Canadian involvment in Afghanistan

Originally Posted by knkwzrd

This actually made me laugh. The nature of terrorism is that you cannot fight it with a war. That's why it was invented. The "War On Terror", like the "War On Drugs", are useless right-wing buzzwords. You cannot declare war on ideals.

Sure you can. Look at how well the "War on Poverty" and the "War on World Hunger" are doing. I'm glad nobody is going hungry or is improvished anymore.

Originally Posted by knkwzrd

That doesn't work...

Okay I concede, but you're a negative nancy.

Originally Posted by knkwzrd

War has it's place. WWII was a neccessary war, but since then, North America has been killing overseas for profit under several different "war" guises.

Pretty sure that's been happening way before then. What happened to all those Indians I read that settled here on this continent before the white man came?

Not just limited to "North America" either, because I know you're just implying the U.S. when you say that. Just about any war fought for imperialistic gain was rationalized, because let's be honest; we feel a little guilty. Especially when we know we're collectively doing something that we feel/know is wrong. Since when is taking something that's not yours okay? So we just lie to ourselves, and the people at large. Then it's all better!

Another fringe benefit is that anything can and will be rationalized. After all, we're fighting a war that won't end in our lifetimes against a state-less, faceless enemy. You're with us, or you're with the terrorists. Okay?

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Originally Posted by MetheGelfling

Hopefully they'll be able to take care of some of the opium traffic.

Ironically enough, the Taliban was pretty effective at destroying the opium crop year after year. It was the invasion that increased the amount of opium exported to the rest of the world. Lest we forget that the British Empire took control over Afghanistan strictly for control of the opium trade.

But nobody has any imperialist intentions today... right? Follow the money.

Originally Posted by MetheGelfling

you're right in that it's disgusting that your fellow canadians aren't supportive of their own troops.

How is it not supporting the troops by wanting them to be home with their families..... Ahh Vietnam... the gift that keeps on giving!

How ya doing, buddy?

Originally Posted by MetheGelfling

There are a lot of people who are so shortsighted that they publicly blame soldiers for their missions. Don't forget Jane Fonda and all the crap she gave the guys in Vietnam... as though the whole thing was their fault.

Oh, I don't. But c'mon what do you expect from a liberal-elite celebrity? She probably didn't even know where she was sitting on anyway. She just "thought" that "Oh golly gee! How nice! They're offering me a seat and letting me look through a scope!". Bet she regrets that now anyhow.

Also I wouldn't have given a hero's welcome to the "brave" soldiers of My Lai either. Except the soldier that shot himself instead of carrying out his orders. Civilized people should be above that. Period.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Originally Posted by MetheGelfling

Well, if you can let Fonda slide for her actions, certainly you can be understanding that war and desperation will frequently break people into becoming less than human and turn them into violent savages.

Certainly, but that doesn't mean there can't be any accountability either. What was done at My Lai was not heroic in any sense of the word. Furthermore I think My Lai underminded and hurt the war effort more then Fonda's actions did; nationally, and internationally. My Lai was the last straw, where Fonda was just a tool of the North Vietnamese.

Eh, let's just agree to disagree because I don't think we'll get anywhere.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Originally Posted by MetheGelfling

good deal. look at us being such polite diplomats yielding in a decently interesting non-hostile discussion. rock on!

It's probably because I'm not a democrat. :biggrin:

*edit*
Or maybe it's because we can see each other's points and be rational adults about it. Naw, it's because I'm not a democrat.

I was speaking idiomatically.