Mother of Canadian soldier killed in Afghanistan slams Harper for extension of war until 2014

CBC's "As It Happens" - November 12, 2010 - Mother of Canadian soldier killed in Afghanistan slams Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Defence Minister Peter MacKay for extension of war until 2014.

This mother's son was killed in Afghanistan in combat in September, 2006.

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[drumgopher]

I think that the Forces should be allowed to speak for themselves, before politicians and civilians say what they think is best for the troops they should talk to the troops and see what they say. They are overseas in Afghanistan on their free will, fighting a fight they believe in. Its not fair to them for us to make decisions for them.

[IntrinsicCanada]

@drumgopher Well we do live in a democracy. In a democracy citizens rule, and the military must follow elected leadership and the desires of citizens. Do you agree?

[webb459]

As a soldier myself, with a tour to Afghanistan, I think the people of Canada should understand that the soldiers want to be there. We believe we are making a difference and we truly are. The Canadian army is all volunteer, no conscription, so every soldier joins up knowing he/she will go to Afghanistan one day. The ppl there need our help. We cannot just walk away from them, nor can we just cut our losses and leave. The deaths of every soldier would then be in vain. We must stay the course.

[IntrinsicCanada]

@webb459 Thanks for your respectful and honest comment. It should be noted however, that there are many soldiers, family members of soldiers and even more Afghans who think the NATO occupation of Afghanistan is making things worse, not better, and that the growth of the insurgency is evidence of this - after over nine years in the country. It's also tragic that so little of development aid actually makes it to Afghans due to government corruption and warlordism.

[OhmgrownCron]

@IntrinsicCanada Simply leaving is not going to make anything better. There are women in afghanistan who still shriek of terror of the thought of the Taliban returning. We cannot abandon them, not while we've made this much progress. Almost 3 million afghani girls are now going to school, giggling, learning how to write their own name and with their faces uncovered. None of this was so with the Taliban and if we leave... We need better strategies, leaving will not help.

[IntrinsicCanada]

@OhmgrownCron Reports are that money is not reaching those in need and the oppression of women by both our allies the "Northern Alliance" and the so-called "Taliban" Pashtun opposition continues even under NATO's watch. So, what exactly have we accomplished with all these lives lost and money spent, that could not have been achieved by more targeted aid to teachers, schools and hospitals rather than payments to warlords who support NATO one day, and the insurgency the other?

[brakimkb]

If she knew that the Afghan war is more about strategic interests than terror threat, she would be even more outraged.

[OhmgrownCron]

@IntrinsicCanada Its very difficult to defeat an insurgency that looks the same as the civilians we are trying to protect, add in the fact we don't speak the language and theres the culture difference as well. Also you really don't think,almost 3 million afghani girls going to school, and 26% of the members of parliament are female? Of course lives will be lost, this is the unfortunate cost of war. Its horrible but the most horrible thing about war is that it is sometimes necessary.

[StevenDanielB]

pisses meoff beyond belief to see these guys out there dying.i have 3 kids who i cant support becuz i have made a piece of shit out of myself.ive commited many petty crimes from burglary to theft.but i cannot become an army soldier because of them.now a days they only accept people with righeous lives.ive lived a fucked up life and the way to make it better is through the army..they wont let me in..but the let others in with dreams and hope.just to kill them for their own kleptocracy!

[shawman9]

@TruthPowerful1 I chose the army because it's a good career and can open MANY doors for me, also I want the honor and privilege to serve my country

[shawman9]

@TruthPowerful1 I'm a 19 year old who graduated from high school and is studying police foundations in Algonquin, I come from a well to do family and had a privileged life, and I ENROLLED for service to the armed forces, contrary to your beliefs the "hopeless drop outs" can't join because you need at LEAST a high school diploma to get in

[MrBigboss20011]

@Freepepsi42 who tells you that ppl in Afghanistan need you? get a fuck out of our country

[Freepepsi42]

She's speaking out of emotion. This is what they signed up for. This is hat they train years for. It's their job too stay out there risking their lives. And the people in Afghanistan need us, the ANA and ANP are making that transition from being a force that worked for the highest bidder to working for the people, and their regaining the trust of the people, but you can't bring a country back to it's feet in 10 years.

[somekindofpie]

Why do canandian conservatives look like such dirty pedophiles? Don't get me wrong, I really don't mind the conservative party in canada although I disagree with most of what they have to say, but seriously lol they look like dirty old men