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By PETER WORTHINGTON
These days when people such as the NDP's Jack Layton urge, in the normal course of their ideology, that Canada should quit Afghanistan, it is an acceptable political viewpoint.
But when they do so the moment Canadian troops suffer casualties, and insist their motivation is concern for the soldiers in harm's way, they are indulging in crass political opportunism.
In another era, we would have called it treason.
My guess is Layton, for one, doesn't give all that much thought to the welfare of our soldiers and that he neither instinctively likes them, nor understands them. Concern for their individual welfare is mere political rhetoric. He'd send our army to Darfur, for God's sake!
Disagreeing with Canada's mission in Afghanistan, or how it is being waged, is a legitimate point of view.
No one is really sure of how to curtail Taliban and al-Qaida extremism, thus giving the people of Afghanistan a chance to survive in something resembling peace and security with maybe a smidgin of freedom that has been unknown to them.
Even our military is feeling its way along, unsure of answers, learning as they go, doing what they can to dissuade tyranny.
Our soldiers in Afghanistan have distinct and varying opinions about the war. But most understand why they are there and the importance of their presence. Mostly, they get on well with the people of Afghanistan.
But when our troops are killed, as six were by an explosive device recently, it behooves the country to curb political differences and to show support.
Braying
This doesn't mean automatically agreeing with the mission, but it does suggest putting a cork into one's cake-hole and not braying like a jackass, as Layton and others did when they heard the news.
No Canadian of good intent should want to make life more difficult for soldiers. We should all show encouragement and offer moral support.
Whenever there's a casualty, the Laytons of our country are in full cry, like hound dogs after a coon. Soldiers in the field know what's happening at home, and it does their morale no good when people who should know better use any opportunity -- even the death of a comrade -- to advance their political agenda.
Conversely, the enemies of our country exploit any dissension -- which should concern all our politicians, regardless of party affiliation.
It's too easy -- and quite misleading -- to assume that because six soldiers died in an enemy attack, that the mission is flawed and failing.
Just the opposite, in fact. Last summer's campaign was a victory for Canadians and NATO -- but mostly Canadians, who did the bulk of the fighting. Put bluntly, they kicked ass and pacified a hitherto volatile area.
The people of the region were reassured. This year's vaunted "spring offensive" didn't materialize, primarily because Taliban or al-Qaida elements feared another trouncing.
Instead they've resorted to other tactics -- explosive devices and suicide bombers. While it may be hard for us who are not there to view this as a positive development, that's exactly what it is.
Personally, I wouldn't classify the enemy's new tactic as cowardice, but expediency. They'll do whatever they think will work. There's no quick or easy answer to IEDs (improvised explosive devices) -- witness Baghdad.
In Afghanistan, these are tactics of desperation. And while suicide bombers are a constant threat, one should remember that a suicide bomber is effective only once.
In its long history, Afghanistan has known little peace.
It has been a country of warlords and clans, suspicious of outsiders.
It is also a country of fighters, and as fighters they recognize Canadian soldiers as fighters too, but fighters who have no intention to dominate, but to protect and secure -- and then leave.
But leave on our terms, and Afghanistan's terms -- not Layton's cut-and-run philosophy.
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This site is updated by 6:00 a.m. EST each day and includes stories and
These days when people such as the NDP's Jack Layton urge, in the normal course of their ideology, that Canada should quit Afghanistan, it is an acceptable political viewpoint.
But when they do so the moment Canadian troops suffer casualties, and insist their motivation is concern for the soldiers in harm's way, they are indulging in crass political opportunism.
In another era, we would have called it treason.
My guess is Layton, for one, doesn't give all that much thought to the welfare of our soldiers and that he neither instinctively likes them, nor understands them. Concern for their individual welfare is mere political rhetoric. He'd send our army to Darfur, for God's sake!
Disagreeing with Canada's mission in Afghanistan, or how it is being waged, is a legitimate point of view.
No one is really sure of how to curtail Taliban and al-Qaida extremism, thus giving the people of Afghanistan a chance to survive in something resembling peace and security with maybe a smidgin of freedom that has been unknown to them.
Even our military is feeling its way along, unsure of answers, learning as they go, doing what they can to dissuade tyranny.
Our soldiers in Afghanistan have distinct and varying opinions about the war. But most understand why they are there and the importance of their presence. Mostly, they get on well with the people of Afghanistan.
But when our troops are killed, as six were by an explosive device recently, it behooves the country to curb political differences and to show support.
Braying
This doesn't mean automatically agreeing with the mission, but it does suggest putting a cork into one's cake-hole and not braying like a jackass, as Layton and others did when they heard the news.
No Canadian of good intent should want to make life more difficult for soldiers. We should all show encouragement and offer moral support.
Whenever there's a casualty, the Laytons of our country are in full cry, like hound dogs after a coon. Soldiers in the field know what's happening at home, and it does their morale no good when people who should know better use any opportunity -- even the death of a comrade -- to advance their political agenda.
Conversely, the enemies of our country exploit any dissension -- which should concern all our politicians, regardless of party affiliation.
It's too easy -- and quite misleading -- to assume that because six soldiers died in an enemy attack, that the mission is flawed and failing.
Just the opposite, in fact. Last summer's campaign was a victory for Canadians and NATO -- but mostly Canadians, who did the bulk of the fighting. Put bluntly, they kicked ass and pacified a hitherto volatile area.
The people of the region were reassured. This year's vaunted "spring offensive" didn't materialize, primarily because Taliban or al-Qaida elements feared another trouncing.
Instead they've resorted to other tactics -- explosive devices and suicide bombers. While it may be hard for us who are not there to view this as a positive development, that's exactly what it is.
Personally, I wouldn't classify the enemy's new tactic as cowardice, but expediency. They'll do whatever they think will work. There's no quick or easy answer to IEDs (improvised explosive devices) -- witness Baghdad.
In Afghanistan, these are tactics of desperation. And while suicide bombers are a constant threat, one should remember that a suicide bomber is effective only once.
In its long history, Afghanistan has known little peace.
It has been a country of warlords and clans, suspicious of outsiders.
It is also a country of fighters, and as fighters they recognize Canadian soldiers as fighters too, but fighters who have no intention to dominate, but to protect and secure -- and then leave.
But leave on our terms, and Afghanistan's terms -- not Layton's cut-and-run philosophy.
Newspapers- Toronto Sun- Calgary Sun- Ottawa Sun- Edmonton Sun- Winnipeg Sun- London Free Press- 24 Hours Toronto- 24 Hours Vancouver- 24 Heures Montreal- Brockville Recorder & Times- Fort McMurray Today- Grande Prairie Daily Herald-Trib.- Kenora Daily Miner & News- Portage la Prairie Daily Graphic- St. Thomas Times Journal- Simcoe Reformer- Stratford Beacon Herald- Woodstock Sentinel-Review- Jobboom Career Connection------------BOWES PUBLISHERS- Alberta- Saskatchewan- Manitoba- Ontario- Quebec
This site is updated by 6:00 a.m. EST each day and includes stories and
