Afghanistan+Podcast


 * __Podcast regarding Canadian troops withdrawing from Afghanistan__**

Google CBC Cross Country Checkup, then click on Past Episodes —November 20, 2011 or try using the following site: http://www.cbc.ca/checkup/episode/

Sage __Questions asked:__


 * 1) What lessons has Canada learned from its Afghanistan mission?
 * 2) Was the mission worth it?
 * 3) Did Canadians fully appreciate the original purpose of the afghan mission?
 * 4) What was the original purpose of the afghan mission?
 * 5) Was it clear?
 * 6) Was it properly explained?
 * 7) Were the goals, goals we would term noble or were they the expediency of power politics?
 * 8) Did our mission in Afghanistan have a reasonable chance of success or was it an uphill battle to begin with?
 * 9) What is your assessment of the afghan mission?
 * 10) What can Canada learn from its mission in Afghanistan?
 * 11) What did Canada learn from the mission in Afghanistan?
 * 12) What's the state of circumstances in Afghanistan now?
 * 13) How has the mission prospered?
 * 14) What is your understanding of how much has been achieved?
 * 15) <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">What was the original and stated purpose of the mission?
 * 16) <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Our goals there are they fulfilled or not?
 * 17) <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">What lessons have we learned from Afghanistan?
 * 18) <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">What lessons should we learn from Afghanistan?
 * 19) <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">What is the state of Afghanistan today?


 * 1) <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Were the goals, goals we would term noble or were they the expediency of power politics?

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I believe that the mission had goals of nobility, because people aren't taking all their reasons for believing they were expediencies of power politics from facts. Whether or not it is consciously or subconsciously, the war in Iraq has an influence in their thoughts. Both wars started around the same time, so people seem to relate them together, and start thinking that the mission in Afghanistan is for the same reason as the Iraq war. People also question America's involvement in both wars, but the president of the United-States of America has changed. People say that it is difficult to get information out of the organisations in charge of the mission, and out of the government. That may be so, but people who have gone to Afghanistan see the schools being built, the things being done to help the Afghani people etc. Our goals as a nation in Afghanistan are those to help the Afghans regain their freedom and peace, and help them take back the control of their own lives. 1. 2. Did our mission in Afghanistan have a reasonable chance of success or was it an uphill battle to begin with?

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I think our mission in Afghanistan did have a reasonable chance of success, because we are trained forces from a first world country. We have the resources to do such a battle, and our people almost always have a small part dedicated to love and help in our hearts. This is what lets us strive for something better for other people, not just ourselves. As I described in the last question, our goals do exactly that; strive for something better for the Afghani people. I believe that one of the reasons we did not fully reach success was that we came out fighting a bit too confident. It is good to come out with enough confidence that you can make a difference, not necessarily win the battle. An example of this is the Second World War; Hitler was so confidant that he would win, he started to slack off when he came very close to winning. We did have a reasonable chance of success, but we took it as a 100% chance.

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">3. Should Canada withdraw from Afghanistan?

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I believe the Canadian troops should stay in Afghanistan, because we have helped them so much already I think we could help them more. Schools have been built and women have more rights than ever. We have come a long way from ten years ago. Ten years ago we went into Afghanistan and almost everything was bombed, shot at, or in some sort of natural disaster. Most Afghans were refugees and if they weren't refugees then they were starving to death or getting beaten to their grave. Because we have come such a long way, I believe that if we continue our mission in Afghanistan we can make an even bigger change. <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">But as of today, we are continuing to withdraw, as well as the U.S.A. planning to remove all their troops by 2014. So now we have to ask ourselves what will happen when we are gone? As I have stated above I believe we should not withdraw, but now I will state my opinion of what //will// happen. I think things will not balance out as they should, but things will be better. We are training the Afghanistan people to fight for themselves, but I believe they are not strong enough to conquer the Taliban yet. The Taliban may have some resisting force from the Afghans, but we have been in Afghanistan for ten years now and we have not beaten the Taliban. I think that it will be very difficult for the Afghans to beat them. I think the Afghanistan people will fight for themselves for a short while, but then the Taliban will once again over through them, although this time with less power. The women of Afghanistan may have more rights, like going to school, and the men might have more freedom in trade and making a living. There will probably still be beating and torturing, but I think things may be a little bit better. Sage

1. SHOULD CANADA WITHDRAW FROM AFGANISTAN I think that canada should stay in afganistan. We have done so much and afganistan has learned to use us. We have been sucsesful to a sertan level it is defantly not paradice but we have made afganistan a better place to live. if we look back at all of the stuff we have done we should be very proud of ourselves and try to continue as a nation. We cant keep doing this for ever though but we cant just leave as we are planing to do. It is like when you put a fish in to a new tank you put the tail in let it get used to the water and then let it go. What i mean by that is we should still be with them but get less and less involved untill they learn to fend for themselves. I also think that it shouldnot even be our choice to leave. If afganastan still feels they ned us we should stay. that is what i think

nathan

Should the troops stay in Afghanistan, or withdraw?
From the point of view of the Afghani people I would say that the Troops should stay to help in hope that some day they will be successful. I would also think that the Afghani do not have the rights that every human deserves and that the Canadians have the means and technology to give the Afghani people their freedom back. From the point of view of a parent that has lost a child in the war or from a friend that has lost their friend in the war then I would want them to withdraw from the war because I wouldn’t want anyone else to have to got through the same thing. From my knowledge I think that the troops should partialy withdraw; meaning that they should only send a partial amount of troops to the war so that we will still be helping the Afghani people but there wont be as many of our troops over there. I think this because I believe that all people deserve a chance to be free and have rights and I also believe that everyone should help the ones in need and that we shouldnt just leave the Afghani people to fend for themselves but rather lessen the amount of Canadian troops allowing the Afghani troops to learn how to defend themselves and how to strenghten the force so that they wont have to rely on us and they can then have a larger effect and chance at defeatng the Taliban. This could also be a plossible idea to apply to real life and this way if the plan doesnt work then we could send more Canadian trops back.

Posted by nv

1. Was there a reasonable chance of success or was it an uphill battle to begin with?

I believe that there was a reasonable chance of success, but I don't think Canadian troops had fully planned out how they were going to succeed. Rather than just going to Afghanistan and trying to eradicate the Taliban by killing them. I think that they should have first consulted the Afghanis and perhaps have tried to reason with the Taliban, although that would have most likely been an uphill battle. kaija

I dont think that there was a very large chance of full success from the begging but I dont think that there was a way of knowing how hard the battle and how long the battle woud be. Although I dont think that it was a great idea to begin with to go into full battle in foreign lands and little communication between the Taliban and the troops. posted by nv 2. Was it worth it?

I think that its always worth it to try and help someone, but if the Canadian troops weren't prepared for what they would face, then their help wouldn't have been worth it. I think that the Canadian troops did help the Afghanis fight and in the end helped enough that sending our troops overseas was worth it. kaija

I think that it was worth helping the Afghani people but I dont think it was as helpful and worth it as it could be if we had planned out our actions more and I dont think that it will continue to be worth it if we stay there fighting with the same strategies as we are using right now. nv

Sage I see what Nicholas is saying, but there are many good things being done in Afghanistan using the strategy we have now. I don't know if you listened to the podcast, but it does state that there are schools being built, women are going to school, the Afghans are getting more food etc. and I fully support these facts. We have helped the country, and I disagree with you that if we stayed using our strategies right now things wouldn't get any better in Afghanistan, because look at how far we have come from ten years ago. Before we went into Afghanistan there were a bunch of refugees wandering the streets, and if they weren't refugees they were getting beaten or they were starving to death. Now, as I said before, women are going to school, people aren't always getting beaten, although it does still happen unfortunately, Afghans are being fead more appropriately and things are just a whole lot better. But I do see what you are saying Nick, because things probably would have been better if we had planned our intervention more carefully with detail, but our strategies right now are still working. Sage

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Maggie <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">1. Was the trip to Afghanistan worth it?

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I personally think that it was worth it because it helped the Afghan people immensely. Schools were built and safe guarded so that girls had the opportunity to go to school. Compared to 9 years ago, before everything started and 9/11 happened, a third of the Afghan people were wandering the world as refugees and those who weren’t refugees, were living in poverty, eating rats and grass. For almost 25 years, the country was devastated and half of the population were slaves. Terry Glavin says that the level of improvement is so high, it is a record in human history. A country that was devastated to now, where girls are being protected and have a chance at education. At the present, women are free and going to school too. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I think that the Canadian troops are needed in Afghanistan and I don’t think that should leave and abandon the Afghan people. We had a huge impact on the rights of women and I think that if we abandon our post, everything we have worked for will weaken and slowly crumble, which would make our efforts worthless.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">2. Should the troops stay in Afghanistan, or withdraw?

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I think they should stay considering all the things we have done for them. We have made many improvements in a mere ten years and if we continue to aid them in a time of immense need, even more improvements could be made. Terry Glavin said that there were sometimes slips in security of schools and if we stay, we would probably fix that problem in time. Also, like I stated before, the things that we have been doing may grow weaker if we leave and abandon our posts. It might make our efforts worthless. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The impression that we would make by leaving would probably be very negative. The Afghan people would get the sense that we are giving up on them or that we are simply to selfish to continue to help them in defending their country. It would give a very bad impression on Canadians, so all in all, we should not leave. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The Afghan people were helped alot but I think that they still need it and if we withdraw, it wouldn’t help at all. Yes, we are going to provide training for the Afghan troops, but I think that quantity is more important than technique right now. I think the Taliban just being held back by the consistency of the peacekeepers so the departure of Canadian troops would take away from that prospect. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Maggie

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Sage <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I believe in your reasoning, but you are saying "Terry Glavin said this, Terry Glavin said that." Do //<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">you //<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> really believe in what he is saying? I know that //I// do, because he has been to Afghanistan and he has seen these things, and these may not be perfectly non bias but they are true. I am just wondering if this is your opinion and you are just using facts coming from Terry Glavin to support your opinion or if you're using Terry Glavin's opinion instead of your own. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Sage

. **<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0d0d0d; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Was it worth it? ** <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0d0d0d; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Helping other people is always worth it. In this case, there were benefits for both the Afghani and Canadian people. The benefits of Canada’s involvement in Afghanistan for the Afghani people are fairly obvious. The Afghanis get protection from the Taliban, new schools, and training from the Canadian soldiers. The Canadians have a chance to use their skills and training as peacekeepers and to look good in the eyes of other countries. Also, after we announced we would withdraw our troops, Canada lost its bid for a seat on the UN Security Council for the first time since 1948. The decision to withdraw out troops contributed to the loss of the seat. Having troops in Afghanistan seems to have boosted Canada’s reputation within the UN. Also, as humans, Canadians and all the other countries around the world that are able to help the people being oppressed by the Taliban have a responsibility to do so. Because we helped the people in Afghanistan, those people will most likely help Canadians if our situations were ever reversed. In this way, we have gained an ally. In the words of Rachel Remen: “Helping, fixing and serving represent three different ways of seeing life. When you help, you see life as weak. When you fix, you see life as broken. When you serve, you see life as whole. Fixing and helping may be the work of the ego, and service the work of the soul.” This represents what Canadians have doing to serve those in Afghanistan. Our involvement there isn’t so much about whether or not our service is worth it for us as it is about being there, supporting the Afghani’s and helping them oppose the Taliban so that they can have a life that they have every right to have.

**<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0d0d0d; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">What did Canada learn from its time in Afghanistan? ** <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0d0d0d; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> From my point of view, Canada has learned how to improve itself as a nation. By seeing the destruction and devastation that a Taliban-like mentality can bring, Canada has learned how to avoid ever having that happen here. I also think that Canada has learned how important it is to help others and do what you can for them. The Afghani people were virtually defenseless, but then Canada and other peacekeeping nations came to help them. I think we realize now what a positive impact helping others can have, and also how exhausting putting yourself on the line for somebody else can be. Another thing Canada has learned is that forcing change on others can be extremely difficult and that not everybody will accept that change. For example, Cary Baker (a Canadian) was building a school in Afghanistan. While building, the school was bombed by the Taliban. Cary protected the Afghanis and put his life on the line for them. He survived and won a medal for his valour. Canadians like this know what it’s like to completely abandon yourself to help somebody else and understand how important it is to do everything you can sometimes to give other people the opportunity to survive. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0d0d0d; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> As a nation, Canada now knows the devastation of war and can take measures to ensure that the situation in Afghanistan is never replicated here. (Kara)

whAT DID CANADA LEARN FROM IT TIME IN AFGANISTAN I think that canada has learned many things. I think that some of them are actualy irealevent. No mader were they were or what they were doing they were with afgans and I think that they would teach canadians about there realgin and alot of that kind of stuff. I also think it improved canada as a nation and tought us how to stick tigether and I think it will give us more thought into how we should handle our country. I also think it tought us why we shouldent fight and better ways to stick together and not fight. I think it was a heads up and will help us a as a country stay out of trouble I think you are right on that some of the things are irelavent. To us that might seem like no big deal (learny the afgani religian) but i think that the troops benafit of of there time, Not that i am sayin they would have liked it or would do that like a vaycation. I think you are also right that it tought us to stick together and that is realy important. nathan

the following was posted by nicholasv

==I completely agree that Canada now knows how much work and how hard it is to try and change a nation of people and also I think that the Canadians that have gone over there to help the poor and to help the Afghani people in general have realized that it may mean that they have to completely abandon there own life to help the Afghani people. I also think that the people that go to Afghanistan will come back and know what it feals like to put years of work into something that you believe in and then have it demolished in seconds.I think that the Canadians have also learned how fortunate we are to live in this country. The Canadians have also learned that although you can devote your life to helping the Afghani people, even the smallest action of help for the Afghani people can go a long way and it will also positively effect your life forever. So in the end I truly believe that Canadians have learned a lot by helping the Afghans although there are only a few listed here.== 1. What did canada learn from its time in afganastan? I think that Canada learned alot in afganistan,however I think some of it is not realy important. Baecopuse of them spending so much time with afgans they learned a little bit of there coulter and languege. What is realy important is that it tought us to be better as a nation. I think it did that by showing us everything has a consaquence even if we feel it or not. I think it aslo humbled the canaidians by showing them that they alown can not change a country no madder how powerfull we are. I think it aslo showed us what happens if we tried to fixe every proplem with violence. I think the time in afganistan improve us as a nation. nathan