Afghan war: tell us why we're fighting
This editorial appeared in Fort McMurray Today Sept. 19, 2006
It will be a Remembrance Day to remember in a few weeks.
The annual ceremonies will carry more significance than any other time since the Korean conflict in the early 1950s for us.
Why? The Canadian body count piling up in Afghanistan.
The troops -- sent there by Liberals and reinforced by Conservatives -- are doing the best job they can, under circumstances that are precedent-setting in the history of warfare.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper argues that Canada has not pulled its weight in recent decades by directing resources at peacekeeping instead of warfare. He's right.
Perhaps previous administrations -- both Grit and Tory -- didn't want to face the death toll that inevitably comes with warfare. They didn't want to face the emotions. They didn't want to answer tough questions.
It's not as much fun as a cheque presentation, but it's part of governing.
No one celebrates Canadian lives lost. Remembrance Day tells us about the folly of war.
But Afghanistan, where the terrorists that crashed four planes, three of them into buildings on Sept. 11, 2001 were trained, remains a dangerous place, both for the people of that war-torn country and the rest of the world. It makes sense to do battle with them, before they bring death to peace-loving countries.
The fight in Afghanistan is different from the war the United States is waging in Iraq. The premise of that battle -- that Saddam Hussein and his government backed the 9/11 terrorists -- was false.
Canadians can hold their heads up that the Afghan conflict is a just fight against an enemy who has does us harm and who wants to do us more harm.
But we hang our heads every time there's a death. When it's perpetrated by suicide bombers and not only soldiers, but Afghan citizens and children are also killed or injured, it becomes inexplicable, however.
Harper's insistence that Canadian soldiers are fighting "evil" is less-well-grounded in reality, however. The word paints an easy picture for a politician under fire himself for backing the battle. It's Bible-based echoes are not reassuring to many, however.
While the battle is just, it's incumbent on our elected representatives to spend more time explaining why Canadian soldiers are there.
It must be done not only for the soldiers and their families, but for all Canadians.
The families of those who come home in coffins must be at the head of that line. They deserve more respect than they're getting.
Some have reacted with anger; some have told reporters that their child was doing what he or she wanted to do.
The deaths must not be in vain, however.
While the NDP have, as is their right, come out against Canadian involvement in Afghanistan, they cannot be brushed aside. Their views represent those of many Canadians who are against involvement in any foreign conflict.
While the battle for hearts and minds by our politicians has been badly handled on the homefront, those in opposition have been able to gain prominence.
We've seen reluctance by the Conservatives and Liberals to debate the involvement of our soldiers.
Why?
The decision to send them was a serious one. It should be explained, calmly and rationally.
© Copyright 2006, Fort McMurray Today.
It will be a Remembrance Day to remember in a few weeks.
The annual ceremonies will carry more significance than any other time since the Korean conflict in the early 1950s for us.
Why? The Canadian body count piling up in Afghanistan.
The troops -- sent there by Liberals and reinforced by Conservatives -- are doing the best job they can, under circumstances that are precedent-setting in the history of warfare.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper argues that Canada has not pulled its weight in recent decades by directing resources at peacekeeping instead of warfare. He's right.
Perhaps previous administrations -- both Grit and Tory -- didn't want to face the death toll that inevitably comes with warfare. They didn't want to face the emotions. They didn't want to answer tough questions.
It's not as much fun as a cheque presentation, but it's part of governing.
No one celebrates Canadian lives lost. Remembrance Day tells us about the folly of war.
But Afghanistan, where the terrorists that crashed four planes, three of them into buildings on Sept. 11, 2001 were trained, remains a dangerous place, both for the people of that war-torn country and the rest of the world. It makes sense to do battle with them, before they bring death to peace-loving countries.
The fight in Afghanistan is different from the war the United States is waging in Iraq. The premise of that battle -- that Saddam Hussein and his government backed the 9/11 terrorists -- was false.
Canadians can hold their heads up that the Afghan conflict is a just fight against an enemy who has does us harm and who wants to do us more harm.
But we hang our heads every time there's a death. When it's perpetrated by suicide bombers and not only soldiers, but Afghan citizens and children are also killed or injured, it becomes inexplicable, however.
Harper's insistence that Canadian soldiers are fighting "evil" is less-well-grounded in reality, however. The word paints an easy picture for a politician under fire himself for backing the battle. It's Bible-based echoes are not reassuring to many, however.
While the battle is just, it's incumbent on our elected representatives to spend more time explaining why Canadian soldiers are there.
It must be done not only for the soldiers and their families, but for all Canadians.
The families of those who come home in coffins must be at the head of that line. They deserve more respect than they're getting.
Some have reacted with anger; some have told reporters that their child was doing what he or she wanted to do.
The deaths must not be in vain, however.
While the NDP have, as is their right, come out against Canadian involvement in Afghanistan, they cannot be brushed aside. Their views represent those of many Canadians who are against involvement in any foreign conflict.
While the battle for hearts and minds by our politicians has been badly handled on the homefront, those in opposition have been able to gain prominence.
We've seen reluctance by the Conservatives and Liberals to debate the involvement of our soldiers.
Why?
The decision to send them was a serious one. It should be explained, calmly and rationally.
© Copyright 2006, Fort McMurray Today.
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