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Originally Posted by Savvy27
No, its not. I don't see how in this situation, calling for a retreat is a slap in the face to Canadian troops at all. People are not calling into question the loyalty, effort or conduct of the troops, they just disagree with either the purpose of the mission or the plausibility of victory under acceptable terms.
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How is it not?
A retreat now would result in a failed mission, a failed mission means those soldiers who died, did so for a failed cause. Those soldiers died in a failed cause because people who aren't associated with the military simply wanted them to come home instead of completing the mission.
Considering the majority, and i say this because #1 i have served (not in Afghanistan) and know handfulls of people based at CFB Edmonton, CFB Trenton and CFB Cold lake who support the mission there and do not want to pull out prematurely as well as having several close friends who have and who are currently serving in Afghanistan. Basically most (not all) say moral is high and support for the cause is also high.
Given all this, i don't think people have the right to say bring these soldiers home now, when for the majority of them - they want to accomplish this mission, because of the commitment to NATO and for their fallen comrades, as well as preventing Afghanistan from falling into the wrong hands. What is so wrong with trying to give the Afghans the freedom and peace they so deserve, the freedom and peace we take for granted.
IMO, people calling for the soldiers to come home are nothing more than selfish because the Afghan people need these soldiers and we have a commitment to NATO, without them there is very little hope and a bleak future.
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Originally Posted by Savvy27
Supporting the troops is not blind cheerleading for whatever cause a military is pursuing regardless of its merit. At least not in my opinion. My view is that to support the troops you wish or pray for their safety, and if you support their goal, for success. (There are likely many other and probably more useful means of support, but I doubt telling people who are against the mission that they might as well be suicide bombers is one of them...)
Personally I am in favour of the Afghanistan mission, but I do not see you as a kindred spirit. Accusing people of supporting the taliban because they do not think Canada or NATO is justified in their intervention is outrageous. Isn't it enough to disagree with someone intellectually, without having to identify them with your enemy?
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You took what i said completely out of context.
Pulling out would be a win for the Taliban/Al Quada and a loss for Canadian soldiers, as well as a loss for the Afghan people. Not to mention a huge blow for the the war against Al Quada which would now be able to operate much more freely. I can tell you right now the Taliban want nothing more than for Canadian soldiers and most importantly NATO soldiers to be gone. This gives these militias a free ticket to roam around bringing that country back to square 1 which to me, is favoring the enemy.
Calling out troops home when they don't want to be brought home [read above]. The troops are simply being used as political objects and i would not be too suprised if Harper loses the next election over Afghanistan which is a complete farce.
As hard as it is to see Canadian soldiers die, the toughest decisions to make are usually the best ones.
The world has a lot to gain with Afghanistan and a lot to lose if NATO fails.