Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Adventurer]

6 Canadian soldiers killed in roadside bombing in Afghanistan
4 are from Gagetown, N.B., and 1 from Halifax, Canadian Forces says
Last Updated: Sunday, April 8, 2007 | 9:40 PM ET
CBC News

Six Canadian soldiers were killed and two others were injured Sunday when their armoured vehicle struck a roadside bomb west of Kandahar City, resulting in the worst single-day loss of life for Canadian Forces in Afghanistan, military officials said.

The LAV III hit an "improvised explosive device" around 1:30 p.m. local time, Col. Mike Cessford, deputy commander of Task Force Afghanistan, told reporters at the airbase in southern Kandahar province. Ten soldiers in total were in the vehicle.

The military later released the names of five of the dead soldiers. Four were with Gagetown, N.B.-based 2nd Battalion, the Royal Canadian Regiment: Sgt. Donald Lucas, Cpl. Aaron E. Williams, and Privates Kevin Vincent Kennedy and David Robert Greenslade.


http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2007/04/08/nato-afghanistan.html

[jinju]

In Poland?

[yawarakaijin]

I'm sure glad you were able to look past the deaths of these 6 young men and find an oppurtunity to make a useless remark.

[Adventurer]

[jinju]

Im not making a joke. I was just confused when I saw an Adventurer post that wasnt about Poland. I think he holds the record in posts about Poland, once having filled up the front page with Poland posts.

[yawarakaijin]

Seeing as the very first line clearly states that they were killed in Afghanistan I doubt you were honestly confused as to where these young men were killed. If so, you have some serious reading comprehension issues. So, you used the deaths of these men to stick one to another poster and make fun of his posting habits. Truly pathetic.

[Kuros]

RIP

Let's hope NATO stops fighting against the drug trade there and starts concentrating on mopping up the Taliban and those crazy Pashtuns instead.

[Adventurer]

[thepeel]

Canada has no business in Afghanistan. These lives were lost for nothing. They are "fighting" (though, even seldom that) for nothing. Nothing.

Afghanistan will embrace liberal democracy right around the same time that Saudi Arabia converts to Hinduism.

[enns]

Lives lost for nothing? Canada is playing an important role in the reconstruction of Afghanistan. In the past, peacekeeping and development could be achieved without a military presence. But the reality today is that terrorists show no boundaries, if we send in developmental help without military support we will witness the loss of many more lives. Below are some examples of the progress Canada has brought to Afghanistan and its future goals(as stated by military). These people do matter and we cannot shirk our responsibility to help the less fortunate of the world.

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* Canada's total contribution to Afghanistan over ten years is expected to reach $1 billion dollars, all for people of Afghanistan.

* Canada has helped over 200,000 Afghans, 75 % of them women, to obtain small loans to start up their own micro-businesses or purchase tools or farm animals in order to meet their families' needs.

* More than 10,000 community councils have been elected across the country. These councils have implemented some 5,000 projects with Canadian support. These have included health centres, water wells, and schools, among other things.

* 4000 community schools are being renovated and 4000 teachers are being trained.

* More than 65,000 landmines have been cleared and destroyed in four years.

Canada's short-term goal in Kandahar:
* We will provide rations for 12,000 families
* We will vaccinate over 360,000 children against polio
* We will develop medical services in villages
* We will begin a literacy program for 3500 women

All of this despite terrorist threats. I don't consider this "nothing"[/list]

[thepeel]

[Adventurer]

BJWD, many Canadians want to withdraw from Afghanistan. I understand the sentiment. However, I disagree with you that there will simply be a Taliban part II.

The Taliban it seems cannot be shut out of the process. They will probably have their piece of the pie, but the other warlords are more than powerful enough to resist the Taliban. Kabul will be the capitol, but it will not hold a lot of power for a while. The Tajiks and Uzbeks will not want to be part of some Taliban run country.

Nato could, perhaps, destroy the Taliban, but there are many risks.
For one, there aren't enough troops and fighting the Taliban in the cities risks killing more Afghan civilians and thus angering the population. Some parts of Afghanistan are doing well if they are far from the hands of the Taliban, but that does not apply to Kandahar which was a Taliban stronghold and is a conservative Pashtun town.

[thepeel]

[enns]

I think the unfortunate reality is that there will be an outside military presence needed there for some time. However, look at the progress being made: Afghanistan is becoming a part of the world community. The people are relatively free and millions are now attending school. The ground is being broken on a new $250 million university, akin to one from the West, and businesses and technology are growing.

I don't entirely disagree with you, BJWD, but my problem is that you speak with such certainty. Historical examples are mixed, at best. The fact is we don't know how long democracy will last. 5000 candidates in the past elections with little violence and high voter turnout provides hope. I agree with Adventurer that the Taliban will continue to play a role, but with continued support from the West we can only hope that they will not regain control. A constricted democracy in Afghanistan is the best scenario for the moment. If Canada withdraws, Kandahar may be in trouble and turmoil may result.

[Adventurer]