4 Canadian Soldiers killed in Afghanistan - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

White Doors · 09-18-2006, 07:44 AM

They were distributing toys to kids

http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2...857001-ap.html

icarus · 09-18-2006, 07:56 AM

http://www.cbc.ca/story/world/nation...canadians.html

Terrible news.

daveyboy · 09-18-2006, 10:06 AM

That is terrible news. Sadly, it is becoming quite a common story.

My thoughts go out to their loved ones

MarchHare · 09-18-2006, 10:08 AM

One of my best friends is set to start his second tour in Afghanistan in November. It seems as though the fighting is getting more and more fierce over there. I hope he and all our other soldiers return safely, but realistically I think we're in store for many more deaths.

HOZ · 09-18-2006, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarchHare

One of my best friends is set to start his second tour in Afghanistan in November. It seems as though the fighting is getting more and more fierce over there. I hope he and all our other soldiers return safely, but realistically I think we're in store for many more deaths.

So MARCH...is your friend such chicken **** like the BBC say we are?

Since he/she signed up for her/his 2nd...............2nd tour

obviously not. How about you? Still serving it up for the fascists?

MarchHare · 09-18-2006, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HOZ

So MARCH...is your friend such chicken **** like the BBC say we are?

Since he/she signed up for her/his 2nd...............2nd tour

obviously not. How about you? Still serving it up for the fascists?

WTF?

Can anyone translate this nonsense into English for me, such that I can give a proper reply?

peter12 · 09-18-2006, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarchHare

WTF?

Can anyone translate this nonsense into English for me, such that I can give a proper reply?

I think he's expressing admiration for your brave friend.

TheyCallMeBruce · 09-18-2006, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peter12

I think he's expressing admiration for your brave friend.

Either that or he's coming on to you

SeeGeeWhy · 09-18-2006, 02:54 PM

Get into a fetal position, cover your neck with your hands, and be very still.

--

I heard that it was a bicycle bomb... a bicycle bomb? Come on guys...

photon · 09-18-2006, 03:00 PM

What I don't understand is I keep hearing reports on the radio of how this is putting pressure on the Conservative government and that the Liberals are using it...

I can understand the government getting pressure to pull out, saying that the situation has changed or that the costs are too high for us.

But how can the Liberals be making political hay over this; didn't we go there in the first place while the Liberals were in power?

Bobblehead · 09-18-2006, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by photon

What I don't understand is I keep hearing reports on the radio of how this is putting pressure on the Conservative government and that the Liberals are using it...

I can understand the government getting pressure to pull out, saying that the situation has changed or that the costs are too high for us.

But how can the Liberals be making political hay over this; didn't we go there in the first place while the Liberals were in power?

Someone is making political hay on this? I though the Liberals were concentrating on their leadership race. The NDP are trying, but the "Whatever you say, we want the opposite" approach is just further marginalizing them.

And I still don't like any of the political party options.

MarchHare · 09-18-2006, 03:11 PM

I *guess* they could claim that the situation has changed from the time they sent in troops, and under the current circumstances they wish to bring our soldiers home...

Kind of like how Democrats pressured Nixon to pull out of Vietnam when US involvement in that war peaked under the administrations of Kennedy and especially Johnson.

Still, though, I think it would be premature to leave Afghanistan now. Unfortunately, I'm not sure if NATO has a viable exit-strategy, and that country has historically been one of the hardest to control for an occupying force.

photon · 09-18-2006, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

Someone is making political hay on this?

I was sure I heard that a few times on the radio. Or maybe I'm just being oversensitive? I don't know enough about the whole thing to really judge but I just thought it was odd that the Liberals would say anything like that.

Tron_fdc · 09-18-2006, 03:26 PM

So what's the US doing over there right now? Isn't that the main reason we're there? The war on terror? I haven't been following it much, but has the US changed its focus, or is that up for debate?

It would seem a little strange for NATO to jump all over Afghanistan, then pull out 4 yrs later allowing the Taliban to fill the void. The whole reason we went was to get rid of these guys who allowed terrorists to train in their back yard.

ken0042 · 09-18-2006, 03:38 PM

The way I see it is we aren't fighting a 20th century war. In WWII there were stories of Christmas cease fires; even Nazi and Allies exchanging rations as "gifts." War was the game that was being played.

Now the rules of the game have gone out the window, and we are getting a little bloody because of it. To me that doesn't mean we should quit. To me that means that we need to learn to fight smarter.

Bobblehead · 09-18-2006, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by photon

I was sure I heard that a few times on the radio. Or maybe I'm just being oversensitive? I don't know enough about the whole thing to really judge but I just thought it was odd that the Liberals would say anything like that.

You may well be right. It is the opposition's job to criticise the sitting gov't (hopefully constructively, but that is a naiive hope), so it wouldn't surprise me if 'hay' was being made. I just thought they were occupied with the leadership debate.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tron_fdc

It would seem a little strange for NATO to jump all over Afghanistan, then pull out 4 yrs later allowing the Taliban to fill the void. The whole reason we went was to get rid of these guys who allowed terrorists to train in their back yard.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ken0042

The way I see it is we aren't fighting a 20th century war. In WWII there were stories of Christmas cease fires; even Nazi and Allies exchanging rations as "gifts." War was the game that was being played.

Now the rules of the game have gone out the window, and we are getting a little bloody because of it. To me that doesn't mean we should quit. To me that means that we need to learn to fight smarter.

I support the reasons we are over there, but how do we know when we can withdraw. Ideally, there will be an Afghani government in place and stable, but how do you measure that? Pull out and be ready to rush back in?

metallicat · 09-18-2006, 04:53 PM

This is ****ed. The Taliban can do whatever they want to our soldiers, while our men and women have to live by the rules.

jolinar of malkshor · 09-18-2006, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oilers_fan

This is ****ed. The Taliban can do whatever they want to our soldiers, why our men and women have to live by the rules.

Not sure what your saying here? The Taliban are being hit much harder than we are because we are trained and equiped. Everytime another Canadian dies it just ****es of the troops that much more. The Taliban is a dieing breed.

metallicat · 09-18-2006, 06:35 PM

The Taliban is a dying breed? Not from what I've been reading. They just keep coming. More recruits all the time willing to strap a damn bomb to their chest and run into soldiers.

What I'm saying, is that the Taliban is able to use tactics that modern militaries wouldn't get away with; IE - suicide bombing. And Canadian soldiers must follow rules of engagement. Bombed while handing out toys? What a joke.

Devils'Advocate · 09-18-2006, 07:07 PM

(1) As for why the Liberals are "making hay" on this issue is because our original mandate was the secure the urban areas and keep the Taliban, run out of the cities by the US, from coming back to the urban areas. Under the Conservatives, the mandate has changed from defensive to offensive. We're heading out into the country and taking out targets.
(2) oilers_fan: Which rules would you want our troops to break?
(3) I really think that the Green party makes a good point. There are many Muslim members of the United Nations. Having Canadian troops there makes it look like an occupation by overwhelmingly Christian countries. Canada should send supplies and money and help with the training, but these suicide bombers *might* think twice before blowing up other Muslims. Our troops are needed in other areas of the world where it wouldn't be seen as a Christian occupation.