If Canada's troops are peacekeepers, why are Canadians fighting and dying in Afghanistan?

Question

We lost more yesterday.

And why are we being killed by AMERICANS now?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060904/ap_on_re_as/afghanistan

Our troops do carry weapons and we have not just been standing around. Responses from people who are familiar with the realities of our role there, please.

Sorry, didn't mean to sound ungrateful. Some excellent responses, particularly from natsugusa and Deuce - thank you :-)

Answer 1

First, to answer the addition to your question, friendly fire happens. While I'm mighty PO'ed that Americans can't tell the difference between Arid Pattern Cadpats and whatever it is that the Taliban are wearing these days, I know that it's a reality of war.

As for being "just peacekeepers", you're a mile off target. Canada pioneered the concept of peacekeeping operations, but make no mistake, the Canadian Forces, we are training to fight, not to be a heavily armed police force. We were not deployed to Afghanistan as a peacekeeping force. We were sent to stabilize and rebuild that country. And to do that, we need to secure the place and get rid of the factions that would cause trouble to the central government. The lawful authority doesn't extend much out of the major cities like Kabul and Kandahar, and even then it's tenuous at best. So for Afghanistan to be a strong country with the rule of law in place, the unlawful armed factions must be either destroyed or disarmed, whichever comes first.

Also, as General Hilier said, "We are the Canadian Forces, not the Public Service. It's our job to go out and kill people." Yes, it is a brutal message; yes, it is one that might sound strange coming from a Canadian general. But it's one that echoes the minds of most soldiers I know. My job is to fight for the interests and safety of Canada, at home and abroad. If the brass says I have to do it in Afghanitan, so be it. But my job is not to dig Toronto out of a snowbank. Right now, my job is getting ready for when my number's up and it's my turn to go over there.

As for Harper, he's the only one who's not trying to get me out of a job. As for not having the courage to call us back, well, here's one for all of you. Soldiers die. It's expected. Make no mistakes, we don't want to be splattered all over a time zone by enemy fire, or worse, friendly fire. But as soldiers we know it's a distinct possibility. Canada has an all-volunteer military, and there are enough opportunities in the pre-deployment process that if one doesn't want to be in Afghanistan, he has more than enough chances to avoid going over. The men out there were willing to take the risks involved, and while I will be honouring their deaths just like the rest of the Forces, I know full well that they lost their lives doing their duty.

Answer 2

To answer your questions:
Peacekeepers achieve peace by violent means. Canadians are fighting and dying in Afghanistan, just like Americans and British and every other country that is associated with NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization). It is a NATO operation and brave Canadians are representing their country in the conflict, just as the brave Americans and British are. If you read the article from that link on your question, you will find that it is because the American contingent has the Air capability. The NATO command called for the Air Strike and told the Americans where to target. The blame lies with the NATO command, not the Americans.

To finish the question you asked: Canadians are fighting and dying in Afghanistan to help remove the threat of Taliban terrorism that is rampant throughout the world, and to find and bring to justice Osama Bin Laden. America did not take the threat of terrorism seriously enough in 2001 and it cost us our World Trade Centers and many thousands of lives in New York City. The terrorist actions have shown that if you sit on the fence of indecision or show weakness or complacency, you will be used or targeted next.

A point to remember: If you stick your head in the sand about what goes on in the world, you will take it up the..umm.."highest available point" by anyone passing by who had the inclination, and will wonder what happened and why.

Answer 3

I'm an infantryman. Perhaps you'll take my answer.

You do not understand peacekeeping. It is a thankless job where you are restricted by rules of engagement that do not permit you to actively seek out and destroy thugs, bandits, and criminals. Rather, you engage in reconstruction efforts, trying to convince the local nationals that they should enlist in the military, form their own police, and be above corruption; to oversee the building of schools, the paving of roads, and the welfare of the people in your sector without having the whole enterprise lost to corruption or disinterest. Everything you do is guaranteed to set someone off. Everything. So you're out there on a limb and either someone gets drunk and gets the great idea to execute a drive-by on your position, or decides that you're doing things too different in their home turf and decides to ambush your patrol.

In Afghanistan, the economy is run on guns and opium. Something like 90% of the GDP in that country is dependent on opium and its lovely byproduct, heroin. Trying to develop a nation where people can live in peace is impossible with the presence of narcotics. Look at Burma. Look at Colombia. Afghanistan is no different. Those drugs end up on the streets of North America and Western Europe, and fund criminal enterprises along the way.

Canadians are fighting and dying because they are part of a NATO commitment to stem the tide of narcoterrorism where it matters: at the source. Drug money fuels terrorism. Drug money fuels the enslavement of women and children. Drug money fuels trafficking in illicit arms. Drug money fuels prostitution, dependency, addiction, broken homes, and murder, whether it is from the drug dealer on the streets or the jihadi in the mountains.

War is a thankless enterprise without perfection. Fratricide is not unheard of. If you prefer the alternative - complete abandonment of Afghanistan to whatever hell the drugs, the guns, and the thugs would again consign it to - then don't be surprised when the product of that indifference reaches your streets.

Thanks to the ignorance of the past, it already has.

On a further note: "Canadian Airborne"? Canada's sole Parchute Regiment was disbanded right after Somalia, after it transpired some of them were torturing and murdering Somali youths during their tour in Mogadishu. They were still disbanded when I entered the service. When were they ever reconstituted? And how can they "leave the Americans behind" or whatever the claim is?

Answer 4

trying to keep the peace, silly girl! thats why they call them peace keepers, and thank god canada has took on this responsibility, while i disagree totally with iraq. Afghanistan is where osma and the taliban,were. this is the country that truly enslaves women. if not for countries taking up the cause, women there would go right back to being enslaved. would you prefer that to some of your brave troops dying. this is a just cause if there ever was one!!!,and all women should salute the brave troops who are helping other women from a horrigle existance.

Answer 5

How did you get to level 4???
Peacekeeping is a UN operation to setle disputes between two parties. Canada is in Afganistan as part of NATO. The incident to which you refer was partof a onoing operation to track down Tailban elements. Troops on the ground asked for air support and the forward air controlers on ground failed to properly ID the targets for the planes. A mistake that happens now & then. From 10,000 ft. everybody looks the same.

They do have news in Canada don't they?

Answer 6

Five wear killed over the weekend and one was friendly fire,The Canadians did peacekeeping till two months ago then changed to a combat roll,it was reported two hundred enemy's killed in the battle,

Answer 7

first of all, you have obviously never heard of friendly fire (when soldiers are hit by their own side), soldiers have died from friendly fire for centuries. and why would a country need peacekeepers (who are obviously soldiers) if there was no violence?!?!?! they are there because there is fighting, and they are there to try and stop it. and of course peacekeepers have weapons, what kind of dumb**s answer is THAT?

no actually we americans hate all canadians and are going to kill you all. (being sarcastic here)

Answer 8

They are in a war zone--not on a peacekeeping mission. They are fighting to save the lives of those who can't (as well as their own)

Answer 9

Because they are there as part of N.A.T.O
Good luck to those "Canucks" So underated by so many.
I served with Canadian Airborne, what great guys! They Leave the Americans so far behind!

Answer 10

because Peacekeepers are the PC term for soilders.

o and if what Neddie said was true (which wouldnt surprise me, becuase thats stupid on the govts part) there easy targets, the enemy shows time and again and they'll kill ANY westerner.