Re: The Ranting/Debate Thread
The UN is interesting. Sure its a great idea and it does lots and lots of good for the world. But at the same time, there are countries on the boards that butt heads and prevent things from moving forward. The lack of a focused vision in the UN prevents much from actually getting done.
Meanwhile, NATO steps into Afghanistan. Originally to hunt down Al Qaeda and to take out the Taliban regime that came in after the Russians left. Now, they are there stabilizing the country, giving the people water, providing security, training their police and army so that they can be professional soldiers and cops. Building highways, schools, hospitals. Giving jobs to the unemployed over there. We are doing a lot of good, and there it is only in the territories of Southern Afghanistan that are a hotbed of violence. But, people don't separate between the peaceful Northern areas, or the urban Kabul, they only think desert and violence. People don't even think there is vegetation over there, but I was wading through trees, rivers, wheat fields, pot fields, grape fields, tall grass etc. There is a lot that you will not learn about the situation overseas, and Iraq is included here as well, from the news. The media likes to make soldiers seem like monsters, I've seen it a lot, but we're not.
Anyway, I'm getting way off track there. What I'm getting at is this, the troops are still needed over there to do a job. We leave now, we might as well give the country a gun and a single bullet to end its own life. Again, Afghanistan for my example. Those who fought against the Russians, the Muhjadien (don't think I spelled that right) were pushed to the North by this upstart group of young men who couldn't even read. They wanted Afghanistan to be fully Islamic, and with what I've been told by the locals over there, they brought it back decades. Decades of cultural, economic and scientific progress, brought to shambles by religious fanatics who used their religion to back up their bigotry and hatred. So, civil war raged. When we came in, the people who were not from the same tribe as the Taliban were grateful, and happy. They still are. So when I was over there, I fought alongside and even sat down and played a game of chess with a man who fought the Russians.
We even had Afghan army members at our Christmas dinner. Islamic soldiers, and predominately Christian soldiers sitting together and enjoying a meal during a Christian holiday. Afghan locals would invite us into their homes for bread and tea.
I'd also like the bring up this point about pulling out of the Middle East. Please note that this next portion is somewhat graphic, but I'm sure you lot can take it. When the Russians pulled out of that area of the world, they no longer had pressure on the extremists. Al Qaeda and Taliban decided to take revenge against the Russians, and sent fanatics from Chechnya to a small town in Russia. I cannot remember the name of it right now, it started with a "B", but they got there on the first day of public school, and took the children and parents hostage. For three days the were locked in the gym, and father's and son's were executed whilst mother's and daughter's raped, sometimes with gun barrels. After the second day, the mother's were said they could go home, but only if they left their children behind for more torture and rape. Only one mother stayed. It wasn't until after the third day that the Russian's finally stormed the school and eventually killed the fanatics.
Now, this has also happened in Isreal, and has been threatened against Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States. So, yes we can pull out before we're done, but only if you want to fight them here were our own civilians and children will be at risk.
Wow... I got way off course there.
Regardless those are my views gathered from what I've seen and experienced over there and from what I've gathered from intelligence reports and history lessons. If this doesn't influence your opinion at all, fine, I just think you should look a little harder at everything that is happening.
Yes we loose men and women over there, but Canada has lost many more in one month from traffic accidents then lost in Afghanistan over our entire mission. I'm sure it goes the same in the States. (slightly skewed statistic too so don't argue me on this one I'm aware)
Now I need a drink.
