Indeed it was the Carter administration that initially formulated the policy of approaching the Islamic extremists in Afghanistan after the USSR invaded. This has was made clear by Carter's National Security Advisor Zignew Brezinski (sp?).
So it's ok to deal with the devil that isn't the Taliban but not deal with the devil that is the Taliban when the former consists of Aghan politicians no better than the Taliban?
And no I haven't specifically stated a solution for Aghanistan and with that said, other than more war for Afghanistan nor have you. It works both ways.
Looking at a country emmersed in horrible turmoil since December, 1979 one would think that sooner or later the death and destruction must come to a final end. There those who think more death and more destruction is the great answer, look at Defence Minister Gordon O'Connor for one. I do not. I think it's high time all sides in Afghanistan come to the negotiating table put an end to +25 years of the horrors of war. What's wrong with that?
Futhermore I have never stated that Canadian troops doing the actual rebuilding of the country need be withdrawn. It is just plain nuts to spend vastly more sums of money and lives on fighting than it is to be rebuilding. There are really only 2 avenues to take, one is to keep fighting until one side or the other has had enough which may very well take another 10-15 or more since insurgent wars are usually very long drawn out wars. The other is get to the negotiating table to begin the peace process.
I have knocked the war. Please do not continue to make more mistaken assumptions.
Simply because I am a westerner, in terms of the world, that doesn't mean I am to support the western view of the world in having it imposed on another country. Generally speaking, countries must be allowed to evolve and develope as they see fit. Such may very well mean a type of government that many westerners find repugnant. In the end the west must accept the idea that just because it is western doesn't mean its the right thing.
As some one who witnessed the Red River Valley Flood of 1997 and few before that, I can only agree. The military has been a big help to civilian authority in the past and will continue to be so.
Also I have never been of the mindset that the Canadian Forces have been just a peacekeeping force. It's clear as a bell that during Canada's numerous decades in peacekeeping missions, not all of them under the UN, that our military was also geared up to fight the Warsaw Pact. There always has been a big combat element with the Forces. Nor has Canada always been the great neutral when it comes to peacekeeping. Canada was often called upon for peacekeeping roles because during the Cold War the UN always sought countries from THREE sides: 1) the West; 2) the East; and 3) the non-aligned. Obviously Canada was and still is part of 1. Offhand I do believe Poland and India have peacekeeping records that could very well rival that of Canada's. When it comes to peacekeeping Canadian must learn to look past themselves.
Making assumptions?
When it comes to being our brothers' keepers the definition can vary. This term was extensively used to justify the vast amount of colonialization this world has seen, especially when it came to Africa and Asia by certain European countries. As history shows us this type of brothers' keepers was very heavy handed. Learning from history it is the duty of the West to understand and pursue a policy of accepting that western values cannot be imposed on non-western countries if they don't want it. With democracy alone, imposing it on other countries has failed far more times than it has succeeded.
And give you the most straightforwrd answer to your last question, it is that I don't know because I have never been in that situation.
However the point really should be that the military is not some sacred cow to be immune to any criticisms. I have seen so many people, blessed with ignorance, rant aimlessly against a point of view because they cannot fathom seperating supporting the troops from supporting a war. Canada's war in Afghanistan is wrong.
