tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20358187.post117131620102179750..comments2023-10-22T09:18:16.885-04:00Comments on Far and Wide: Senate Gets It Right On AfghanistanSteve Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04871113039374739208noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20358187.post-43660057939973536632007-02-15T12:13:00.000-05:002007-02-15T12:13:00.000-05:00Here are some excerpts from the text – with link t...Here are some excerpts from the text – with link to condensed and full texts<BR/><BR/>FROM: Excerpted: Senate Report on Afghanistan<BR/>http://www.vivelecanada.ca/article.php/20070214213339638<BR/><BR/>Anyone expecting to see the emergence in Afghanistan within the next several decades of a recognizable modern democracy ... is dreaming in Technicolor.<BR/><BR/>Chris Alexander (former Ambassador to Afghanistan) said it would take 5 generations of effort to make a difference in Afghanistan.<BR/><BR/>Canadians need answers to the following five questions: <BR/>...... 1 - What precisely is Canada’s role in Afghanistan? <BR/>...... 2 - What will define success for Canada in Afghanistan? <BR/>...... 3 - What are the realistic chances of achieving that kind of success in Afghanistan? <BR/>...... 4 - What costs are Canadians willing to pay to achieve success? ($30M/month - exclusive of salaries.) <BR/>...... 5 - Is Canada’s mission to Afghanistan currently being deployed in a way that gives Canada the best chance of achieving success?<BR/><BR/>Our troops deserve more than patriotic bumper stickers. Our troops deserve thoughtful assessments from honest and impartial observers as to: <BR/>...... 1 - why Canada is in Afghanistan, <BR/>...... 2 - what we can expect to achieve there, <BR/>...... 3 - what we cannot expect to achieve there, and <BR/>...... 4 - how best to proceed to try to ensure that the benefits outweigh the costs.<BR/><BR/>If our only mission is to distract the Taliban while our allies make progress on other fronts ... this hasn’t been properly explained to Canadians.<BR/><BR/>The Committee was impressed by the optimism of Canadian troops and their leaders ... but ... we found it hard to square that with reality.<BR/><BR/>Where Canada is trying to have its biggest impact – in Kandahar – life is clearly more perilous because we are there.<BR/><BR/>CIDA has a number of projects underway, but no one was able to show us. Journalists say they have seen some evidence of useful programs, but these appear to be limited.<BR/><BR/><BR/>AND LINKS TO:<BR/>Canadian Privy Council: Vast majority of Afghanis struggle for the "bare essentials of survival" <BR/>-The bleak forecast of the heavily censored report is at odds with recent claims by other Canadian officials <BR/>-It says the vast majority of the population still struggles for the "bare essentials of survival," just as they did in the days of the TalibanAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20358187.post-1171327470045397212007-02-12T19:44:00.000-05:002007-02-12T19:44:00.000-05:00This report was supported by Conservative Senators...This report was supported by Conservative Senators, their numbers irrelevant to approval. Besides, who cares, any comment on the conclusions?Steve Vhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04871113039374739208noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20358187.post-1171320741960611932007-02-12T17:52:00.000-05:002007-02-12T17:52:00.000-05:00Who in the PMO blew it and let this report see the...Who in the PMO blew it and let this report see the light of day? Whose head will be resting on Buckler's desk tomorrow? And don't tell me the PMO has no control over the doings of the Senate. This is no time for excuses. Someone has to pay. <BR/><BR/>But as to the bigger question...so what if it costs billions and takes generations. What else have we got to do? <BR/><BR/>Anyway, I hear of a new plan to sentence convicts into the army and send them to fight in Afghanistan. <BR/><BR/>Thinking is, they'll fit right in there with all the crooks in the Afghan government and be so blitzed on the supply of hash and opium that they won't even notice they're dead. I'd say it was Stockboy's idea but he says he got it from god...got it good and hard.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20358187.post-1171318742410987102007-02-12T17:19:00.000-05:002007-02-12T17:19:00.000-05:00I fully agree with the report. I also think our g...I fully agree with the report. I also think our government should learn just as they have to face the people who elected them, so do other governments and opposition to the war in Afghanistan is even higher in most European countries. In fact ironically enough one poll showed now even a majority of Americans opposed Afghanistan.Monkey Loves to Fighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05122291567543761919noreply@blogger.com