THREE QUESTIONS THAT BOTHER ME ABOUT AFGHANISTAN

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I support our men and women in arms. They are committed, and they are professionals. I love them. That’s why I don’t want them to die for a cause not well defined. They are the kind of young people Canada needs. This is why I want someone to answer following three questions about our involvement in Afghanistan.

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1. If my memory of history serves me right, no outside force ever had military success in Afghanistan: Britain was expelled twice, and Soviet Union retreated despite their overwhelming firepower. Do we really have a chance this time?

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2. This conflict is between conventional armed forces and irregular fighters. The record of success for the conventional army in such a conflict is not all that good. Viet Nam, Afghanistan, Somalia, Lebanon, etc. Powerful armies had to leave without success after many deaths of fine young people. Do we not need to employ different kind of methods?

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3. What troubles me more than anything is the fact that the U.S. left the scene to start another war in Iraq. Had the U.S. stayed, there would not have been the current problem of needing more troops. By committing Canadian troops to Afghanistan, we are enabling Mr. Bush to continue a war which was started with a false assumption (a lie).