Another Day, Another Dead Soldier

Subject: Another Day, Another Dead Soldier
From: Peter T.
Date: 30 Jan 04 - 09:24 AM

Canada buried another soldier from the mess in Afghanistan yesterday (Jamie Murphy). Interestingly enough, our Prime Minister found the time to go to the funeral. Even more interesting, I note that this morning's New York Times showed the picture, but cut out the Prime Minister. Perhaps this is to keep from embarrassing George W. who still does not think it fitting to attend the funerals of American soldiers from Afghanistan or Iraq or some other of the messes on his watch.

yours,

Peter T.

Subject: RE: Another Day, Another Dead Soldier
From: SINSULL
Date: 30 Jan 04 - 09:52 AM

Thousands dead. Murdered by politicians and greed. I cannot believe that we let this happen.

Subject: RE: Another Day, Another Dead Soldier
From: GUEST,Martin Gibson
Date: 30 Jan 04 - 11:38 AM

Another day, another suicide bombing in Israel.

Another day, more terrorism by Hamas.

Subject: RE: Another Day, Another Dead Soldier
From: GUEST,Frank Hamilton
Date: 30 Jan 04 - 01:50 PM

Martin, in my view, walls don't work. Didn't work in Germany
and can't in Israel, either.   The spate of killing can be
deterred only through international cooperation. The UN is the only hope. If it is supported it can function.

The question that Israelis need to ask today is why is it that
Hamas is so desperately brutal? Why does Israel need to destroy
the home of the suicide bomber? Why is the Intafada so manic?
"An eye for an eye"? The killing goes on because two intransigent
groups are locked in a deadly contest that serves neither of
them. Again, it comes down to theocracy. Look what happened
to Begin. And Sadat.

It's the same between Northern Ireland and the Republic, India and Pakistan, the Serbs and the Croats, the Sunnis and the Shi'ites,
the list goes on......."When will they ever learn, Oh when will
they ever learn?"

The only wall that should be prevail IMHO is the one that separates
Church and State.

Frank

Subject: RE: Another Day, Another Dead Soldier
From: Wolfgang
Date: 30 Jan 04 - 03:28 PM

The wall in Germany worked extremely well. It was planned to prevent people from crossing the border. And that it did. It couldn't prevent socialist economy breaking down. But that was a different problem.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Another Day, Another Dead Soldier
From: GUEST,Martin Gibson
Date: 30 Jan 04 - 04:12 PM

That's right. The wall did work in Germany.

I wish it would work in Israel.

Fuck Hamas. You can't reason with terrorists.

Subject: RE: Another Day, Another Dead Soldier
From: Willie-O
Date: 30 Jan 04 - 04:25 PM

It wasn't really the wall that prevented them, though was it? It was the shooting them when they tried to get over it. Not much of an achievement to emulate...

It's interesting you should bring this up Peter. It's been on my mind some. This is the seventh Canadian soldier who has died in Afghanistan. Every time it happens it's a national tragedy (especially the first time, when we lost four at once to an American pilot's "mistake"). Although we're getting a little bit used to it, unhappily.

What I have been wondering, when in the U.S. they have just passed the 500 dead in Iraq number (don't know the Afghani number), does it
just result in a sort of national numbness? Is there a lot of media attention, locally? Is there a big effect on people, perhaps sort of under the radar?

W-O

Subject: RE: Another Day, Another Dead Soldier
From: Peter T.
Date: 30 Jan 04 - 04:39 PM

Actually, I don't think we are getting remotely used to it. This was the cover of the main newspaper, the first or second story of every major Canadian network (at least the ones I watch). I think it is very, very complicated for Canadian politicians and others to handle the Canadian myth about our role in NATO, helping the U.S., Canada as peacekeeper, etc., in this situation. This may be one reason why Paul Martin showed up. But (to give him credit) this is what his predecessor did, and I think that (to give him credit) Paul Martin is a pretty decent guy, and probably didn't think twice about not going. It doesn't mean that they will give the armed forces decent funding, however.

What I cannot figure out is how people can let George W. get away with not going to any of them at all. After all, unlike in our country, he is the Commander-in-Chief! Shouldn't the Commander-in-Chief at least show up once or twice to the funeral of his men (women)? Once a month? I think someone made some sleazy decision based on fear of polls, or fear of pictures of him at a funeral, or some nonsense like "hey, he's too busy". The turkey episode showed him in his true colours: happy pictures, no sad pictures. I think it is disgusting.

yours,

Peter T.

Subject: RE: Another Day, Another Dead Soldier
From: DougR
Date: 30 Jan 04 - 05:14 PM

People get killed in wars. Too bad, but they do. Our losses in Iraq are nothing compared to the daily losses in both WW1 and WW2.

Before someone jumps down my throat and accuses me of being insensitive, I'm merely pointing out the facts. Nothing else. As long as we have troops in Iraq, there will be casualties. It's too bad that more countries are not willing to share the burden along with the other countries represented there, but unfortunately, thata is not the case.

DougR

Subject: RE: Another Day, Another Dead Soldier
From: Blackcatter
Date: 30 Jan 04 - 06:13 PM

For crying out loud, The Israeli govenrment not only doesn't like Muslims, they don't like any one who isn't an Orthodox Jew. Fuck the government of Israel. It is nearly as bad as Saudi Arabia.

Subject: RE: Another Day, Another Dead Soldier
From: LadyJean
Date: 31 Jan 04 - 01:01 AM

The fact that 500 Americans and several thousand Iraqis died so that George W. could prove that he had a bigger thingie than his father makes me want to scream!

Since that would scare my cats, I will settle for voting the son of a Bush out of office.

Every time I read about casualties in Iraq, ( They don't write about Afghanistan.) I think of the Civil War Song "All Quiet on the Potomac Tonight", which is about a sentry being shot on a night when the papers report that all is quiet along the Potomac.

Someone needs to write a similar song about the current situation. I don't think that someone is me. Anyone else care to try.

Subject: RE: Another Day, Another Dead Soldier
From: GUEST,guest from NW
Date: 31 Jan 04 - 01:29 AM

"People get killed in wars."

wow what a brilliant observation. meaningless in light off the point we're discussing.

"Too bad, but they do. Our losses in Iraq are nothing compared to the daily losses in both
WW1 and WW2."

the conflict in iraq bears no resemblance to ww1 or 2 in purpose or scope therefore your statement is meaningless.

"Before someone jumps down my throat and accuses me of being insensitive, I'm merely pointing out the facts.
Nothing else. As long as we have troops in Iraq, there will be casualties."

i don't think anyone needs accuse you of insensitivity. that's pretty much a given with you. once again your "facts' add nothing to the discussion.

"It's too bad that more countries are not willing to share the burden along with the other countries represented there, but unfortunately, thata is not the case."

there are many good reasons why other countries are unwilling to cooperate with "pre-emptive self-defense". i won't go over them again. the question at hand, however, is why won't our president honor those who have paid the price for his policy? as other countries honor their own and, historically, american presidents up until this chickenhawk have? do you have any ideas about why that might be dougR?