Replies

Bad enough our guys are taking the brunt of NATO action, but then to have their sacrifice criticized here by some ignorant jerkoffs is a bit much.

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First off, this ignorant [whatever] apologizes -- abjectly, profusely and profoundly! I intended no criticism of our Canadian friends and allies, rather, (as I said in #11):

"I completely agree that it is unacceptable to lose such fine troops and friends. I'm looking for root causes and a way to end this tragic loss..."

1) I admit to being unaware that the Canadian troops have been "on the sharp end of the spear" lately, and I can't help but wonder whose decisions put them there.

2) As soon as "friendly fire" was mentioned, I recalled that (IIRC) it was a Canadian unit who were on the receiving end of a misdirected strike by a pair of our A-10s. Personally, I can't imagine being in a more terrifying and deadly spot than on the receiving end of bursts by a couple of GAU-8s. :-) Apologies in that case are inadequate; all I can say is that I grieve with you. OTOH, I understand that personal IR markers have been shipped to Afghanistan to minimize the likelihood of such future tragedies. I pray that Canadian troops are the first to receive them.

recce guy, thank you for your extensive list of facts that explain why you Canadians have been disproportionately in harm's way. I honor and thank them for that more than I can express!

exg, thank you for the link to the article about the Euro troops hanging back. It appears that my (deliberately sarcastic) probes to stimulate factual responses actually apply to them! I have no trouble at all believing that

"Deficient in training and tactics!" and "in the camp behind the lines' -- as well as "deficient in the balls department"

apply to all of the European forces -- with the significant exceptions of the Poles.

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Again, thank you for educating this ignorant old Texan -- and please forgive my sarcastic technique for extracting the truth of the matter!

I hope and pray that American commanders, at least, pitch in whatever resources they have available to reduce Canadian losses. And I hope someone puts the boot to the most effective point on the Euro's and get them out in the field where they can, at least attract some of the incoming away from the Canadian, British, and American troops who are carrying the battle to the enemy!!!

Thanks and accept my apologies for getting overly fired up about this, but our military has been beaten up by Liberals here for years and are now back on their feet kicking ass (since the election of our Conservative Gov't).
Don't worry about our losses - Canadians have taken far, far heavier ones in past battles.
In spite of our relatively small force (relative to U.S. boots on the ground), we'll make our presence known to (and felt by) the enemy.

No need to apologize to me. Very few Canadians have any clue about our armed forces and our capabilities. I therefore can not be upset by your comments. I'm just here to shed a little light.

p.s. Don't pay any attention to the Bush bashing coming from the North. We may be coming up to another snap election. The Lefties have sold their soles and are pandering to the ignorant portion of our population.