The Rants of Issachar
Friday, February 24, 2006
Majority of Canadians oppose our mission in Afghanistan...
I wrote most of this yesterday before work, but I ran out of time.
The Globe and Mail is reporting their poll which shows that 62% of Canadians are against sending troops to Afghanistan. Of the mere 27% who were in favour of sending our troops, a full 31% of those said that their position would change if they knew that sending troops would result in significant casulties.
While reasonable people can and do disagree about the wisdom of invading Iraq, the war in Afghanistan is an entirely separate issue.
The Taliban which ruled Afghanistan directly supported and sheltered al-Qaeda on their soil and were thus partners in the attack on the World Trade Cente and the Pentagon as well as in the failed attack on the the US Capitol building. The United States is our ally in NATO and an attack on one ally is an attack on all of us. (See Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty). If we were attacked by a foreign power we would rightfully expect all of our NATO allies to come to our aid. It was our duty to come to the aid of the United States in the counter-attack, (see Operation APOLLO), on Afghanistan, and it is our duty to see the mission completed. I fail to see how one can legitimately oppose sending troops to Afghanistan. (Absolute pacifists excluded).
The Taliban regime has been successfully toppled. We have successfully removed the government that was a partner in the attack on us, but the enemy forces are not entirely vanquished. They continue to attack both Afghans and NATO country forces in Aghanistan. That means we have a continuing duty to stand with our allies militarily in Afghanistan.
Do we not also have an ethical obligation to the Afghans themselves? While it was entirely legitimate to topple the Taliban, the new (democratically elected) government is under attack. Ordinary afghans are being murdered. What sort of people are we if we topple an unjust government, but aren't prepared to restore order? Nearly two out of every three Canadians favours exactly that. What does it say when nearly a third of those who say we should send troops will walk away when we incur casulties?
It's not good...
The Globe and Mail is reporting their poll which shows that 62% of Canadians are against sending troops to Afghanistan. Of the mere 27% who were in favour of sending our troops, a full 31% of those said that their position would change if they knew that sending troops would result in significant casulties.
While reasonable people can and do disagree about the wisdom of invading Iraq, the war in Afghanistan is an entirely separate issue.
The Taliban which ruled Afghanistan directly supported and sheltered al-Qaeda on their soil and were thus partners in the attack on the World Trade Cente and the Pentagon as well as in the failed attack on the the US Capitol building. The United States is our ally in NATO and an attack on one ally is an attack on all of us. (See Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty). If we were attacked by a foreign power we would rightfully expect all of our NATO allies to come to our aid. It was our duty to come to the aid of the United States in the counter-attack, (see Operation APOLLO), on Afghanistan, and it is our duty to see the mission completed. I fail to see how one can legitimately oppose sending troops to Afghanistan. (Absolute pacifists excluded).
The Taliban regime has been successfully toppled. We have successfully removed the government that was a partner in the attack on us, but the enemy forces are not entirely vanquished. They continue to attack both Afghans and NATO country forces in Aghanistan. That means we have a continuing duty to stand with our allies militarily in Afghanistan.
Do we not also have an ethical obligation to the Afghans themselves? While it was entirely legitimate to topple the Taliban, the new (democratically elected) government is under attack. Ordinary afghans are being murdered. What sort of people are we if we topple an unjust government, but aren't prepared to restore order? Nearly two out of every three Canadians favours exactly that. What does it say when nearly a third of those who say we should send troops will walk away when we incur casulties?
It's not good...
7 Comments:
Posted by: 
Carlathe new format of your blog looks good.
Carlathe new format of your blog looks good.
Posted by: KatinkaI agree, Carla! The new background makes text easier to read too. :)
KatinkaI agree, Carla! The new background makes text easier to read too. :)
Posted by: issacharBest viewed at 1400x1050 pixels. :)
issacharBest viewed at 1400x1050 pixels. :)
Posted by: Katinka(where is pic from?)
Katinka(where is pic from?)
Posted by: issacharIt's taken on the edge of an extinct volcano in Panama. There's a town in the old crater called El Valle. It's just a bit west of Panama City. I went there last year with my Dad.
issacharIt's taken on the edge of an extinct volcano in Panama. There's a town in the old crater called El Valle. It's just a bit west of Panama City. I went there last year with my Dad.
Posted by: Major JohnThat's a bit disappointing to read - the Canadian troops I worked with in Afghanistan were wonderful. They did good work, and were appreciated where ever they operated. I just hope that the current government keeps up the good work that the Candadian forces have already done.
Major JohnThat's a bit disappointing to read - the Canadian troops I worked with in Afghanistan were wonderful. They did good work, and were appreciated where ever they operated. I just hope that the current government keeps up the good work that the Candadian forces have already done.
Posted by: SarahI can't help feeling that the opposition to Canadian forces in Afghanistan might be because a lot of people have trouble separating the issues of war in Afghanistan and Iraq (not that Canada has much to do with Iraq).
Agreed, the blog looks good.
SarahI can't help feeling that the opposition to Canadian forces in Afghanistan might be because a lot of people have trouble separating the issues of war in Afghanistan and Iraq (not that Canada has much to do with Iraq). Agreed, the blog looks good.
