Looks like we are shifting troops from Iraq to Afghanistan, but are we getting ourselves into another quagmire?
I also need someone to explain to me what the objective is for us in Afghanistan. At least one report I’ve read estimates 60% of the country’s GDP to be oppium related. What could we possibly accomplish there except more dead Americans, if anything just merely due to the impossible terrain (way more rugged than Iraq).
Canada has been in a combat role since the beginning in Afghanistan along with other NATO countries and have been wondering when the USA will be able to devote more resources there. . IMHO, it’s where the war should have been, not Iraq. Unfortunately Iraq turned out to be far more difficult than ever estimated. Afghanistan is still a Taliban stronghold. Don’t know if it’s actually doable since it’s such a big country - one estimates says 400,000 boots on the ground would be necessary to subdue the entire country. As for the opium economy there have been attempts to introduce other crops, but opium is very lucrative and will be a huge problem to deal with.
"Canada has been in a combat role since the beginning "
What’s that like 10 guys?
What’s that like 10 guys?
A little more than that given that 100+ soldiers have been killed while serving in Afghanistan. Given the population of Canada, that’s a considerable sacrifice. I realize that Canada doesn’t have the military force that the US does, but they have been doing an outstanding job supporting the mission there while the US lost focus and moved on.
hey Dawn, put down the Labatts! You’ve obviously been drinking to much if you think for a second that the Canadian involvement has moved the meter at all.
Since we (the US) have killed 16 Afghan civilians under Obama’s leadership I’m wondering when the LEFT is going to call for him to be brought up on war crime charges?
Anyone have any ideas when this call to action should be expected?
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20090125/D95U5GUO1.html
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) - President Hamid Karzai condemned a U.S. operation he said killed 16 Afghan civilians, while hundreds of villagers denounced the American military during an angry demonstration Sunday.
Your reply just shows how ignorant so many Americans have become when it comes to the support it receives from other countries.
Your reply just shows how ignorant so many Americans have become when it comes to the support it receives from other countries.
The last thing of consequence that came from Canada was the band Rush. So I guess thank you for that. Anything else i’m missing — ehh?
Canada and Great Britain are two of a few countries that are really helping in Afghanistan, and whose troops take on some of the toughest missions, and subsequently take the most casualties. One of the big problems in Afghanistan is that many of our other NATO “allies” have put what are called “caveats” on the use of their troops which keeps them largely out of harm’s way, rendering their troop support fairly ineffective. Most of the troops should be in the south where the Taliban and Al Qaeda presence is largest, yet the caveats keep commanders from putting the troops where they are most needed.
Spot
Please re-read my other post. That about sums it up. If you need to know how to look up the word “Ignorant” in the dictionary, let me know and I’ll help you.
"Canada has been in a combat role since the beginning "
What’s that like 10 guys?
Canada has lost over 100 soldiers in the war.
If I was truly ignorant do you think I would actually have a dictionary? But for sport go ahead, give me your top 10 list of what Canada has contributed to the world. You got me curious.
**You’ve obviously been drinking to much if you think for a second that the Canadian involvement has moved the meter at all. **
I wonder if you would have the guts to tell the families of the soldiers killed that their sacrifice has been in vain?
Actually, I don’t wonder at all, you are a typical “tough” talker using a screen name to hide behind on an internet forum. Shame on you for minimizing the effort from Canada.
You’re just not worth it. I don’t feel like fishing for trolls today.
geesh, with all of your Canuck pride I though you would be able to roll that list off of memory.
Please, oh please, don’t lump Americans as a whole together with d-bags like P-Rex.
Afghanistan = quagmire. Any smart military man could tell you so.
Casey, I hate to burst your bubble but they died in vain. Afghanistan was a shit hole before we got involved, and despite human lives and billions of dollars it remains a shit hole, fast forward 10 years from now (more lives, more $$$) and it will still be a sheot hole. The boys who died are brave and patriots, but they still died in vain.
Yes, I know and I’m not doing that. But, it’s surprising the vast majority of Americans who simply have no idea.
By the way, I’m American too.
Dawn T is actually an American who lives in Canada so she always gives a good perspective on both sides.
There are about 2500-3000 troops in Afghanistan in a combat role. They have done a very good job in the Kandahar area in keeping the militants at bay, although this is an ongoing problem. We’re supposed to end our mission in 2011, but now that Obama is taking Afghanistan more seriously than Dubya, I’d suspect we’ll probably end up staying a bit longer. Obama is set to meet with our prime minister fairly soon, so we’d imagine Afghanistan will be one of the priority topics on the agenda.