Afghanistan

I’ve put a lot of my thoughts on politics/current events up on this site this week and there is more below. In truth, it’s a bit tiring, as I get too wrapped up in it, so I will try to get back to more Ghanaian posts next week.

Another Canadian soldier was killed in Afghanistan in a firefight with Taliban fighters. A soldier the same age as me. Being removed from Canada, I don’t have much sense of the public morale over this mission, although my expectations are not high. From what I have read on the Globe website, both the Conservatives and the Liberals are sending strong messages of support for this mission, which is good to hear.

I’m going to take a cue from my cousin, whose excellent blog can be found at http://hughmeighen.blogspot.com. While I think that is vital to be supporting our troops 100% in this mission, it is also important that the government articulates exactly why we are in Afghanistan. This is a worthwhile mission and that needs to be communicated to the public instead of simply saying that questioning the mission is unpatriotic.

I am not going to list all of the reasons as to why this is such a necessary mission (read Hugh’s blog). All I will say is that Afghanistan under the Taliban was one of the worst places to live on the planet. It was a medieval place where women were property, gays were crushed under stone walls and Al Qaeda was allowed a safe haven to train and plan attacks on Western targets. Afghanistan cannot be allowed to revert to that state. It is in our interest as Canadians to ensure that these barbarians are defeated.

My confidence in the backbone of the Canadian public is mixed. I sincerely hope that we have the fortitude to stand by Afghanistan. I would also like to point out that since we first deployed troops to Afghanistan in October, 2001 we have suffered 11 fatalities. When you compare that to Vimy Ridge or Dieppe or Ortona or any other Canadian campaign, it makes this current hand-wringing look ridiculous.

But it’s easy for me to say that, sitting comfortably at home when I don’t have to suffer the consequences. I’m going to include Hugh’s last paragraph that he wrote on the subject a few weeks ago:

“Obviously, I would never want more consequences to be doled out to other people (least of all myself) as a means to 'even out' the consequences of military action. But it makes you wonder how you can take a more active role in the defence of your convictions if a career in the military is not for you. Right now, I think all I can do is try to keep that link between Canada's values and the actions of the soldiers in Afghanistan in mind and in focus. That link does exist, and when it comes to sacrifices, articulating it and defending it is the least that I can do.”

I will also include one more passage. Everyone knows In Flanders’ Fields, written by John McCrae, or at least the first few lines. As important, if not more so, especially at a time like this, are the last lines:

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

This mission is just. Let us as Canadians have the willpower to not break faith with our fallen soldiers.