Canadian Pettiness is Showing

[freetobeme]

Interesing piece especially coming from the Toronto Star, normally left wing and anti anything conservative.

http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/301568

Canadian pettiness is showing



The "deploy more NATO soldiers to Kandahar or we quit in 2009" threat contained in the Manley report strikes me as a sad reflection on current Canadian attitudes. It isn't that more troops would not be desirable. But what if no NATO country sends us a military "partner"?

According to the report, in spite of the ongoing violence, the Afghan economy has been growing, millions of refugees have returned, more children (of both genders) are in school, child mortality rates are improving and infrastructure is being built.

Are we so small-time and penny ante in our world view as to dismiss the progress made? Do we tell the unprepared Afghan forces and population, "Sorry, you're on your own"? Do we allow Afghanistan to again become a safe haven for Al Qaeda, again a threat to us and others?

I hope not, because another thing we would lose in the process is our reputation. I would argue that it has improved internationally due to our involvement in Afghanistan.

-snip-

It could also be pointed out that we have given disproportionately little in previous decades, in terms of NATO commitments and international conflicts. During the years leading up to 9/11, our armed forces were effectively defanged, making us unable to contribute proportionately to just about anything.

One of Jack Layton's wishes is that we abandon Afghanistan in favour of "saving Darfur," which, if it could be done, would necessitate doing things (invading, killing, getting killed) Layton objects to when done in Afghanistan. That aside, if we had a military proportionate to our size, we could contribute to both wars. (I've never understood that one either)



Many Canadians seem to have forgotten two things about Afghanistan. The first is that the 9/11 attacks were attacks on the West. Osama bin Laden himself said as much. This is our battle.

The second is that our military presence in Afghanistan has been authorized under international laws we purport to respect. The Manley report reminds us of this. It also offers a realistic assessment of what it calls a noble mission. Not rosy, not hopeless, but one that requires our continued and valuable (be it disproportionate or not) presence.

[Richard Bell]

You're quite correct about the Toronto Star.

My perspective tends to be from the left, but I can't stand the ultra PC, hippy dippy, crunchy granola, pollyanna left wing attitudes and platitudes of The Star and Jack Layton.

The other annoying thing about The Star is it seems to be written at about a Grade 6 level of language comprehension. I find The Globe & Mail to be a more literate newspaper.

Having said all that, I'm pleasantly surprised that The Star would publish such a rational editorial.

Thanks for the link.