(Canadian)Wives accuse Ottawa of abandoning soldiers in war

National Post ^ | Friday, March 28, 2003 | Michael Friscolanti

[saluki_in_ohio]

Wives accuse Ottawa of abandoning soldiers in war

Michael Friscolanti National Post

Friday, March 28, 2003

The wives of some of the few Canadians engaged in the Iraq war said they are disappointed the federal government has minimized their husbands' contributions at the expense of political manoeuvring.

Under attack from opposition critics, the Liberal government yesterday continued to play down the efforts of 31 Canadians participating in the U.S.-led invasion, insisting that although a small number of the troops are on the front lines, most are non-combatants carrying out support roles.

The government's attempt to distance itself from its own troops, who are stationed with allied forces as part of long-standing exchange programs, is an insult to Canadian soldiers everywhere, said the wives of some of the deployed men.

"It hurts me," said Jennifer, whose husband is one of a handful of AWACS crew members normally stationed at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma City who have been deployed as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. "It's almost like he's been abandoned."

Jennifer, like the wives of the other Canadians of the 552nd Air Control Wing, did not want her last name used for fear of a backlash from anti-war protesters.

"My husband will return and my husband will be a veteran of this war," she said yesterday. "That is not going to change. So it would be nice if he were acknowledged now instead of having to wait 50 years."

Because the Chrétien government does not officially support the war, it has insisted the Canadians assigned to the battlefield are playing a minor role. Officials have even suggested the troops are only allowed to fire in self-defence.

Debbie knows exactly where her husband is. "They know what they're there for," she said. "We all know that they're doing the right thing and that's all that matters."

All of the men whose wives spoke to the Post are crew on AWACS radar planes that oversee bombing runs in Iraq. The men are not stationed there, but their missions are in Iraqi airspace.

[saluki_in_ohio]

What I find most contemptible is the way that a**hole Chretien and his socialist ilk is treating the Canadian military.

What a bunch of snakes...

[SAMWolf]

(((Cretin Ping)))

[dinok]

Typical of this Euro-trash attitude of the anti-America crowd.

[dogbyte12]

Canada's relevence is falling faster than the value of their dollar.

[Billthedrill]

They did the same thing to their troops in Afghanistan, including the ones awarded Bronze Stars by a grateful U.S. government. One gets the impression that to Chretien and his administration those in the military are simply not "our sort of people."

[saluki_in_ohio]

One gets the impression that to Chretien and his administration those in the military are simply not "our sort of people."

Thats definitely an understatement, Mr. Drill.

[cherry_bomb88]

Figures from a borderline socialist country. They are Hillary's heros for their "accomplishments" in nationalized health care...gee, and they wonder why the exchange rate is so low.

[Beck_isright]

I'm now 100% sure the literal translation from French to English of "Chretian" is no longer "coward" but "Clinton". What a low life. Those brave Canadian soldiers and their families have my prayers. In fact all Canadian soldiers do, as I understand what they are enduring totally. I'm sure if PM Yellow Stain gets his way, he'll do away with the military and ask the U.N. for peacekeepers if Canadian interests are ever threatened.

V

[LibKill]

Oh Chretien, you really screwed up now!

[Canadian Outrage]

And to make it even sicker Beck is that our Soldiers WANT to be fighting side by side with your Soldiers. Imagine serving under a Sh$th#ad like that!! One thing about it tho, this disgusting show of the Liberals "real selves" is gonna backfire and bite them in the *ss!! Paul Celluci is in Northern B.C. (my Province) right now and he is being greeted by homemade American Flags, real flags, shouts of support for the USA, a warm warm welcome and of apologies for the behaviours from the belly of the beast. You see, the West is basically like a different Country.

[lilylangtree]

Chretien should be egged or tomatoed in public in the worst way by the many Canadians.

[Beck_isright]

I loved Alberta and Manitoba. But for the life of me, when I went to Quebec, I could tell very little difference in the people between them and the French. And that's a disgusting shame.

V