Langley, Isn't It Time to Exit Afghanistan?

"In a week when Canada lost eight soldiers and cautiously began discussing an exit strategy with its allies, it's become clear the mission in Afghanistan, as currently constructed, is not winnable." Toronto Star April 14.

Other great quotes from the above linked Star article;

• 'Canada's current fighting role in Afghanistan cannot be sustained.'

• 'First, we are losing. This is not a popular thing to say. Nor is it a reflection on the skill and bravery of Canadian and other allied troops. But it is a hard fact that has to be faced.'

• 'The Taliban don't have to beat NATO to win. All they have to do is stay in the game, which is what they are doing.'

• 'Support at home is limited and dwindling.'

• 'But in this war, there is little evidence of progress.'

• 'NATO military efforts are serving only to further alienate the people we are supposed to be helping.'

• it "will take generations to win" – said Task Force Afghanistan's deputy commander Col. Mike Cessford this week.

• '..how many more Canadians will have to die'

• 'The war on terror could never work and is not working.'

• 'The gravest mistake made by U.S. President George W. Bush and his allies was to define the response to these terror attacks in purely military terms.'

• 'History also demonstrates that war, once unleashed by countries seeking to battle terrorism, can have perverse and unpredictable consequences.'

• 'Bush's ill-fated Iraq war may provide the clearest example of how a military action, ostensibly designed to curb terror, can end up creating more terrorists.'

• 'In the end, backfire is also the story of Afghanistan. It was the first target of the war on terror. It was also the first place where that war went wrong.'

• '..some five years later, bin Laden is still at large, while the Taliban control large swaths of both Pakistan and Afghanistan. Meanwhile, London and Madrid have been hit by terror attacks.'

• 'The war didn't eliminate Al Qaeda. It did throw Afghanistan back into full-blown civil strife, reinvigorate the narco-economy and make the West, rather than Russia, a focus of tribal hatred in the country's south.'

• 'the Taliban is less interested in negotiation. After all, now it is winning.'

Langley, is it time to exit Afghanistan? This Editor believes it certainly is and that we should go on record with Karzai , Bush and Nato that our commitment to Canada's war in Afghanistan will will last no more than another year and a half. It's high time that Canada focus on more desperate real peace keeping missions like Darfur.

Al Qaeda Misinformation Campaign

The Jawa Report and Laura Mansfield decipher the latest al-Zawahiri video reported in the Globe & Mail today. The 24 minute video is a fascinating look at their PR campaign and how they plan an offensive against the southern Afghanistan NATO troops.

Globe & Mail - Afghanistan WAR is Story of the Year

The Globe & Mail named Afghanistan the story of the year. Last week, the Canadian Soldier was chosen Canadian Newsmaker of the Year by the Globe & Mail as well. Rightfully so. This year alone our military saw 36 young men and a woman get killed in this War. This is the worst ever loss of lives in a single year in over 50 years seen in any one conflict by Canada's military. Every paper in the country should do the same as the Globe to get more important dialogue and discussion going on this Canadian war. When do we leave and what is the solid empirical measurement of success if any is at all ever possible? You can't manage what you can't measure and you can't have an end point without an end goal. Any other news story or news maker of the year by any paper national or local is simply irrelevant ridiculous fluff.

$6 Million Canadian Tanks Required in Afghanistan!

There is nothing more reassuring to LFP than spending $189 million of our taxpayers dollars to send a handful of Canadian Leopard tanks to our war in Afghanistan for our so-called peacekeeping/peacemaking effort! Absolutely wonderful, imagine if the Taliban takes out even one of our tanks it will cost us ~ $6 million each as well! These tanks should be just great for protecting the warlords opium poppy fields. And if you think LFP doesn't like Canada's mission in Afghanistan then dooh, where have you been? Gee you would think that our Defense Minister Gordon O'Connor used to work for the armaments industry before. Well he did! Boy oh boy, we must be doing real well if we now have to ship $6 million tanks to this war adventure!...

U.S. Voters Choose Democrats - Harper Beware

Donald Rumsfeld, Bush's Iraq/Afghan war architect resigns!
The results are coming in and are clear. Tomorrows Washington Post reports that 12 years of Republican control has ended because of the war in Iraq and conservative economic priorities. The American voters essentially decided that a Democratic majority Government with no plan on Iraq is better than the existing George W. Bush Republican plan on Iraq. Hopefully in our next election, probably early next spring, Canadian voters will equally choose to reject Harper's Canadian war plan in Afghanistan. Remember President Lyndon Johnson was defeated by the Vietnam war, today's Republicans were defeated by the Iraq war and clearly the ruling conservative values and ideologies of a Republican U.S. President and Conservative Canadian Prime Minister on both Iraq and Afghanistan clearly suggest they are also greatly at risk. One can only hope so!

P.S. Former Vice President nominee and Democrat Senator Joe Lieberman won re-election as an Independent after losing his own democratic nomination! Also Arnold... won again. And so did Hilary, maybe the next American President! Also our immediate neighbours just to the south of us in Washington State won an especially substantial super majority for the Democrats....

Anti US Riots In Kabul And Continued Unabated Taliban Warfare

Canada may have to stay in battle for many more years to come by the appearance of this Reuters report. Seems the Taliban are in constant and unabated battles in the south of Afghanistan where our Canadian troops are. Winning the hearts and minds of the Afghans may also becoming more difficult as reported in the same Reuters article saying that Citizens rioted in Kabul, Aghanistan' capital, because US troops killed 5 citizens. Add this to the recent bombing of the southern Afghan city's innocent citizens by our coalition planes and the outlook sure doesn't look great right now especially since you also have Canadian Senators calling the Afghan President a US puppet!

More significantly the Globe and Mail reports (full report here) that the Taliban in Afghanistan have maintained, and perhaps even gained, strength. I sure hope this doesn't become another Vietnam or another Russian Afghanistan disaster. It's obvious to this writer that the sugar coated pills being fed to the Canadian public on this war may be just that, placebos. Case in point Defence Minister Gordon O'Connor on CTV says Canada is not at war in Afghanistan! Could have fooled me! And to cap it all off our Canadian Troops are told Geneva rules don't apply to the Taliban! So we can do anything we want to them and never worry about something silly like being called war criminals.

Shouldn’t Canada Be In Darfur...NOW?

The Government and the rebels in Sudan's Darfur are having trouble meeting their ceasefire agreement leading to increased violence and human rights abuses that have already killed more than 180,000 people so far. CBC reports the following;

'A separate report released Tuesday by Amnesty International said Darfur and similar crises around the world are being ignored as nations such as the United States concentrate on the so-called war against terrorism.'

"Governments collectively and individually paralyzed international institutions and squandered public resources in pursuit of narrow security interests, sacrificed principles in the name of the 'war on terror' and turned a blind eye to massive human rights abuses," the secretary-general of Amnesty International, Irene Khan, said in a statement linked to the report.

LFP asks, where's Canada? This should be a United Nations supported real peace keeping opportunity and an emergency priority. Afghanistan and Iraq is a USA led coalition against terrorism.

Afghan War Collateral Civilian Casualties Bad PR For Canada's Military

The Globe and Mail reports that the Military bombing of a village while supposedly killing enemy Taliban soldiers killed at least 17 to 25 innocent villagers when western coalition aircraft bombed many houses, and even a religious school, in the early morning hours between 11 p.m., Sunday and 5 a.m. while villagers slept, yesterday. Countless more civilians including young children were also sent to hospital. This dramatic blanket bombing resulting in 'civilian casualties and mounting violence will make it harder for Canada's soldiers to continue the campaign to win support from ordinary Afghans'.

MPs Play Politics - Canada in Afghan War Two More Years

The Toronto Star reports that a tight 149 to 145 vote in the house of commons will keep Canada in Afghanistan for two more years at least! PS- Curious how the Liberal Leadership candidates voted? See this link.

16th Afghan War Soldier Killed in Combat Is Canada's First Woman

Capt. Nichola Kathleen Sarah Goddard was the first ever female Canadian Soldier killed in combat. Captain Goddard a 26-year-old CFB Shilo-based soldier was killed by a rocket-propelled grenade while she was riding in an LAV armoured vehicle during heavy fighting with Taliban guerrillas during a firefight with Taliban insurgents yesterday. Reported by Canoe. For US perspective see CNN coverage. See British BBC perspective. Asia Times perspective. See also Globe and Mail report. Her Parents remember her as per the Toronto Star. CBC reports on thousands of comrades who send Goddard home. Goddard's husband comments at CBC.

Terrorist Scum One Day - Friend Next Day

And so it goes as per CTV but then remember once upon a time the USA supported the Taliban as well as Saddam as well! U.S. restores diplomatic relations with Libya! Believe it!

Harper To Call Vote to Extend Canadian War In Afghanistan Two More Years

Parliament will decide in a vote tomorrow night whether to extend Canada's military commitment in Afghanistan by two years, CanWest News sources report.

Iran's Leader A New Hero?

So, we all in the western world think that Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (note: he is shrewd enough to have his own website and one in English to) is a dangerous crackpot with his blatant tirades against the U.S. and it's western allies and especially more so now since his country is expanding enriching uranium for their nuclear power plants. Obviously the rest of the world agrees with us. Right? Not at all! Shockingly, the Australian News reports that Iran's President is the new hero among Indonesians! Boy oh boy, does President George Bush and all of us in the West have a very serious problem if we don't come to grips quickly with dealing with the Muslim, the 3rd and not so 3rd world countries and peoples properly and much better than we are doing so far. Our interventionist holier than thou approach is obviously not working and probably borders on and appears like a new Bush led western Christian crusade to this other half of the world. Our leaders must approach these problems better/differently or else every time the west kills one terrorist or dethrones one thought leader, multiple more arise to replace these martyrs! One step forward, three steps back! Take note, please, Prime Minister Harper.

Peacekeeping, at what cost? - Broadcast Feb. 9, 1993

Listen to this 1993 Hal Jones 3 minute CBC radio clip re Canadian/U.S. peacekeeping issues and concerns in 1993. Has anything really changed in 2006? Ironically Lloyd Axworthy predicted in this 1993 radio clip that if 30 young Canadians were brought back in body bags that there would be an 'uproar' from Canadians. To date 15 Canadians have been killed in Afghanistan.

Bush Administration Alarmed Afghanistan Situation Is Bad

The New York Times reports that the Taliban threat is growing in Afghan South and that "The Taliban and Al Qaeda are everywhere,". It continues, 'The arrival of large numbers of Taliban in the villages, flush with money and weapons, has dealt a blow to public confidence in the Afghan government, already undermined by lack of tangible progress and frustration with corrupt and ineffective leaders." This could explain the perplexing olive branch offering posted a few days ago.P.S. its well worth it to sign up with the NY times to view thier article(s).....

Afghanistan on “Life Support” Warns Council Report

Stability and security in Afghanistan remain elusive says the linked report. Their summary is that economic growth is the only cornerstone upon which a stable and secure Afghanistan can ever be built. Unfortunately this is so far off it may even be unrealistic. The Council on Foreign Relations’ Studies Program is home to more than forty scholars, called fellows. Taken together, their expertise covers nearly every issue related to international relations. This think tank produce and disseminate ideas so that individual and corporate members, as well as policymakers, journalists, students, and interested citizens in the United States and other countries, can better understand the world and the foreign policy choices facing them.....

President of Afghanistan Offers Olive Branch to Taliban

The Washington Post reports that Afghan President Karzai essentially is asking the Taliban, especially it's moderates to cease fighting and join with the Government to rebuild Afghanistan. The Post goes on to quote Taliban Commander Akhund, speaking by telephone from an undisclosed location,who said the United States and its allies toppled the Taliban and installed a "puppet government" after intense bombing," and that "The Afghan people should stand up.. and join the Taliban in the freedom struggle and force out foreign troops like Soviet forces,".Wow, deja vu about what was said about the Afghan Government at an earlier time under Russian military occupation!
Interesting, why doesn't the Canadian Press report the fact that President Karzai is offering an olive branch to the Taliban (who by the way now call themselves freedom fighters)? Is it at all possible to 'give peace a chance'? Are the Taliban a group that can be reasoned with? Are they that big a threat to suddenly elicit an appeal to consider peace from President Karzai? Certainly not the impression our western leaders have been giving us. The impression we are being given in the West is that they are just a small bunch of loose terrorists that we are just mopping up. What is really motivating President Karzai to ask the Taliban to accept the olive branch? This seems like a pretty dramatic appeal. Why?....

Fallen Soldier's Dad Critical Of PM Harper

CP reports and quotes fallen soldier Mathew Dinning's father at his eulogy saying "Now I'd like to show you some of the video that Mr. Harper wouldn't let you see close up of Matthew's arrival home,". He also only weeks before his son's death penned a letter to Harper decrying the government's refusal to lower flags on Parliament Hill for fallen soldiers.

Are The Harper Conservatives Essentially Censoring Our War Dead Images? Why?

Is the Conservative Government afraid that Canadians, seeing the bodies, seeing the coffins, seeing our flags at half mast may turn people off on the mission? It seems to LFP that is clearly what is concerning them as reported by CTV. Also see the National Post. Looks like Harper is still working from George Bush's playbook on politics and governance.

Four More Coming Home As Threat Getting Worse

Tories Will No Longer Lower Our Flags For Canadian War Dead In Afghanistan

Too choked to comment too much on this one! The Tories will no longer lower our flags for our Canadian boys & girls killed in Afghanistan! "We have returned to the 80-year tradition of remembering all casualties of war or operations on one day - Nov. 11th," Defence Minister Gordon O'Connor said. What is the tragic message that our Government is sending us by this action? How many more casualties can we expect? You respond the way you personally feel (if at all) to Canadian Defence Minister Gordon O'Connor. This is his email if you want to comment to him. Or phone his office here.

Another Point Of View On Afghanistan War

Eric Margolis on his website provides a different point of view on the Afghanistan war elaborating on the 3 Big Lies justifying the war in Afghanistan. The lies are, selfless crusade to defeat the 'terrorist' Taliban, implant democracy, and liberate Afghan women. He says none are true. Surprisingly, never heard before anywhere, are his comments that we should be working with the moderate elements of the Taliban as opposed to the war lords and their ilk. Read the comments to his comments as well. Excellent food for thought. Refreshing to get a different perspective. I think I am going to get his book!....

"Live the adventure in Afghanistan" - Join Tim Hortons Kandahar

The Province reports that the Canadian Forces are advertising for Tim Hortons seeking employees who will make $15,500 to $17,000 during their six-month stint (based on a 37 1/2-hour week), plus a $1,800-per-month, tax-free stipend with room and board included for those willing to serve Tim Hortons donuts and coffee to our troops in Kandahar. They further advertise that the job will "take the challenge to the edge" with a "change from the everyday routine." Wow I can hardly wait to apply for the job!

U.S. Army Officer's Top 10 Reasons For Canada To Stay In Afghanistan

Today's National Post reports Canada's Afghanistan war comments from Stephen J. Mariano who is a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army and a Visiting Defence Fellow at the Centre for International Relations, Queen's University. His top ten reasons to stay in the war are summarized by your editor below;

10. Oil to Benefit Canada ( The US too?).
9. Poppy (heroin) Industry back in Afghanistan ( Eliminated under the Taliban!).
8. Prevent human-rights abuses (Hey, I can buy this one).
7. Protect fledgling Democracy in Afghanistan (Hope it holds).
6. Canada's chance of success better in Afghanistan (Than what?)!
5. Support NATO's(USA) self defense clause treaty obligation (legal contract!).
4. "A secure Afghanistan means a secure Central Asia" (yeah right!)!
3. Prove to the US we can & will, "it's good to accentuate the positive" (suck up)!
2. Prove to the world we are not a "soft, outmoded 'peacekeeping' force" (suck up more).

And the # 1 reason for Canada to stay in Afghanistan is;

1. "Better to halt bacterial growth in the petri dish now rather than letting it grow and one day infect our shores." (fade out to a star spangled banner...).

I don't know about you, but U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel Stephen J. Mariano has provided me all the reasons to formulate my opinions on Canada staying in Afghanistan. How about you? I'm so glad he's here in Canada helping educate our students!....

Troops To Stay in Afghanistan For Years: Harper

PM Harper permitted debate this evening in parliament on Canadian troops in Afghanistan and he said that our troops will remain in Afghanistan for the next few years as quoted by Yahoo News. He also refused an NDP suggestion that a vote be held to extend the Canadian troops participation beyond early 2007. Harper further said he would provide a say to parliament on future deployments but this would apply only to new hot spots and not to Afghanistan. CBC reported that Defence Minister Gordon O'Connor said in the same debate that Canada's security depends on battling terrorists harboured in Afghanistan. The Globe and Mail reported that O'Connor said “Our security begins very far from our borders.” NDP Leader Jack Layton asked,
—What is Canada's role?
—How long will it take?
—How is victory to be defined?
The NDP also criticized the fact that the mission is supposed to be operating under a NATO command, not under the umbrella of the United States.

Top Canadian General Hillier Wants More Muslims in Our Military

CBC reports that at a Sunday night dinner hosted by Ottawa's Muslim Association, our Canadian forces Commander called on Muslims to join the military to increase our military's diversity. A young muslim present was quoted as saying he needed a "clearer idea of why Canada is in Afghanistan before he would consider a career in the military". He also said, "First of all, I'm a Muslim, so I don't like to fight," said Kaddoura. "So unless there's a clear purpose for me to go there, to change it, then I wouldn't do it, you know what I mean?"

'When we kill enough(Canadians) ... they will quit' Says Afghanistan Taliban

Canadian Press reports that insurgent spokesman Qari Yuosaf Ahmedi said the Taliban are convinced the resolve of the Canadian people is weak. He further is quoted, "We think that when we kill enough Canadians, they will quit war and return home,". It is obvious to LFP that this rhetoric by the Taliban will result in even more Canadian Government countering rhetoric which we predict will say that we are winning the war and our resolve will never weaken. Hopefully we will not have escalating Canadian deaths that will escalate with the political rhetoric.

CP further reports that a poll survey by Decima Research found 45 per cent of Canadian respondents considered the deployment a good idea while 46 per cent viewed it as a bad idea. It is also quoted as saying 25 per cent of respondents said the troops should stay as long as it takes to complete the mission. Another 10 per cent said they should stay another year or two, while 15 per cent were willing to see them stay up to five years.

Did Friendly Fire Cause Deaths in Kandahar?

Pte. Robert Costall aged 22 an American and Afghani soldiers may have been killed by friendly fire reports CBC and The Toronto Star. An investigation is under way.

You Heard It Here First! - "Boots On The Ground" Canadian Ad in Washington

Kim Richter our contributing columnist was the first that found the Cdn. Government's Washington DC ad about our military from a Washington DC blog, DCist blog. The press is now taking off on it after we forwarded it to them. Today in the Vancouver Sun, the Calgary Sun , Toronto Star , London Free Press , vive le canada , and watch the news report on the Global TV link and select Troy Reeb reports for the actual video news report from Global. The press has not yet reported that the "Boots on the Ground " campaign extends into a boots on the ground Canadian Embassy Art Exhibit as well. The second real story here is that Blogs are now becoming news feeds for the larger media. Then of course the local media simply and unfortunately ignores local blogs!

Blogs Have, Will & Do Make A Difference! - LFP

Richter Report - March 30, 2006 - No Response From MP Warawa Re: “Boots On The Ground”

The Vancouver Sun today on page a16 followed up on the “Boots on the Ground” story I posted here last week. The Sun talks about Canada’s attempt to prove we are once again worthy military allies to the U.S.A. - so much for our "kinder, gentler society" north of the 49th Parallel! Also of interest is the expansion of the poster campaign to an art exhibit in the Canadian Embassy in Washington DC.

The Sun implies that this PR campaign is needed to bolster trade relationships with the US. The article actually quotes a military attache at the Canadian Embassy as saying: "There's often criticism down here that Canada is not pulling its weight on security. We beg to differ" and "The events that happened at Khandahar are brutal evidence of our commitment to the war on terror. We are spilling Canadian blood."

I find this absolutely chilling and I ask again: "Where are we going with this? And, why?".
In my last Richter Report, I said that I would ask Langley's MP about this issue and report back to you with his feedback. The following is my e-mail to Langley MP Mark Warawa sent 7 days ago on March 23, 2006. To date, I have received absolutely no response what-so-ever from him or his office. Is he not responding because of Harper's centralist communications clamp down? Or are the concerns of a local constituent of no importance and so not worthy of a reply?

Dear MP Warawa:

I am writing to you as a concerned resident of the federal riding you represent. I recently discovered that the federal government is advertising its military presence in the US. Please follow the attached link http://www.dcist.com/archives/2006/03/23/canada_not_just.php

I am very uncomfortable with the military direction that Canada now seems to be taking. This advertisement is adding to my concerns.

Why are we spending money on this? Do you support the change of Canada's peace-keeping role to what now seems to be an increasingly aggressive military stance? Were you aware of the spending taking place on this ad and related website: http://www.canadianally.com/ What is the "endpoint" or positioning of our military that this government has in mind?

We used to be respected internationally as peace-keepers. Is this role changing?

I would appreciate a response from you at your earliest convenience. Thank you for your time.

Yours very truly,
Kim Richter.

Kim Richter is in her 3rd term as Langley Township Councillor and also is a Professor of Business at Kwantlen University College. She holds a masters degree in health administration and was a health care management consultant.....

Boots on The Ground Art Exhibit In Washington DC Cdn Embassy

Our Canadian Government not only is putting up "Boots on the Ground, security is our business" posters in Washington DC subway and shopping malls for the average American( reported in LFP) but now the American establishment can also visit the Canadian Embassy in Washington DC where they can catch our latest art exhibit titled, you guessed it "Boots on the Ground"! Our Government, it would seem to us, is desperately trying to spin and sell Canada to Americans as back on track with them militarily. Don't worry about missing it, apparently the production of Canadian War Art show will remain on display through Dec 30! P.S. admission is free!

Soldiers In Training Eager To Go To Afghanistan

"This isn't a peacekeeping mission," said Corporal Michael Taylor, a 23-year-old military policeman from North Bay, Ont. But is he looking forward to it? "Absolutely." Quoted from today's Globe & Mail. Despite Cpl. Taylor's Mother threatening to call General Hillier to get her son reassigned he as well as the other 1200 troops see it as an opportunity and are excited because as one quotes, "it is not boring". They are being presently trained at CFB Petewawa to handle suicide attacks and the like for their upcoming reassignment to Afghanistan.

Canadian Soldier Killed In Firefight - 3 Wounded

And so it starts.
CTV reports, "A Canadian soldier serving in Afghanistan was killed and three others were wounded in a firefight with Taliban insurgents in a remote area outside of Kandahar, military officials say." Killed was Pte. Robert Costall, of the 1st Battalion of the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, based in Edmonton. Pte. Costall was the first Canadian Soldier killed in actual combat. Additional report from CBC. The 22 year old Robert Costall is survived by his wife Chrissy and their one year old son.

Canada’s Military in Afghanistan –Peacekeeping or Security & Combat?

Kim Richter, our contributing LFP columist has started a controversial discussion in her recent posting on March 23 in LFP. She says, “I have become increasingly uncomfortable with this government's move away from peace-keeping and into a more aggressive military presence” and cites a disconcerting Canadian Government-financed advertisement poster in a public Washington DC Metro Center Metrorail station as an example.

The March 25th front page of the Vancouver Sun says that while Prime Minister Harper’s approval rating is up by 21 points following his surprise trip to Afghanistan, the Canadian public’s support for our military mission there has dropped two percent nationally with significant drops of 8% support in both of each BC and Ontario. Nationally the drop shows only 52% in support of the mission with Quebecers 62% against the mission. Why is Councillor Richter concerned with our military mission and why the ever increasing drop of support nationally? More importantly why are Canadians clearly divided on our military role in Afghanistan?

Langley Free Press agrees with Richter’s concern and wades into this controversial argument. It seems to us that at least half of Canada also agrees with her concerns as well.

In 1957 Canadian Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson proposed an International peace force under the United Nations. That year he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his vision. Since 1957, Canada has been involved in over 50 peacekeeping missions, more than any other country. We are the only Country that has a national monument dedicated to our Peacekeeping military and even our $10 bill has an image on it honouring our Peacekeeping soldiers. Peacekeeping is a long held half century old Canadian point of pride and helps further define us as Canadians maybe even more so than our universal health care.

The Canadian Association of Veterans in United Nations Peacekeeping on their website lists 121 Canadians who gave their lives in the cause of peace in our over 50 year history of peacekeeping while serving with United Nations and other peacekeeping missions. Since commencing our military action in Afghanistan there have already been 11 Canadian deaths and 40 casualities alone. Meanwhile our political and military leaders have clearly been preparing Canadians to expect more casualties in this conflict.

The issue we have here is not just Canada’s commitment to Peacekeeping but the sudden and not so subtle marketing evolution from the image of a respected UN blue beret bearing Canadian soldier to an image on a banner of a steel helmeted, battle garbed, gun toting soldier with the accompanying headline “boots on the ground…security is our business” that Richter showcased.

Are we straying away from, or worse still, sacrificing our traditional world wide strong reputation and respected role that Canada has earned as a Peacekeeper? Is it perhaps more the role of countries like the U.S. that have historically demonstrated themselves as forced Peacemakers, not Canada? Quite frankly the American track record on forced Peacemaking has not been a stellar one either. What other Country is prepared to replace Canada’s worldwide respected peacekeeping role when really needed for Peacekeeping if we lose respect and acceptance as a Peacekeeper?

Traditional Canadian Peacekeeping took place between states or sides in a political conflict in order to monitor a peace treaty upon which all parties had agreed. When and why has it suddenly become our role now to essentially force peace and our version of democracy on a foreign country? Why has it suddenly changed to the point that we have essentially become one of the two sides in a military conflict?

It seems to us that the banner poster in a public Washington DC Metro Center Metrorail station proudly heralds this change of Canada’s military and further should alert us, while it obviously assures our American neighbours, that we are no longer peacekeepers between two warring factions but that we are now joining the Americans as forced peacemakers and that we are now one of the two warring factions?

While there will be very valid arguments forwarded justifying Canada’s Peacemaking participation based on supporting democratic change especially for women’s rights and the like, it could also be validly argued that many other nations in the Mid-East, including wealthy and stable nations like the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, are certainly also far from democratic and at best extremely restrictive on human rights for women and the like. Why do we not impose our version of democracy on them as well as countless other similar countries? Maybe that is exactly the reason that causes armed resistance and terrorism in the Middle East, because it is perceived that the western countries are supporting what they consider to be American Imperialism.

Most fundamental Middle-East conflicts are strongly based on resistance and rebellion as a result of this perception that American and western societies’ values are being forced on them. This is especially true in countries with strong fundamental religious majorities. We in the West are perplexed as to why increasingly countless men and now women are willing to sabotage, especially by suicide missions, our attempts to influence our western ways on them.

Lengthy continued western occupations especially military ones like Afghanistan are most certainly prone to be doomed in these countries and cultures. Let’s not forget that a significant Russian military occupation of Afghanistan prior to ours was also an abysmal failure that resulted in countless young Russian soldiers’ deaths for naught. Will this continued military action in Afghanistan negatively and irreversibly reinforce Canada’s role as an occupier and fervent supporter of America and end our respected world wide role as a Peacekeeper initially implemented by Lester B. Pearson?

The reality is that Canada is not on a peacekeeping mission in Afghanistan. We are there in support of the American mission of “security and combat” that the poster in Washington confirms. We are assisting in now forcing our western values and our version of democracy on a country that one has to question whether they will ever truly accept especially if imposed militarily by the West. Should Canada perhaps stick to our knitting as a true Peacekeeper? Should Canada instead work diplomatically and economically to encourage, and positively assist these countries to willingly evolve their basic human rights and democracies in the mid and long term? Can short term 3rd party western military imposed democratic reform take hold and flourish in the Middle East countries? We think not.

Perhaps the American invasion of Afghanistan was well justified initially but is it right for Canada to trade-in our world wide respected image as a blue beret UN Peacekeeper for a helmeted security and combat image proclaiming "Boots on the Ground..... Security is our Business."? Again we think not. We encourage much more Canadian public debate, and soon, before it is too late.
....

Richter Report - March 23, 2006 - Where Is Our Military Heading?

Canada's military used to be known for Peace Keeping as our Business.Has something changed? When did it change to:

"Boots on the Ground. U.S.-Canada Relations: Security is our Business."?

The above Canadian Government paid poster ad in a public Washington DC Metro Center Metrorail station states just that. It is obviously spinning Canada's military support. It also has a link displayed to go to CanadianAlly.com on the same poster.

I don't know about you, but I wonder if this is the message Canadians really want to be selling. Do Canadians even know about this message?

Quoted on the Canadian Ally website: "CanadianAlly.com is an electronic newsletter maintained by the Canadian Embassy in Washington, DC, designed specifically for an American audience. The goal of this e-publication is to bring together pertinent defence and security information from a variety of government departments, agencies, military commands and bi-national organizations. The intent is to give American citizens a better sense of the scope of Canada's role in North American and Global Security and the War on Terror."

Sounds and smells like our Canadian Government is trying to sell a definitely more aggresive military message to the Americans - a message that Canadians may not be aware of or even in agreement with.

The photo and quotes are all from DCist blog based out of Washington DC written by Martin Andres Austermuhle who in his post on Canada's military advertisement says:

"We're not ones to question the allegiances of our neighbor to the north. But we are curious as to why they are looking to promote their security policy and close alliance to the U.S. to Metrorail passengers transferring from the Red Line to the Orange and Blue Lines. Has that ever been in doubt? We do suppose it's good to know they're there if we need them..."

I support peace-keeping and I respect and support our Canadian forces in their peace-keeping roles wherever they are. But, I have become increasingly uncomfortable with this government's move away from peace-keeping and into a more aggressive military presence. In fact, as a mother of three teenage children, I find this less than subtle shift very disturbing and I wonder where it's heading.

We used to be respected internationally as peace-keepers. Is this role changing and why?

If you are at all bothered by this poster in Washington or have questions, call your MP and ask for an explanation. See if they are comfortable with this or even aware of it. I will be asking our MP in Langley for his opinion on this advertising and I'll let you know what he has to say.

Kim Richter is in her 3rd term as Langley Township Councillor and also is a Professor of Business at Kwantlen University College. She holds a masters degree in health administration and was a health care management consultant.