you know, now women are going to school" (which by most of the accounts I've actually read is a bald-faced lie and no good reson for our troops to be dying even if it were remotely true) and "the government asked us to be there" (even tho western powers rolled the hell in there and "tollped" the "government" that was previously in power then installed a new one who BEGGED the conquerors to stay, mostly because the fake government doesn's seem to have a single shred of credibility with any of the actual goverend people) and other rhetoric in the same vein....

SO I guess the reason why I'm "whining" about it on here is because I honestly believe that the exchange of ideas might lead to some sort of common ground, or something. Whatever the case, as long as there are folks shouting what the current government tells them is the "truth" amd the government smugly pats them on the back and derides those who don't follow suit, calling the local MP seems, to me, about as useful as farting in a crap factory, as there is a media-built construct which tells folks what is "right" and "wrong"

The difference between folks saying the "mission" is a stupid waste and folks saying "we need to protect OUR interests and install a democracy" is that the former get brushed off and the latter get congratulated, and frankly it's frustrating

OH and clarification, tho the "mission" is UN sacntioned, it is a NATO mission, and likely always will be since even the much-loathed UN knows a huge waste of time, money and lives when it sees one
 

Curiosity

Senate Member
Jul 30, 2005
7,326
138
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California
MikeyDB

But weren't the Canadian Forces sent to Afghanistan before Harper became PM?

I can understand what you are saying now - that the people are asking the government to bring back the military as the Afghanistan mission has turned into a full scale military action....with little to do with peace-keeping.

But how does that relate to the original decision to send the forces in the first place?

I know I should pay more attention....:(
 

Curiosity

Senate Member
Jul 30, 2005
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Mabudon

OK OK - I see where the people are having issues - that previous work done with the U.S. was less than satisfactory and not the kinds of missions the Canadian public want their forces to be involved in. But
isn't this offered at the onset?

Why were the forces sent to Afghanistan when even dumb "I" knew it was going to be a military fight - just by the nature of the landscape and the people. It is perfect for terrorist training. I was reading
about Afghanistan before any military were sent there - and reading Armand de Borchgrave who at the time was an authority on the middle east politics circa during and right after Gulf One.

I have no idea why Canada opted to go to that place - certainly there was no "peacekeeping" to be involved until the fighting was over - and there would be terrible battles - these people were trained by some of the most cruel fighters in the world -the Russian sponsored militaries.

I enjoy an exchange too and because I know very little about Canadian politics and wonder why the U.S. are getting it in the shorts all the time by Canadians when I remember Canada as a proud stand alone country uninfluenced by any other nations - even their beloved U.K. But "it's your foreign policy" I hear all the time - that vague, rhetorical complaint that means absolutely nada to me. I only care about the people and not the "foreign policy" which can be changed by the people if they would work together.

I know the UN sanctioned it - but that means some dude signed a few papers after one of their interminable meetings....not caring who was killed, injured, or whatever, as long as they could say they "sent in a peacekeeping force"..... why does Canada bend over so much?

And then get mad at the U.S. after making their own decisions? My god look at your own problems before you keep spitting towards the 49th. When Bush is out of office in a year - are you going to blame the next guy? How long will this continue until all the wee ones in Canada are talking about war with the U.S.?

Bush and Clinton and Bush and Reagan didn't create Afghanistan as it is now.... the Russians did during the Cold War - keep going back to WWII if you can... and Canadians are supposed to clear up that three or four generation mind-bend? At great expense to your country, a rift among your peoples and suspicion of the government itself.

Think about it..... someone should have asked the government to think about it.... peacekeeping my hat!
 
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MagnoliaApples

Electoral Member
Apr 26, 2006
383
0
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I've said this before and i will say it again.

The problem with this whole situation is that it is based on a theory that has more holes in it than swiss cheese.

The reason why we are in Afghanistan is because of 9/11. We went there to help the US look for Osama Bin Laden the alleged perp in this whole ordeal. And yes!! It is my right to say alleged because there is absolutely no proof what so ever as to who masterminded 9/11.

IMHO, to go and invade a country based on a theory is crossing the line. Put the shoe on the other foot.
Let's say that the same thing happened elsewhere and they believed that Bush and co had something to do with it. Without any solid proof, would it be right to go into the States and invade it on suppositions?
Of course not!!!

There is something terribly wrong when a leader of a country decides to play God and brings arms against a nation without any kind of solid proof.

I don't think that it matters how that country decides to live. I don't like the way women are treated in that area of the world either, i don't like the fact that there are a ton of political rebels in that country that are trying to take over, there are many things about the middle east i don't agree with, just like anybody else, but it's not up to someone else to try to impose a way of life on those people. If they want a change, it's going to have to be up to them to change it.

Supporting this war is very difficult without knowing the truth about what happened on sept 11. What really happened that day is key as to whether or not people are going to support this cause because, i'm sorry but, not liking their way of life is not enough and the wrong reason for us being there.

Americans, don't get all sore on people who have a mistrust for your president. How can you blame us?
It sucks that this guy is so super shady and it sucks that he's the one leading this fight. It sucks that he is the one leading your country but keep in mind, it's your president we have issues with. Not you personally!

And just because this guy has shot himself in the foot so many times doesn't mean he's guilty of anything. He could just simply be a total boob! But you can't blame a person for reserving their right to 'pick a side' until the facts are clear. Which they are not!!