A letter to my (newly elected) Member of Parliament :
Mr Woodworth,
As I'm sure you are aware, yesterday was Remembrance Day. At 11 am I took my time to remember the sacrifice of my grandfather's generation in World War 2 and those before him in World War 1.
When I got home from work and turned on the evening news, I was surprised at just how much emphasis was being put on Canada's "mission" in Afghanistan and our soldier's sacrifices there. As I watched, I realized a single question was forming in my mind and I could think of no better person to ask than you - my riding's elected MP.
The question is this: Why are Canadian troops fighting and dying in Afghanistan?
Can you answer? Is there an answer? What are we doing there?
It doesn't seem like we are protecting Canada from terrorists anymore - if ever that was the goal. The Taliban is a serious problem, but it does not pose a threat to Canada. They are not building weapons of mass destruction. They aren't about to invade.
It also doesn't seem like our counter-insurgency efforts have stemmed the tide of opium. Indeed, most reports indicate that the flow of opium has INCREASED, despite the presence of troops.
It also doesn't seem like our duty as a member of NATO since so many other countries have refused to step up to the proverbial plate. There are 26 NATO countries, and Canada - with our relatively small population and military - has made the third-largest contribution to the counter-insurgency mission. Doesn't that seem a little off?
Besides - how much does "NATO credibility" really matter? Fifteen years after the collapse of the Soviet Union, NATO is simply a collection of countries that may or may not choose to co-operate in any given situation. When the United States intervened in Afghanistan in 2001, it chose not to
call on NATO for help.
If the reason is some lofty and "good-hearted" desire to genuinely help the suffering people of a foreign country well, I think we both know that is a slippery slope. Look at what is happening in Congo right now. Or what about Lebanon in 2006? Or Darfur? Why choose to deploy troops in one place to help while ignoring another? Should we really be helping the US police the world? Furthermore - is Afghanistan really better off today than it was at the beginning of 2001? Really?
So please, enlighten me. Tell me what we are doing in Afghanistan and why Canadian soldiers are dying and why so much of our tax dollar is going to funding that conflict? Tell me what I should be proud of when I talk about Canada's military sacrifices next Remembrance day?
Can you?
Mr Woodworth,
As I'm sure you are aware, yesterday was Remembrance Day. At 11 am I took my time to remember the sacrifice of my grandfather's generation in World War 2 and those before him in World War 1.
When I got home from work and turned on the evening news, I was surprised at just how much emphasis was being put on Canada's "mission" in Afghanistan and our soldier's sacrifices there. As I watched, I realized a single question was forming in my mind and I could think of no better person to ask than you - my riding's elected MP.
The question is this: Why are Canadian troops fighting and dying in Afghanistan?
Can you answer? Is there an answer? What are we doing there?
It doesn't seem like we are protecting Canada from terrorists anymore - if ever that was the goal. The Taliban is a serious problem, but it does not pose a threat to Canada. They are not building weapons of mass destruction. They aren't about to invade.
It also doesn't seem like our counter-insurgency efforts have stemmed the tide of opium. Indeed, most reports indicate that the flow of opium has INCREASED, despite the presence of troops.
It also doesn't seem like our duty as a member of NATO since so many other countries have refused to step up to the proverbial plate. There are 26 NATO countries, and Canada - with our relatively small population and military - has made the third-largest contribution to the counter-insurgency mission. Doesn't that seem a little off?
Besides - how much does "NATO credibility" really matter? Fifteen years after the collapse of the Soviet Union, NATO is simply a collection of countries that may or may not choose to co-operate in any given situation. When the United States intervened in Afghanistan in 2001, it chose not to
call on NATO for help.
If the reason is some lofty and "good-hearted" desire to genuinely help the suffering people of a foreign country well, I think we both know that is a slippery slope. Look at what is happening in Congo right now. Or what about Lebanon in 2006? Or Darfur? Why choose to deploy troops in one place to help while ignoring another? Should we really be helping the US police the world? Furthermore - is Afghanistan really better off today than it was at the beginning of 2001? Really?
So please, enlighten me. Tell me what we are doing in Afghanistan and why Canadian soldiers are dying and why so much of our tax dollar is going to funding that conflict? Tell me what I should be proud of when I talk about Canada's military sacrifices next Remembrance day?
Can you?
I want to add something, but I feel that to add to an opinion is just foolish. Kudos to this political rant, and I hope you're doing well.
And by all means, add something - this type of rant is practically begging for external opinions.
Your hand-written letter is almost finished.