![[small-web-version_harperfree_poster.jpg]](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WGczmWu7Wwc/SdCJyy2LN1I/AAAAAAAABWE/ABYCkbJaKaQ/s1600/small-web-version_harperfree_poster.jpg)
I don’t think many wars after WWII were honourable wars. The war in Afghanistan was. I say was, because the original intent was honourable. I threw my support behind it. As time has gone on, I’ve scaled back that support.
Looking at the history of Afghanistan, I soon realized any war in that country – in that terrain – was futile. But I never lost respect for the men and women who fight to this day, willingly offering their lives for the original intent of ridding the world of the tyranny of al-Queda and the Taliban.
One of those soldiers in this battle was Pat Stogran. He fought valiantly in Afghanistan but his real fight didn’t start until he returned home and battled for the care of our veterans. And here is where he found his true enemies – the Conservatives … and an effete bunch of ineffective opposition parties.
Today, Pat Stogran continues fighting for the rights of veterans. He has been hassled, insulted and dismissed by an opportunistic party of cowardly conservative chickenhawks who despise our troops. The only use of our troops for the Conservatives has been as a shield for their particular brand of nasty ambition and authoritarian role playing.
Stogran is not the type of man to be handcuffed to the bedposts. He will fight and he will tell the truth. In this tea party version of me-first Conservatism, the men and women who fought for us and fell injured on the battlefield are being marginalized and penalized
Sue on, Pat Stogran and continue to fight for our injured soldiers. The Conservatives and our loyal opposition don’t seem to give much of a shit for our wounded. Pat, you do. Fight on, soldier. In honour of my late Army Major dad, I salute you.
Cross posted at Let Freedom Rain.
Christie Bitchford will be on this…any minute now!
You may change your mind that the original intention of the war was honorable after reading this article by Margolis: http://www.ericmargolis.com/political_commentaries/afghanistan-a-war-of-lies.aspx. Margolis, as I recall, fought as an infantryman with the U.S. forces in Iraq and then became a journalist specializing in the politics of that region of the world. So unless he has political motives, he should know what he is talking about. I personally believe Margolis’ views that Bush misled the world on Afgha. as he did with Iraq and WMD.
If Margolis is right, the real “axis of evil” may actually be Bush-Blair-Harper, as Bush had apparently never been able to produce any credible evidence that Bin Laden/AQ was responsible for 911 to justify the original attack on the Taliban. lol.
Sadly, it looks like Harper, with the help of the Libs., is now going to prolong our stay there.
ck Reply:
November 9th, 2010 at 12:01 PM
But didn’t Bin Ladin and/or Al Qaeda take responsibility proudly for 9/11?
Sadly, it looks like Harper, with the help of the Libs., is now going to prolong our stay there.
Are you really surprised? Petey MacKay has been flapping his gums about it since last year. Please remember Steve’s game, he has his MPs flap their gums on any given unpopular issue to test the waters; see the reaction; polls, etc.
War is big business. The whole defense industry has major lobbyists who I’m sure are courting both parties. Quite honestly, if the NDP were more competitive or if these corporations offered to send many jobs to Quebec, Both the NDP and Bloc would also be on side. That’s how things work here; a smaller scale US Congress.
My husband and I know someone who works for the military. He told us not even a year ago that if Canada did pull out of Afghanistan, we would be going to the Congo. Further evidence we’re becoming more like the US; never happy unless we’re fighting with some other nation.
Anon Reply:
November 9th, 2010 at 1:49 PM
Actually, if you google “did bin laden take responsibility for 911″, you will see that many people had already raised interesting questions about whether the famous video purportedly showing him taking responsibility was actually real or not. Here is one (http://www.911hardfacts.com/report_19.htm) which argued that Bin Laden actually first denied responsibility until that video surfaced mysteriously four days before an election.
The point, though, as pointed out by Margolis and others, is that Bush has never been able to produce evidence substatiating his claim that BL/AQ were directly involved, a rather important point if one was goint to justify leading a coalition of countries to invade another sovereign nation, don’t you think? This was despite Colin Powell being asked to do so at the UN.
Unlike the Cons and the Libs, both the NDP and the BQ have been quite consistently against the Afgha. war, earning Layton the label Taliban Jack remember? I would be very surprised if they would support extending the war to send jobs to Quebec, as you seem to be implying.
I cannot comment about whether we would have been in the Congo or not, I am just happy if we do not extend our stay in Afgha.
ck Reply:
November 9th, 2010 at 2:25 PM
I would be very surprised if they would support extending the war to send jobs to Quebec, as you seem to be implying.
I’m implying that if these parties were competitive with the top runners, were lobbied and bribed equally as the they are, they too wouldn’t be in as much of a hurry to leave, is all; basically they can all be bought and sold if the price is right.
The title “Taliban Jack” came from the lunacy of the right simply because Layton, simply suggests more dialogue is needed with all sides, including with the Taliban if need be.
I would be happy too if we didn’t extend our stay in Afghanistan, but I also know, especially with Steve and a Great Depression looming, war is big business and a major employer, with powerful lobbyists and corporations who line politicians’ pockets. No way that war was going to end without some other military mission.
http://www.truth-out.org/robert-reich-americas-biggest-jobs-program-is-us-military62313
True, the above article is American, but it happens in Canada too; I would bet my next paychecque on that.