Quite Frankly, It’s A Shame.
Lord Anthony, a prominent, but un-named Canadian says on this blog that:
"It is paradoxical that members of the Canadian military are far less likely to come from the dead-end last-chance rust-belt societies which send young Americans into uniform, and come from a more humanitarian background. In theory at least they should be more assertive about immoral and inhuman behaviour".
By and large I agree, that is true.
But on the other hand…many soldiers may be good people and may have simply lost their bearings, when it comes to immoral and/or inhuman behaviour. I agree that theoretically at least, Canadian soldiers ought to be more peace-loving, justice-loving individuals because of their history.
But now they are engaged in a dubious war – at the behest of their government. It is entirely possible that the stress of battle has had a negative impact on the ability of some at least, to tell the diffrence between right and wrong.
Canadians have not examined this issue in sufficient depth. Our leaders are now faced with the effects of a situation which very few of us can understand. Our soldiers are increasingly affected by circumstances beyond their control
-
The reasons may lie in the life-threatening experience of combat.
-
It may be that in the past, Canadians have been involved more in peacekeeping than in shooting, bombing and killing and the change has been a systemic shock.
-
It may be that – purely and simply – war – in and of itself – is a corrupting influence.
According to an investigation carried out by The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the number of serious charges against members of The Canadian Armed Forces, is on the increase.
- According to CBC, there were 1300 charges laid against members in 1998-1999.
- In 2oo6-07 – 2100 charges were laid. (But What happened in between?)
"Defence Minister" Peter Mackay said this: "Yes, there are serious charges, but there are charges pending such as sleeping in, leaving a post early, not having your uniform properly attired," MacKay said.
?… serious charges ?
?…sleeping in?
?…leaving your post early?
? "…not having your uniform properly attired". ?
A seemingly stunned Mr. Mackay didn’t address the increase in drug trafficking charges. Nor did he address the increase in charges of sexual assault.
Mackay, using his own brand of English, went on to say: "young people today are not used to, quite frankly, some of the demands and the rigours and the discipline that is expected in the Canadian Forces."
"Requiring young people to comply with strict military doctrine and discipline is a greater challenge today, quite frankly, than it was 10 or 15 or 25 years ago," he said.
The primary difference between 1999 and 2007, is – guess what? (T__ W__ I_ A_________)
Mackay apparently believes that this problem can be solved by NATO.
"NATO has to do more," MacKay said.
Quite frankly, Mr. Mackay, Mr. Harper and the entire Canadian civilian governing establishment look – quite frankly - as if they are floundering.
_____________________________________________________________________
UPDATE: What is happening to American soldiers will eventually happen in Canada.
In the past year, the U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs has received 55,469 calls on its suicide hotline.
Suicides among Canadian military personnel are already increasing -
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/04/18/suicide-rates.html
We are all concerned observers, all we can do is test each other about critical thinking based on information we individually gather.
My original question remains unadressed and in its context I can only speak for myself.
If I was put in the insane position of our military in Afganistan would I turn to cocaine, child-porn or suicide for relief?
No.
I would either run for the nearest border or turn myself into my command as an objector.
It’s what young Americans in their military are doing, but not Canadians in Afghanistan.
Are we ascribing to our troops heroic status and moral fortitude which simply isn’t justified?
Possibly.
But the original question is difficult to answer I think.
American soldiers are objecting because many of them have come to realize their war in Iraq is illegal. Moreover, they are placed in the awkward position of being permitted and encouraged and in some cases ordered – to commit war crimes.
Canadian soldiers still believe that they are engaged in a “legal” war, authorized, they believe – by the body which represents international law: to wit, the United nations. (Incidentally, it’s still an open question as to whether or not the U.N. authorized the war in Afghanistan. A significant body of opinion, with which I agree, has come to the conclusion that there is no legal basis for the occupation of Afghanistan.
In any case, as long as Canadian soldiers continue to believe that what they are doing is legal…none of them is likely to object.
What surprises me is that thus far no one has asked the World Court for an opinion as to the legality of the Afghan war, now being prosecuted by NATO, under the existing Security Council Resolutions, neither of which authorizes the kind of military action now underway.
We are in need of a legal opinion on this. It’s important, because – if the war is illegal, as many believe – then there are quite a number of war ciminals serving in positions of leadership in western countries.
postscript to my above post:
Nazi officials were sentenced to execution – not for committing genocide as many believe but purely and simply for – “planning and waging an aggressive war”.
Holy smoke!
I’m stunned by your last comment…. does this mean no-one was held accountable for the Holocaust?
Tell us more.
That is exactly correct…no one has been held accountable for any holocaust, including the one perpetrated by the Turks against the Armenian people…nor against the Kurds…nor against the Native people of north America etc etc and on and on…
In fact the Israeli’s would like to mount a holocaust against the people of Iran and no doubt, the Christian world will applaud it.