Anti-war letter angers soldiers - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Azure · 06-12-2007, 03:24 PM

http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/n...97517a0f37&k=0

Quote:

MONTREAL • As families on Canadian Forces Base Valcartier prepare for the departure beginning next month of 2,300 soldiers to Afghanistan, anti-war groups have sent letters to soldiers' homes comparing Canada's military activities to war crimes and urging them to refuse deployment.

The letters from a coalition of Quebec groups prompted angry reactions when they began arriving in mailboxes yesterday on the base outside Quebec City, home to the Royal 22nd Regiment, or Vandoos.

"I read the headlines and threw it in the trash," said Master Corporal Pierre Calve, a father of three set to deploy to Afghanistan in August. "I believe in this mission. I have family here in Canada. This is a way to protect them, like our grandfathers did in the First and Second World Wars. It's not to go and kill people but to protect the peace."

What a load of crap.

These soldiers NEVER made the decision to go to Afghanistan....the government did.

So the protests should be addressed towards the government...not these fine men and women who already have enough on their mind.

Sometimes people ought to get their ass whooped.

Bobblehead · 06-12-2007, 03:27 PM

They should not be sending those letters. That is classless.

If people want to send letters to their MPs, that is what they are there for. You don't supply additional stress to families already trying to adjust to the idea of deployment.

Burninator · 06-12-2007, 03:40 PM

I never really understood it when people say "Support out troops", because I thought everyone supported the troops. But this is making me rethink that...

I understand they are against the war, but what an ass backwards way to go about protesting it. Classless indeed.

Dion · 06-12-2007, 04:00 PM

It's classless for sure. Regardless of ones views on the Afghan situation, our soldiers deserve all the support they can get. They put their lives in danger everyday.

CaptainCrunch · 06-12-2007, 04:03 PM

When I was in the military we used to laugh at people like the idiots who sent the letter.

If they want to protest policy thats fine, then they should protest it to thier MP or the PMO. But to send a letter to soldiers who are trying to get themselves and thier families ready for what is going to be a difficult time. And to alude to war crimes.

The thing that makes these young soldiers better then these other people is that a soldier has to lay thier lives on the line everyday so that these people can write these letters.

arsenal · 06-12-2007, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

The thing that makes these young soldiers better then these other people is that a soldier has to lay thier lives on the line everyday so that these people can write these letters.

The irony never gets old

RougeUnderoos · 06-12-2007, 04:15 PM

It's not "classless", it's just stupid. I mean really, do they think some soldier is going to get a letter in the mail from some stranger and decide "yeah, whoever wrote this to me is right. I'm not going."?

ken0042 · 06-12-2007, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arsenal

The irony never gets old

What I find even more ironic is that let's say this ends up sticking in the back of the minds of 5% of the soldiers. And of those; it distracts another 5% of the original 5%. That would be 25 soldiers out of 10,000 distracted- which could result in mistakes being made that lead to somebody's death.

It's just so counter productive that it just boggles my mind.

Cube Inmate · 06-12-2007, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ken0042

What I find even more ironic is that let's say this ends up sticking in the back of the minds of 5% of the soldiers. And of those; it distracts another 5% of the original 5%. That would be 25 soldiers out of 10,000 distracted- which could result in mistakes being made that lead to somebody's death.

It's just so counter productive that it just boggles my mind.

It's not counter-productive for the group that sent the letters. They love it when soldiers die because it helps get the public (those with marshmallowy opinions) on-side. I have no doubt that some of these people are actually happy when deaths are reported.

Resolute 14 · 06-12-2007, 05:02 PM

Cowards hiding behind the pen.

Would love to see these so-called activists have the guts to make their staements to the face of a soldier.

GreenTeaFrapp · 06-12-2007, 05:35 PM

I hope there was a return address on the letters so that the soldiers returning with PTS know where to go to if they lose it.

Canuck-Hater · 06-12-2007, 05:37 PM

How ignorant. Like these soldiers really wanna be where they are right now. They are brave souls.

Vulcan · 06-12-2007, 05:47 PM

I do believe that the final decision to go to war belongs with each soldier but I don't see any problem with us being in Afghanistan. I believe the average Afghani wants us there and Osama and his henchmen are a threat. Best of luck to our men going there.

arsenal · 06-12-2007, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vulcan

I do believe that the final decision to go to war belongs with each soldier

No it doesn't. They are soldier's. They are given orders, and they are expected to follow those orders. They don't have a say.

Vulcan · 06-12-2007, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arsenal

No it doesn't. They are soldier's. They are given orders, and they are expected to follow those orders. They don't have a say.

Not acording to the Nuremberg trials.
'Just following orders' doesn't cut it anymore. Here's someone else's thoughts on the matter.

http://www.strike-the-root.com/3/schultz/schultz3.html

Azure · 06-12-2007, 08:09 PM

And have our troops ever followed orders that forced them to do acts that would be considered as 'war crimes?'

Have they ever committed any sort of act, orders or no orders...that we can classify as 'war crimes?'

Vulcan · 06-12-2007, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Azure

And have our troops ever followed orders that forced them to do acts that would be considered as 'war crimes?'

Have they ever committed any sort of act, orders or no orders...that we can classify as 'war crimes?'

Hopefully not but still each person is responsible for their actions.

Azure · 06-12-2007, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vulcan

Hopefully not but still each person is responsible for their actions.

Absolutely.

I'm pretty sure we'd have heard about it...had our troops committed such vile acts.

HOZ · 06-12-2007, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

It's not "classless", it's just stupid. I mean really, do they think some soldier is going to get a letter in the mail from some stranger and decide "yeah, whoever wrote this to me is right. I'm not going."?

That is EXACTLY what they think.

HOZ · 06-12-2007, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Azure

And have our troops ever followed orders that forced them to do acts that would be considered as 'war crimes?'

Have they ever committed any sort of act, orders or no orders...that we can classify as 'war crimes?'

I know what you are getting at but.....umm yes they have. Just not the mass grave-kind.