Be honest.. is it "healthy rivalry" ..?

Question

Is it "healthy rivalry" or outright animosity between

USA and Canadian forces in AFGHANISTAN/Iraq?

USA and NATO forces in AFGHANISTAN/Iraq?

Re US_DR_JD

Far from ENCOURAGING ANIMOSITY in such a forum, my question appears to be dis-proving YOUR theory... Sir !

You should be much encouraged by these responses, and maybe the media should take notice OF THESE responses instead of trying to stir things up to the contrary...?

I'm sick to death of hearing SO much being said about the Canadian troops.. I read snide comments about them, I hear uncalled for remarks about the Canadian troops, YET.. FACTS REMAIN, IF it wasn't for the unstinting help Canada has offered, and GIVEN SELFLESSLY to USA, (along with NATO) in this recent conflict, I believe we would have seen a repeat of Desert Storm POLITICAL LEADERS - ie early withdrawal and back to square one again... and again...!! irrespective of what the guy on the ground KNOWS..

Maybe my question should have been raised in the media/journo section?

Answer 1

its a war if you want to know join up theres no competeing in a war you there to kill the terriosts nothing else so dont srart rumors of this kind

Answer 2

I don't know about "healthy" rivalry, but there is certainly natural rivalry.

The U.S and the UK have fought and trained side by side for so long now that in general there is a great understanding of how each other does things, and what each others capabilites are.

Brits will always moan about the fact that the U.S have so much more kit and resources, and there are from time to time some unfortunate friendly fire incidents (usually by Air national guard reservists in A10's) but generally UK forces like and get on well with the US teams.

Both armed forces have regular exchange programmes, and the SF teams work together.

The Canadians have perfomed a fantastic role in Afghanistan and I think are admired on all sides.

Put two soldiers in a pub and give them enough beer and they will end up trying to knock each other out, but put them on the field of battle together the next day and they will die for each other.

Thats the way its always been.

Answer 3

No Regiment or army believes that it is anything but the best. US believe they are because of the equipment. The British because of th ehigh standard of training and the Canadians for some other reason. As long as beneath that there is mutual respect it is healthy rivalry.

Even ememies have repspect ffor the other side, I can remember the old 8th Army hands in North Africa having a great respect for Rommel to the point that I think he would have got a rousing reception at reunions after the end of the war has he lived

Answer 4

I think it's a healthy rivalry. There's nothing wrong with wanting to prove you are the best, competition between armies leads to constant improvements in guns and training which makes them better, and since were all on the same side, safer against the enemy.

What I do hate though is the French and Germans and the rest sitting the war out in Kabul away from the action and refusung to risk their troops in Helmand in case someone gets killed!!

Answer 5

There is no rivalry at all. On occaision there is a healthy joking relationship between the different forces, however, they understand that they are there to support each other.

I have retired from the US Army and for many years was in a training assignment for the Health Services Command. We had several officers from the UK and Canada who came for training at our site. When I was at Fort Hood, Texas (The largest military base in the free world) we frequently had soldiers from numerous countries come to train on the equipment and facilities.

And we currently are friends with an RAF officer who is in the US to train with our Air Force (of course he wants to retire and keep his family here because of our economy).

Questions like these on this forum tend to create animosity between countries which have many mutual goals and ideals.

Answer 6

This is a "healthy rivalry" between these two forces and nothing more. The USA Forces and the Canadian have always worked very good with
each other!!

Answer 7

Not really a rivalry or animosity. Personally I have no feeling eather way. I think it wrong to take lives to try to get to "heaven". This is where the radical extremist have got to go. No one has any right to take life. War is necessary when taking these lives your in turn saving many more lives.

Answer 8

I am US Army working with the Canadian Army now in a NATO assignment. There is no rivialry, except when we play ball hockey.

Now the Brits on the other hand seem to want to compete with everyone.

Answer 9

not likely. may be competition for assignments just as there was between montgomery and patton in ww2. natural enough. but most of the competiton has to be the head count. they are there to wipe out taliban who support al quida and bin laden forces. taliban must die. we are one on that. this new kind of war is not a gentleman's war. it has to get close and dirty and creative unlike anything before. they are seriously trying to kill our soldiers. we must kill them first. you are referring to a life and death situation from day to day not a tennis match.

Answer 10

As long as they aren't pointing rifles at one another, it's healty ! "Sticks and stones will break my bones, but names will never hurt me !"