Canadian KIA count has now reached 130... With the latest imbroglio over the elections in Afghanistan, there are many unhappy and questioning folks here wondering if the sacrifice is worth it...Good Padre has not been happy to be working the blackberry and phones once more..have a funeral this morning...

Sorry to hear that. If Afghanistan is more or less 50 or even 100 years behind Pakistan, and Pakistan is a powder keg that could blow at any second, I sometimes wonder why we are tossing good men an woman in the one place in which their hard work and sacrifice seems to be underappreciated. We went there because of Bin Laden and now all I read about is how we are going after drug lords growing poppies for heroin etc,.

Of course even one death is one too many.Yet I can't help but wonder,what would the reaction be if the casualty rate was that of WW 2?
Here is an evil enemy (Taliban/Al Qaida),not as horrific as Hitler and his minions,(give them time).A clear enemy that has attacked the West,yet people still wonder why we are fighting.
Every Western nation that loses a soldier is given world wide coverage.Imagine the outcry if the battle loss was equal to Iwo Jima where over 23,000 were killed or wounded.
See below:

http://www.ww2gyrene.org/Spotlight4_thecost.htm

Numbers of losses don't matter to those who feel any loss is a failure of reasonable people to get along together and find a common solution.. sadly, those types can't fathom that the 'other side' may not be 'reasonable' in any manner however defined..

still, for the Good Padre its been a tad upsetting to try and find a way to tell the family that rescuers had to wait .. . and there isn't ...., given the manner in which he 'succumbed to his wounds' ...


[sorry, felt I had to edit out some graphic content for opsec/discretion reasons..]

My way of thinking is to observe. I might be wrong, but I feel as if people will hold very tight to a threat if it is presented for what it is. Words such as ROGUE BAND OF INSURGENTS, CAVES and the mention that OSAMA IS ON A KIDNEY MACHINE ( in a cave ) kind of makes people think that this whole thing is kind of won etc,. They see no mass rally or Hitler type, so they kick back and watch John Stewart make fun of Homeland Securities inability to come up with the proper colors for the latest threat code. So the Good Padre carries a weight of reality right in the midst of daydreaming people.

Here ia a preview of things to come if the Taliban/Al Qaida win in Afghanistan/Pakistan,all the 'stans.
They must be stopped.
Hang in there for the video...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4O1gAjjfws

Canadian KIA count now up to 133.. two inside a week.. both from IEDs...

Hate to second guess things, but both boys were just starting their rotations.. one was 10 days in and the latest had just a week under his belt..

number of bad thoughts on my part.. is the level of training slipping the longer we're in this? complacency and routine expectations... new guys didn't pay attention in class or weren't given the best briefing possible?

were they just green and it couldn't 'read the signs' as well as those in theatre longer?

Taliban know when new rotation of troops is coming.. it ain't exactly a secret so are they ramping up their tricks with each new group 'cause they know they'll 'score some points'?

the policy of 'model towns' and surround security in small increments a good plan? More troops mean more casualties as an inevitablity?

Not sure I got the answers..just know that each time this happens, the Good Padre is jumping through hoops and working the blackberry and phones before the public gets to know...

gonna be more tears and recriminations and policiticans blubbering on TV over the 'costs' and why we should be there.. all of which works to the Taliban advantage..

Obama better figure out the strategy soon..cause the 'status quo' isn't gonna win votes...

Kudos to Obama for actually attending one of the repatriation ceremonies for fallen troops from Iraq..don't think Dubya ever did that...

For each and every KIA up here the Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, Gov. Gen and Chief of Defence Staff make [ all or some ] show up to support the families...symbolic and all but it counts..

Better go and help dust off my section of the Highway of Heroes for the procession...

Rocketeer,many tough questions.
Heart felt sympathy to those young troopies killed.
Of course best wishes to the Good Padre for doing a very difficult job.
As far as Pres. Bush goes,he went unannounced to Walter Reed to meet and greet the wounded and their loved ones.Mrs. Bush also attended frequently.
Don't know if he ever went to pay tribute to the fallen coming back home,but if I had to guess,he did so.
WITHOUT the reporters.

Sorry to hear about that Rocketeer.

" Nice of Obama for actually attending one of the repatriation ceremonies for fallen troops from Iraq..don't think Dubya ever did that... "

Bush did that and 100% more than Obama ever will. Another thing Bush would do is shed real tears.

Anyhow sorry for the bad news.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: TYPHOON44,

'phoon... if Dubya went out to meet the fallen coming home and greet the families.. then RESPECT..he's being dumped on for lots, so credit when due...

Don't wish to demean Obama, either.. he was there and got the photties to prove it.. doesn't mean he was/is a publicity hound, just that the ceremonies are now more open than they used to be..

people should be given the opportunity to see the reality of the sacrifive some are called to make and, if it makes folks think about the best way to accomplish goals, then good..

doesn't mean we're buying into the leftie son sisters who cry that we should get out 'cause its a failed cause..alternative is to let the good folk over there fail and be oppressed worse than now when the 'bad guys' step back in ad seek revenge..

we can debate this more in the politics thread.

for now.. Godd on any head of government/state who shows up to see and acknowledge the people who he ordered into harms way for the cause..

Rocketeer... the name was President George W Bush and he did go out and meet the Families of the fallen so talk your shit about your own screwed up fence sitting Goverement .

ouch, Sully..

credit where credit is due.. If Bush honoured the fallen as you said [ and I conceded as much in the post ].. then power to him..lot of politicians give lip service and posture for promo reason...Righties like rush Limbaugh are accusing Obama of doing just that by having the photos taken...

I give full credit to Dubya for meeting the families and keeping it personal and out of the gawking press...It's all about those who stepped up and sacrificed on behalf of the government not those who sent them...

I wasn't dissing Bush, just commenting that I didn't see him in action.. read his discretion as something else.. just goes to show you how things can be twisted by the press or lack of it.

As to my fence-sitting government.. hell, I've been bitching about it for years..for some reason they don't seem to be listening to me...

Rocketeer ..Even though I don't like Obama I will never call the office holder names.I agree about him sitting on his butt to my oponion is causeing great harm to our Military and Allies General McCristal requested these extra Troops in June and it is Nov.It is not the first time I have saw Politicans screw up something called a War.

quote:

If Bush honoured the fallen

He did, and still does.