Coming home

A sombre ceremony occurred over the weekend. The bodies of two soldiers of Canada's Afghanistan contingent were repatriated. Although their deaths were not a result of combat (they were in fact killed as a consequence of a traffic accident with a civilian vehicle), this reminds Canadians that they must play an international role, whether its through diplomacy, peacekeeping, or peacemaking.

This is a scene that has been witnessed by many Americans over the past couple of years, with soldiers having died in Iraq, as well as Afghanistan. As the truth comes out about the reason for invading Iraq, there is less and less American support for its presence there. Whether you agree or not that America should have invaded Iraq, I believe Afghanistan is a different story.

When the Soviets ended their occupation of Afghanistan (with help from the American CIA, no doubt), there was no leadership from other countries to assist Afghanistan to develop a 'normalized' democracy. Consequently, a power vacuum formed such that a small insurgent group, the Taliban, become the dominant ruling group. What happened next? It has been reported that terrorist training camps were set up, so that terrorism could be exported to other countries. Freedoms were restricted, mainly because of the religious fundamentalists in power. Women were not educated, and in fact had to cover themselves head-to-toe in clothing called burkhas. Sons were trained to become suicide bombers. Then, the attack on the World Trade Center in New York on Sept 11, 2001, changed all of that. As a result, Americans entered Afghanistan to restore some semblance of democracy, or at least curtail terrorist attacks on its citizens. Gains have been made, but there is still a significant insurgency. A simplistic explanation of what has occurred, but I don't want to get bogged down with a history lesson.

Coming back to the honouring of Canadian fallen comrades, there is some rising discontent over the country's involvement in Afghanistan. As more Canadians are killed, more questions arise. Of course, diplomacy and negotiation are the best methods to resolve differences, but how do you negotiate with a group that flies no flag, has no permanent home, thrives on chaos, solves its problems by killing non-combatants - women and children? This reminds me of the famous scene in which British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, after returning with an accord signed by Adolph Hitler in 1938 declared, "My good friends, for the second time in our history, a British Prime Minister has returned from Germany bringing peace with honour. I believe it is peace for our time...Go home and get a nice sleep." The truth is, World War II occurred with tens of millions dying as a result. Had it not been for the British military progressively building up its forces in the time leading up to the war, the world could have been a different place.

Let the Taliban have Afghanistan to do with as they wish? Allow them a place to plant their flag so that diplomatic negotiations can be conducted? Consider what life was like under the Nazi regime: curfews, executions without trials, extermination camps - not just killing Jews, but anyone that the state felt was a threat even if it was because of sexual orientation. Consider what life would be like if Europe and North America were ruled by those that ruled Afghanistan. Any criticism of the government, you would quietly disappear. You would be forced to practice the religion that they deemed the correct one. Your sisters and daughters would not be allowed to get any education. Your sons would be trained to kill innocents, by gun or suicide bomb, to further the regime's cause.

Yes, killing is wrong, but sometimes it has to be done to overthrow a despotic regime. World history is littered with such regimes. Western democracy is not perfect, but at the moment, it's the best system available. The father of one of the fallen Canadian soldiers said that he was proud that his son died serving his country. Whether you agree or disagree with the Canadian presence in Afghanistan, do not sully his, nay any, Canadian soldier's sacrifice. They do it for the benefit of all citizens. Not just Canadian, but world citizens, including those in Afghanistan that want freedom. Remember the poem In Flanders Field.

If I have not swayed you yet, then let me leave you with this. Read my previous post, Did God create evil? (Mar 3, 2006) Then consider this quote by Edmund Burke, from the late eighteenth century:

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."

Let us not get a good sleep in our homes until the absence of good is no more.

Wings Over The World

(photo credit: www.ctv.ca)