My role, Canada’s role

I found it difficult to devote much time to the speech from the throne last night once I heard that the Conservative Government wants to extend the Canadian military mission in Afghanistan yet another two years beyond the last extension to 2009. The first question I have to ask myself is, “What, precisely, is the mission?”.

I have commented earlier on the dubious merits of invading another country in order to change the government of that country. What is it in our collective western psyche that demands that everyone govern themselves the way we do? Frankly, the way we have been governing ourselves lately does not generate a lot of accolades in my mind (and I include the US, UK and others along with Canada). And what is it that motivates us to enter a field of battle where the likelihood of success is minimal to non-existent? I have argued in the past for taking on projects that have a high success factor instead of ones that have doom written all over them.

For example, if we want to impress other cultures, other political mindsets, why aren’t we doing supportive, helpful things in those places where we are welcomed and regarded with respect? — Assuming there are still places like that left. Are we so wrapped up in our recollections of past wartime glories that we must cater to the desires of our warrior classes who insist on proving that our armed forces are as tough, as valiant, as courageous as any others? That sounds more like a schoolyard boastfulness approach to world dynamics.

In the interests of full disclosure, I am ex-navy (RCN O58838) and I have high regard for the fortitude, skills and courage of our armed forces. What I question is the wisdom of our political leaders who take them into harm’s way for many of the wrong reasons.

Is the only way to prove our mettle as warriors by invading others and killing our political adversaries? If there were soldiers from a country half-way around the world patrolling the streets of Toronto, smashing their way into houses on their own suspicions and tracking down and killing resistance fighters, I think I would want to try to join the ranks of those resistance fighters.

We hear about something called “ethnic cleansing”, an abhorrent term that has a certain oxymoronic quality about it and which we deplore when other factions do it. Yet, isn’t that what we are trying to do with the Taliban (virtually all from the Pashtun tribal group)? Didn’t the West arm and support the Mujaheddin in Afghanistan so that they could drive the Soviets out of their country? Are we so surprised that others want to drive the Western forces out today? Why are we trying to “win over” those who look at the world through a very different prism by killing them rather than by setting an example worth emulating?

Are we still so enamored of ‘My Lai’ attitudes that we can only save a village by destroying it?

So what can you or I do about stuff like this? Unfortunately, not a lot. But we can do some things: we can write letters to MPs, to the Prime Minister, to key Cabinet Ministers; we can join a political party and work for individuals who are like-minded; we can join and support public interest groups working for the same objectives; and we can set positive, responsible examples ourselves for our friends and our children. What do you say?