tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8356601405469434111.post2237584981220369853..comments2024-01-01T19:49:13.788-08:00Comments on The Vigil: Defense Secretary Robert Gates Takes a Canadian Shot Across his BowVigilantehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07640246609540057997noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8356601405469434111.post-55158099385131110132008-01-23T06:47:00.000-08:002008-01-23T06:47:00.000-08:00Canadian Manley report early yesterday:The day aft...Canadian Manley report early yesterday:<br><br>The day after 9/11, the UN Security Council and NATO collectively deemed the attacks on the United States as an attack against their respective members.<br><br>In December of 2001, the UN authorized the International Security Assistance Force to secure Kabul and vicinity, and two years later, NATO assumed command of ISAF.<br><br>Correctly, the panel doesn't "accept any parallel between the Afghanistan mission and the U.S.-led war in Iraq. To confuse the two is to overlook the authority of the UN, the collective decisions of NATO and the legitimacy of the Afghan government that has sought Canada's engagement."Indicted Plagiaristhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03350595989619745600noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8356601405469434111.post-86924765371193257292008-01-21T18:24:00.000-08:002008-01-21T18:24:00.000-08:00This question is mainly addressed to Hillblogger, ...This question is mainly addressed to Hillblogger, but others can chime in:<br><br>In the clearest indication yet of the UK's public disengagement from the US 'war on terror', British ministers have finally dropped the term and decided henceforth to refer to jihadis as mere "criminals" rather than a homogenous ideology-ridden group of desperadoes.<br><br>The newly-outlined move to drop the controversial term 'war on terror' is said to be important. The British government's attempt to distance itself from received American myopia on the issue is seen as part of its increasing focus on preventing indoctrination of young Muslims. <br><br>In December, Britain's foreign secretary David Miliband insisted the term "war on terror" had not been banned at the Foreign Office, but, <br><br><i>I tend not to use it. That is mainly because it has come to be associated in a narrow way with the use of force against terrorism, which while sometimes necessary is not sufficient. Terrorism inspired by Al-Qaida needed (and needs) a military response in Afghanistan; it needs tightened security measures at home and abroad (see the recent bombing in Algeria); but we also need to engage the ideology and grievances which can increase radicalization and lead to violent extremism</i>.<br><br>According to British media reports quoting unnamed bureaucrats, London is desperate to ensure that <br><br><i>as you disrupt radicalization you must be aware of how you describe it and must not do so in a way that is inadvertently inflammatory</i>.<br><br>My question is how might this re-definition, when and if applied to Afghanistan-Pakistan, change NATO's mission there?DB Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10912311299981395050noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8356601405469434111.post-47895993959678252672008-01-20T07:15:00.000-08:002008-01-20T07:15:00.000-08:00Afghanistanization of the conflict -- where Afghan...Afghanistanization of the conflict -- where Afghans take over fighting the Taliban -- sounds nice for domestic consumption in the U.S. and Canada. The reality is otherwise.<br><br>An army reflects the society from which it springs. The current state of affairs doesn't give much cause for hope for the Afghan National Army.<br><br>Afghanistan is riven by ethnic divisions and ruled by corrupt warlords. President Hamid Karzai is in effect mayor of Kabul and even there it is only NATO keeping him in power.<br><br>What and who are Afghan soldiers fighting for? Certainly not a unified homeland. Are they inspired by the leadership of Karzai or their non-descript generals? Meanwhile, ethnic splits and warlordism make such things as unit and social cohesion, and esprit de corps very difficult to achieve and desertion rates remain high.<br><br>They're also hedging their bets. Knowing that NATO could do a cut and run, the impetus to throw heart and soul into fighting the Taliban is weak.<br><br>It's not that Afghans can't fight. But what impelled the people who drove out the Russians can't be instilled by western trainers.LTEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02585792840750218574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8356601405469434111.post-54605094896636838492008-01-18T09:34:00.000-08:002008-01-18T09:34:00.000-08:00Vigil, The Canadian news editorial is absolutely r...Vigil, <br><br>The Canadian news editorial is absolutely right!<br><br>I can tell you that I personally witnessed in 2003-2004, when it was clear that Bush's troops wouldn't be back home on schedule, Bush's emissaries started to seriously saber rattle in NATO. <br><br>The US delegation in NATO were all over the place pleading (and I weigh my words) with member nations to go into Afghanistan. There were bickerings as to who should take command, US Operation Freedom Forces Afgahnistan chief or SACEUR... <br><br>(Incidentally, I mentioned this in a follow on comment in my European Tribune page)<br><br>The US kept harping on the one for all all for one provision in the treaty -- France was adamant about the rules of engagement, i.e., NATO forces would be under NATO command.HILLBLOGGERhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05977843513566589811noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8356601405469434111.post-50096210148406593912008-01-18T09:26:00.000-08:002008-01-18T09:26:00.000-08:00Canada has also put Gitmo on torture watch list.CT...Canada has also put Gitmo on torture watch list.<br><br>CTV in Canada reported yesterday that it had “obtained documents that put Guantanamo Bay on a torture watch list” created by the Canadian government. The list is part of a “torture awareness workshop” that tells diplomats where to watch for abuse.Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04684959484239769655noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8356601405469434111.post-15662750118788491892008-01-18T09:12:00.000-08:002008-01-18T09:12:00.000-08:00Whadya mean?Everything's AOKDemocracy on the m...Whadya mean?<br><a href="http://nothing-is-off-the-table.blogspot.com/2008/01/dubya-dubs-his-middle-east-policies.html" rel="nofollow" rel="nofollow">Everything's AOK</a><br>Democracy on the march!Borishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13887019984342458931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8356601405469434111.post-63811661899212319412008-01-18T08:45:00.000-08:002008-01-18T08:45:00.000-08:00Problems, problems, problems. Army Chief of Staff ...Problems, problems, problems. <br><br>Army Chief of Staff George Casey said in <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120053843407696573.html" rel="nofollow" rel="nofollow">another interview</a> this week:<br><br><i>The surge has sucked all of the flexibility out of the system, And we need to find a way of getting back into balance.</i>Indicted Plagiaristhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03350595989619745600noreply@blogger.com