Kiss goodbye to Afghanistan

[CanuckInUSA 0]

I know this is a global website. But it is dominated by Americans. I'm sorry America but if you want to defeat the Taliban in Afghanistan, you can pretty much count on little help moving forward. Currently the USA, Britian, Canada and the Dutch are actually engaged in armed activity against the Taliban in Afghanistan (while the rest of NATO sits on it's asses doing nothing). But don't count on Canada to help you much longer. There are five political parties in Canada. One of them wants to maintain our military commitments towards defeating the Taliban, three of them want to cut and run and the natural governing party believes in hugs, pillow and tickle fights when dealing with the Taliban.

Let's look at those five parties:

1) The Conservatives do not want to abandon Canada's military commitments in Afghanistan.

2) The Liberals say they don't want to abandon Afghanistan, but they want the military to leave and replace them with people who will conduct diplomacy (you know go hug the Taliban, give them teddy bears and tell them how good same sex marriage is ... LMAO ... not that there is anything wrong with same sex'ers).

3) The socialist NDP wants to cut and run and abandon Afghanistan.

4) The Separatist Bloc Quebecois also wants to cut and run.

5) The Green Party wants to cut and run.

Now the Conservatives are far from perfect, but since we know the majority of Canadians can not live without their nanny-state natural governing Liberals calling the shots on how individuals should be allowed to live, we pretty much know that Canada will be cutting and running from Afghanistan soon and there will be no shortage of rhetoric coming from this frozen country of how superior we are to the rest of the world and that all the worlds problems can be solved by hugs, same sex marriage and tickle fights.

WTF is wrong with NATO and our western world? If we are going to be involved in a war in Afghanistan with the Taliban and the radical elements of Islam, why must we insist on fighting with one hand tied behind our backs and the other hand down our pants. If we are not willing to go that extra yard, why are we even there? Enough of these half ass efforts. I don't agree with them, but at least the NDP, Bloc and Greenies are consistent. The Liberals are a joke with their "we want to rebuild Afghanistan but we don't want to fight since Canadians are peacekeepers" attitudes. There is no peacekeeping to be made with the Taliban, they will not respond to hugs and pillow fights and sure enough they will not embrace same sex marriage.

Enjoy ... I'm sure there is no shortage of people willing to tell me I am full of it.

Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

[Para_Frog 1]

Thanks for the post, and you are correct about the Taliban in particular and militant Islam in general.

Not to minimize the contribution of Canada and Great Britain (I've worked with both - and appreciate them more than you know), but we're used to going it alone. This "coalition of the willing" crap is just window dressing.

NATO is a Cold War dinosaur, and the UN is a worthless pit into which we throw obscene sums of American tax dollars.

We'll manage without either - I don't think Afghanistan will devolve if the Canucks leave.

I think Canada can leave Afghanistan for now with their heads high. They did their part - and America is grateful.

World events may very well call them back though. This is going to be a long long global war.

- Harvey, BASE 1232
TAN-I, IAD-I, S&TA

BLiNC Magazine Team Member

[Richards 0]

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NATO is a Cold War dinosaur, and the UN is a worthless pit into which we throw obscene sums of American tax dollars.

Bingo on the UN. There still could be validity for NATO or something like it. I only say that because the US will not be the primary superpower forever and in an ever changing world (maybe for the better and maybe not) some alliances will be usefull. Would you suggest the scrapping of any kind of official alliance or would you suggest a new model?

My biggest handicap is that sometimes the hole in the front of my head operates a tad bit faster than the grey matter contained within.

[Para_Frog 1]

The NATO model is sound...it's just never followed.

Personally, I'm too much of an isolationist to view the whole thing objectively.

- Harvey, BASE 1232
TAN-I, IAD-I, S&TA

BLiNC Magazine Team Member

[Richards 0]

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The NATO model is sound...it's just never followed.

Personally, I'm too much of an isolationist to view the whole thing objectively.

US mega-power status allowed others to be free riders. As the world changes, people will realize that you will not always be able to intervene unless others can substantially pull their weight. It's an issue of incentive.

My biggest handicap is that sometimes the hole in the front of my head operates a tad bit faster than the grey matter contained within.

[nerdgirl 0]

Thank you for the post. I very much appreciate the outside view and synopsis.

VR/Marg

Act as if everything you do matters, while laughing at yourself for thinking anything you do matters.
Tibetan Buddhist saying

[auburnguy 0]

Nice to see a Canadian with head screwed on straight when it comes to foreign affairs.

"If you don't like your job, you don't strike! You just go in every day, and do it really half assed. That's the American way."
- Homer Simpson

[Richards 0]

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Nice to see a Canadian with head screwed on straight when it comes to foreign affairs.

We are not all tree hugging, dope smoking, US-hating, go-hug-a-gay-baby-whale socialist cry babies.

My biggest handicap is that sometimes the hole in the front of my head operates a tad bit faster than the grey matter contained within.

[squarecanopy 0]

We are not all tree hugging, dope smoking, US-hating, go-hug-a-gay-baby-whale socialist cry babies.

[Andy9o8 0]

The current world record for the longest sniper kill was accomplished by a Canadian in Afghanistan. Between that and your toothless hockey players, I'd say you're a very violent people, eh?

[Andy9o8 0]

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We are not all tree hugging, dope smoking, US-hating, go-hug-a-gay-baby-whale socialist cry babies.

Actually, you are. Well, except for Chuteless. But the rest of you are.

[Richards 0]

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We are not all tree hugging, dope smoking, US-hating, go-hug-a-gay-baby-whale socialist cry babies.

Actually, you are. Well, except for Chuteless. But the rest of you are.

OK I did hug a gay baby whale once but none of the other shit applies to me. The only thing I hate about the US is that piss you guys call beer.

My biggest handicap is that sometimes the hole in the front of my head operates a tad bit faster than the grey matter contained within.

[Andy9o8 0]

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The only thing I hate about the US is that piss you guys call beer.

Then you should drink more Sam Adams. Case closed.

[SpeedRacer 1]

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We are not all tree hugging, dope smoking, US-hating, go-hug-a-gay-baby-whale socialist cry babies.

Actually, you are. Well, except for Chuteless. But the rest of you are.

OK I did hug a gay baby whale once but none of the other shit applies to me. The only thing I hate about the US is that piss you guys call beer.

You need to come down here again then. The American beer scene has improved radically over the last 20 -25 years or so.
Unfortunately it seems that people outside the USA haven't realized it yet, maybe because many of the really good beers don't get exported.

Speed Racer
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[beowulf 1]

Yeah the beer scene in the US has vastly improved. Huge variety, more then anywhere else.

[Richards 0]

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You need to come down here again then. The American beer scene has improved radically over the last 20 -25 years or so.
Unfortunately it seems that people outside the USA haven't realized it yet, maybe because many of the really good beers don't get exported.

Actually I was just screwing around. US beer is great, but I just wanted to play up a stereotype.

My biggest handicap is that sometimes the hole in the front of my head operates a tad bit faster than the grey matter contained within.

[Richards 0]

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Then you should drink more Sam Adams. Case closed.

[kallend 1,625]

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You need to come down here again then. The American beer scene has improved radically over the last 20 -25 years or so.
Unfortunately it seems that people outside the USA haven't realized it yet, maybe because many of the really good beers don't get exported.

Actually I was just screwing around. US beer is great, but I just wanted to play up a stereotype.

While there is indeed more choice than 30 years ago, the big big sellers in the US are STILL the piss-based "beers". One brand of piss alone has around 50% of the US beer market. No doubt we'll see their ads during the Super Bowl on Sunday.

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The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[SpeedRacer 1]

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While there is indeed more choice than 30 years ago, the big big sellers in the US are STILL the piss-based "beers". One brand of piss alone has around 50% of the US beer market. No doubt we'll see their ads during the Super Bowl on Sunday.

The same things could probably be said about the major fastfood chains, but nobody pretends that eating that stuff is "fine dining."

Speed Racer
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[kallend 1,625]

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While there is indeed more choice than 30 years ago, the big big sellers in the US are STILL the piss-based "beers". One brand of piss alone has around 50% of the US beer market. No doubt we'll see their ads during the Super Bowl on Sunday.

The same things could probably be said about the major fastfood chains, but nobody pretends that eating that stuff is "fine dining."

OK, but it takes no more time or effort to buy a good beer than a pissy one. So the "fast" excuse won't work. People actually choose to buy/drink the pissy stuff when good beers are right there.

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The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[billvon 2,400]

>the big big sellers in the US are STILL the piss-based "beers."

To each his own! I have a lot more respect for Budweiser after reading its history, and honestly when you're thirsty Coors Light often beats water. Nothing like Angel's Share or Stone's Vertical Epic, of course, but there is a beer for every season. (And every task - Raccoon Lodge Raspberry Wheat is the ultimate lawnmower beer.)

[kallend 1,625]

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>the big big sellers in the US are STILL the piss-based "beers."

To each his own! I have a lot more respect for Budweiser after reading its history,.)

Does respect for a company's history equate to a better product? I have respect for the history of Bell Labs, but I'm glad I didn't buy Lucent stock.

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when you're thirsty Coors Light often beats water

Coors Light is often better than water doesn't seem much of an endorsement, either.

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The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[CanuckInUSA 0]

I know at a certain airfield in Southern Afghanistan it is possible to get some Tim'ies coffee and donuts. But I wonder if Bud or Coors is available? This is Afghanistan we were talking about right?

Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

[kallend 1,625]

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I know at a certain airfield in Southern Afghanistan it is possible to get some Tim'ies coffee and donuts. But I wonder if Bud or Coors is available? This is Afghanistan we were talking about right?

I expect Bud Lite is often better than Afghani well-water too.

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The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[billvon 2,400]

>Does respect for a company's history equate to a better product?

Literally, yes, since many people place value (i.e. their sense of "better" or "worse") on a product's history. For example, a parent might choose to not buy a brightly painted Chinese toy even if it tests out OK because of the history of their products.

Same is true of me. For a long time I didn't like IPA's because they taste, well, hoppy and bitter. My palate didn't change, but I appreciate them more nowadays because I've gotten better at tasting the differences between them, and I understand the brewer's goals better.

Likewise, knowing what goal the brewers of Budweiser were going for, I can better appreciate what the beer is and what they were going for. Doesn't mean I want it all the time.

>Coors Light is often better than water doesn't seem much of
>an endorsement, either.

Well, Speedway Stout is often better than coffee, and the 2000-2002 Renwood zinfandels are better than grape juice too! It takes all kinds.