710. LU

A war zone is the worst of circumstances. Given the stressful situations and requirements
for split-second decisions, the troops are showing remarkable care and restraint.

Accidental shootings resulting in deaths of innocent locals happen far too frequently. How on earth are our troops going to win "the heart and soul" of Afghani locals if they have very little regard for them?

We cannot do it any easier than the US did it during their Vietnam transgression a few decades ago. This is going to turn out to be Canada's Vietnam. We do not need it. Killing and wounding innocent locals is no way to win over the population. It is a shame that we cannot learn from past mistakes.

As in Vietnam, the Afghani population do not want the intervention of foreigners into their affairs. They do not want our troops, for if the did they would not be trying to kill and injure so many of our young people.

The Afghanis also have a long history of defeating foreign armies. The British, the French, the Soviets, and the US (and they are now coming back after having fled once before in the recent past). Does Canada want to be another one to be added to the total?

Most Canadians do not want our troops in Afghanistan. The Afghanis do not want Canadian troops in their country, killing their people (Yes, the Taliban are Afghanis, too).

Other than for the self interest of George W. Bush and his US followers, very few folk want Canadian troops in Afghanistan.

Bring them home, immediately, before it is too late. Unlike the US, we do not have the helicopters, equipment or personnel to get our people out of there in an emergency, such as the US had when they fled in shame from Ho Chi Minh City in the 1970's.

Support our troops. Save them from a certain defeat and rout. Bring them home.