It's not surprising to us, but to some to our south it is.

NOBODY ever said Canada's military is not good!

Our soldiers are known to 'punch above their weight' by using their brains for more than battering rams.

-edit

Apologies, and no offense intended to US troops, but we think they use you badly.

Like the Mohawks of Grand River (1812-14, +), the Highlanders also  scared the shite out of enemies (first) with their ungodly yells ... and then  'follow through'.

I think it is more accurate to say we do not have a tradition of military aggression.

I know that's why I am so uncomfortable with Afghanistan. I feel it's the first time we have sent our soldiers to an unjust war, and that's our responsibility, not the soldiers. In my opinion, it's against Canadian values.

Our soldiers care about the Afghans, the kids going to school, the crops surviving so families can have a livelihood and are not forced to join the Taliban.

I don't get that same sense from the US COMMAND. They are there to 'secure' the area ... ie, control it 'for business purposes', and they'll install whatever puppet will answer to them, regardless of what's good for the people.

And the US'll bomb the crops just to make sure they don't fall into Taliban hands, regardless of the fact that it deprives families of their livelihoods and puts them at the mercy of the Taliban.

I suspect the American COMMAND answer to that would be

"Who cares! Bomb them here or bomb them there! Just bomb them!"

(Am I being too unfair?)

Personally, I think we have a proud and valued and honourable military tradition.

 -some edits to clarify criticism is of COMMAND,

NEVER soldiers.

God bless em all.