EnMasse

Red T shirt · Posted: Wed Jul 04, 2007 7:58 pm Post subject:

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't the Nyala supposed to be the best amoung all the armoured vehicles in terms of withstanding this type of damage? If so, the bomb makers must be getting much more sophisticated.

Norse of 60 · Kokanee Kid Joined: 11 Apr 2006 Posts: 3711

Red T shirt · Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2007 2:12 pm Post subject:

According to today's Toronto Star this vehicle was designed to withstand charges from below with its V shaped underbody (redirecting the blast) heavy armour and wheels and axles that easily blow off (absobing some of the impact, but easily replaced). It is said to be able to withstand the blast from 2 landmines stacked one on top of another. The theory is that the "insurgents" know this and are now stacking them 3 deep, which is apperently a successful tactic used against the Americans in Iraq.

Anyway, condolences to the seven families involved.

Norse of 60 · Kokanee Kid Joined: 11 Apr 2006 Posts: 3711

Tehanu · Posted: Tue Sep 25, 2007 3:41 pm Post subject:

Calgary reservist Nathan Hornburg was just killed by a mortar shell, and four others were injured in the attack or afterwards while they were trying to help ...

Tehanu · Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 1:20 am Post subject:

Another soldier has been killed ... the count is now up to 79.

al-Qa'bong · Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 3:51 am Post subject:

What a waste.

I just hope for the families of all the Canadians over there (I know one, and they're worried), that we get out of Afghanistan before many more of our people die there.
_________________
"The purpose of government is to protect the weak from the powerful" Hammurabi

"We can't all be Sam the Sham; some of us have to be Pharoahs" Larry, brother of Darrel, and his other brother Daryl

elmateo · Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 6:26 am Post subject:

It is probably behind a wall of login, but I was surprised (and miffed) to read in the Globe and Mail a large (2 page + front page) article with graphics about how the war in Afghanistan is getting more not less violent, that it is a pretty down hill strategy etc. Painted a "hopeless" picture for the military types.

Kinda pisses you off that they finally print something critical of the mission AFTER the political decisions were made. While in the lead up, they were running constantly pro-war messages from their right wing columnists and editors. Hmmm... coincidence that this article by journalists (read: not columnists or editors) was printed AFTER the political decision? And why give it such prominence if you were an editor just rah rahing the war? Fishy business if you ask me, tells me one thing though: either the editors are stupid, trying to play both sides without getting on the wrong side of the politics, or they are themselves against the war but too wimpish to say it when it matters (Iraq war anyone? Trying to cover their asses from the truth they helped to deny).

al-Qa'bong · Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 3:50 pm Post subject:

I read the front page of the Glob at a newspaper stand this weekend. After listing all the disasters this war has has caused, the writer asked, "How could it all have gone so wrong?"

When was it ever right?
_________________
"The purpose of government is to protect the weak from the powerful" Hammurabi

"We can't all be Sam the Sham; some of us have to be Pharoahs" Larry, brother of Darrel, and his other brother Daryl

TS. · Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 6:04 pm Post subject:

How did it all "go so wrong"? The Afghans decided not to be a doormat.
_________________
"Question with boldness even the existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason, than that of blind-folded fear." - Thomas Jefferson

bshmr · Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 7:07 pm Post subject:

I'm with al-Qa'bong.

Invading and occupying countries in response to the WTC event is the equivalent to chasing flies with a sledgehammer or Glock-9 -- nothing good will occur because of the unnecessary extraordinary damage.

The appropiate response would have respected sovereignty and pursued criminal and civil justice. Terrorism is a matter of injustices.

Senor Magoo · He's got a big one Joined: 11 Apr 2006 Posts: 8700

Sibjyn · Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 8:14 pm Post subject:

elmateo · Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 8:17 pm Post subject:

And what a romping success invading the country and killing people has been! I am really glad they caught Osama bin Laden to make this all worth while... Oh shit I forgot! They didn't catch him. Darn, eh? So what IS your point again?

Let me guess, womens rights and democracy right?

sparqui · Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 8:29 pm Post subject:

Senor Magoo · He's got a big one Joined: 11 Apr 2006 Posts: 8700

Sibjyn · Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 8:40 pm Post subject:

Yeah, I've heard that one. How about the one about Omar Khadr being an Afghan?

sparqui · Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 8:42 pm Post subject:

elmateo · Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 8:58 pm Post subject:

I question fully the ability of a country to supersede sovereignty in the hunt of "terrorists" through the means of military extravaganzas. This was just used by Colombia to launch its attack into Ecuador (discussion here: http://enmasse.ca/forums/viewtopic.php?t=5801) - where else will we see this new doctrine applied? It is way too meaningless concretely to be used as any sort of standard, and that is being exploited in the middle east and now Latin America to legalize assassinations and armed violations of sovereignty.

Sibjyn · Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 9:08 pm Post subject:

Out of curiousity, how many governments in the world recognized the Taliban as the sovereign leaders of Afghanistan?

A_J · Fulltime enMasse Member Joined: 20 Feb 2008 Posts: 362

sparqui · Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 9:22 pm Post subject:

I thought prior to 9-11, Bush had some representatives of the Taliban government on his ranch on some kind of official visit. The US also gave them a huge whack of money for making a big dent on eradicating poppy fields/farms. Strikes me as signs of the Taliban government being recognized.
_________________
“If my grandmother had wheels, she'd be a tractor.”

-- Gilles Duceppe

elmateo · Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 9:45 pm Post subject:

A_J · Fulltime enMasse Member Joined: 20 Feb 2008 Posts: 362

Sibjyn · Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 11:05 pm Post subject:

HAHL · Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 11:21 pm Post subject:

Sibjyn · Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2008 12:43 am Post subject:

elmateo · Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2008 12:57 am Post subject:

He said people. Not individuals. Huge difference. (And what makes a "country" if a people cannot self identify? You didn't actually answer the question - unless you mean a country only exists if the US decides it does?)

m0nkyman · Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2008 2:46 am Post subject:

Quebec, Basque, Kurdistan, not to mention the various indigenous people throughout the 'new world'.

Are they countries? A People?

Aaah, the vagaries of nationalism.

Bottom line is that recognition from other nations is important for a nation to work. For trade, for recognition of their citizens passports, for loans, everything....
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"If I can not dance, I want no part in your revolution."
Emma Goldman

Jingles · Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2008 4:34 am Post subject:

DTA · Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2008 4:38 am Post subject:

79 dead and counting as there wil be many more to come by the time we either leave or get run out a la Saigon...

I don't think there is any hope of this mess improving at all.

Is the public going to stand by and let more soldiers die for what has turned into a 'lost cause'?

The old USSR had 165,000 troops compared to NATO's 40,000 and they could not win yet we are suppose to believe the spin another 1000 soldiers or extending the mission is going to help?

It has been 6.5 years now, when is the public going to 'wake up' and stop listening to the bs from Harper, Hillier, Day. McKay et al?

al-Qa'bong · Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2008 5:45 pm Post subject:

Senor Magoo · He's got a big one Joined: 11 Apr 2006 Posts: 8700

Oooh! So Osama Bin Laden will tell us who the real terrorists are. Super.

In addition to the obvious choices like Bush and Blair, I bet some Danish cartoonists make the list, along with an elderly schoolteacher, a stuffed bear, and 3000 office workers.
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al-Qa'bong · Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2008 6:42 pm Post subject:

With that rapier-like wit you'll go far, sonny. Go ahead and laugh off hundreds of thousands of dead children and the longest-lasting military occupation of our times.

Just don't whimper and ask, "Why do they hate us?" when they fight back.
_________________
"The purpose of government is to protect the weak from the powerful" Hammurabi

"We can't all be Sam the Sham; some of us have to be Pharoahs" Larry, brother of Darrel, and his other brother Daryl

Senor Magoo · He's got a big one Joined: 11 Apr 2006 Posts: 8700

Can I still ask "why do they hate elderly schoolteachers?"
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ø¤°`°¤ø,¸_¸,ø¤°`°¤ø,¸_¸,ø¤°°¤ø,¸_¸,ø¤°°¤ø,

Sibjyn · Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2008 8:41 pm Post subject:

Senor Magoo · He's got a big one Joined: 11 Apr 2006 Posts: 8700

How do you say "Do me a huge favour and stall for time while I find a cave with a seven foot ceiling" in Arabic?
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ø¤°`°¤ø,¸_¸,ø¤°`°¤ø,¸_¸,ø¤°°¤ø,¸_¸,ø¤°°¤ø,

al-Qa'bong · Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2008 9:17 pm Post subject:

Tehanu · Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2008 5:08 pm Post subject:

Another soldier was killed, who had just arrived a few weeks ago. Count: 81 soldiers.

elmateo · Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2008 6:47 pm Post subject:

What is the Afghani body count? Anyone keeping track? We never hear about the number of Afghanis killed unless they were "Taliban".

A_J · Fulltime enMasse Member Joined: 20 Feb 2008 Posts: 362

Tehanu · Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2008 6:58 pm Post subject:

According to Wikipedia:

elmateo · Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2008 7:31 pm Post subject:

I ask because I think one every so often by an IED does not paint an accurate picture in my opinion of what is happening, even if it is a lot for the Canadians. In the documentary about the Canadian hospital they reported that it was the Afghan National Army that was taking most of the casualties in the fighting. But also how many of the "Taliban" get killed is also a telling number. This limitless supply of bodies to pile up for the ongoing "success" of the mission should be a huge warning sign as to what it actually happening. With increasing casualties on both sides, amidst increased fighting it really does have to be discussed in terms of a civil war that we are participating in. Too many Canadians easily dismiss the Taliban as "terrorists" that come from a mythical place of evil, we do not have a good sense of where these people are coming from - and at best people just blame Pakistan. But if more accurate numbers and reporting of all the casualties, not just the white ones, would start to reveal a much different picture. And I suspect that the civilian deaths amongst those numbers of "Taliban"/"insurgence" is much higher than they admit.

HAHL · Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2008 10:34 pm Post subject:

Norse of 60 · Kokanee Kid Joined: 11 Apr 2006 Posts: 3711

CBC radio saying 3 more KIA yesterday bringing the total to 93.

The Evil Twin · Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2008 1:24 am Post subject:

TS. · Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2008 4:14 am Post subject:

One commenter on CBC made the point that the only coverage we really get of the war is either rah-rah support the troops and shut up about the mission stuff, or a momentary RIP the dead soldier(s), no substantive coverage of what is actually going on, and that is helping to suppress discussion. The Canadian military learned well from the American policy of embedded (and thereby gagged) reporters.
_________________
"Question with boldness even the existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason, than that of blind-folded fear." - Thomas Jefferson

sparqui · Posted: Sat Aug 23, 2008 2:41 am Post subject:

TS. · Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2008 11:29 pm Post subject:

CBC is reporting three more soldiers killed and five wounded during a battle with the Afghan resistance.

sparqui · Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2008 1:39 am Post subject:

So will the die-hard militarist celebrate the 100th death as some kind of benchmark for bravery? CBC's Rah Rah Rah support the troops coverage is doing my head in...
_________________
“If my grandmother had wheels, she'd be a tractor.”

-- Gilles Duceppe