Continuing the thread I started in introductions
http://rabble.ca/babble/introductions/soldiers-hello
For starters, I don't believe the group you posed your question
to are all 'guys.' With the way western corporate democracy works, it
seems that individual or collective opinions and protests among the
population are of little consequence. The majority of Canadians, the
people you represent, are against our military involvement in this war.
Sorry SJ I didn't mean to imply you were a guy instead of a girl. When I say guys I'm used to addressing it to a group, not specifically just males. I'll try and be more PC about it here.
With regard to your reply, I agree. It seems that protests while popular, don't seem to accomplish anything. Thats why I asked what all of you whom I metioned are doing to get Canada out of Afghanistan. Have you actually wrote your local MP?
Can you do me a favor and please explain how the poll you posted works?
It says Canadians dissaprove of military action (between strongly and somewhat) for a total of 56%. But then it goes onto say this
By comparison, 41 per cent of respondents were in favour of military
action, with 14 per cent saying they "strongly approve" and 27 per cent
"somewhat approve."
Is that the previous approval rating from 2002? So now the Approval of military action is 44% compared to 82% of the past? If that's accurate (and I explained that right) it's a huge drop.
Tommy, great post. I'm in agreement with a lot of what you're saying/feeling. Especially the part about supporting an alliance.
One thing you mentioned,
If I can assume my "Dr. Strangelove" persona for a moment, there is the
fact that if we are to have a military that is capable of acting in
Canada's own best interests, it has to be experienced in combat from
time to time.
I don't think you realiz just how true that is. From a military point of view, I personally think the mission to Afghanistan saved the Canadian Military. Cutbacks, problems with equipment, prolems with personal and leaders, problems with old tactics. Many many problems were addressed.
Some examples. Physical fitness. Canada was probably the "fattest" army in NATO. I kid you not. We had MAJOR issue with overweight soldiers. Not nessairily combat arms but soldiers in general. "Who cares" seemed to be one of the responses. With Afghanistan being a combat zone that didn't have front lines, everyone had to sort themselves out. General Hilliar also inacted a rule along the lines that if you can't pass a physical fitness test y can't get promoted. There were also other penalties, I think including eventually being released from the forces. Tax payers pay money to ensure their army is physically fit and prepared.
Equipment problems such as the lack of Tanks and transport helicopters which have been or are being addressed.
Training. We're not fighting the Russians anymore. Lots of old dinosaurs refused to get out o the cold war mindset, that qas quickly changed once they hit the ground in Afghanistan.
As far as your Dr Stranglove personal goes, I think you hit the nail on the head.
Thanks for your post Tommy. Like George's and others its given me some key things to consider and think about while I'm here.