Afghanistan Reset
Our days babysitting Afghanistan’s unresolved civil war are drawing to a close. The big question is “what next”? What will come of Afghanistan after Western forces leave? According to Gwynne…
afghanistan
Are young revolutionaries bound to fail?
Demographer Richard Cincotta of the Stimson Center in Washington DC has compiled some intriguing facts about revolution and the age of populations. His analysis not only enables him to predict…
Homegrown Terrorism
Poster campaign over Khadr’s possible return | Toronto & GTA | News | Toronto Sun. There is nothing about this article that doesn’t repulse me. Look at the poster: 9/11?…
In War, There Are Goals and There Are Goals
Germany achieved its war goals on May 7, 1945 when it signed the instruments of surrender at Reims, France. Germany’s goal at that point was to end the war it…
Springtime for Hitler in Ottawa
Last week, our favourite sweatervest hoarding Prime Minister made the world’s laziest Nazi/Hitler invocation during Question Period. This is the latest in a string of Hitler references made by sundry…
How Many More Canadians Does Harper Want Killed?
“When planning a military expedition into Pashtun tribal areas, the first thing you must plan is your retreat. All expeditions into this area sooner or later end in retreat under…
Harper’s Afghan Surprise – We’re In Afghanistan Until 2016.
Okay, we’re supposed to clear out in 2014, right? Maybe, maybe not. Now, according to CBC, Harper is saying he’ll examine all options when the deadline nears. Wait a minute.…
A Hopeful Sign
Afghan security forces seem to have derailed a major terror attack against civilians in Kabul. They intercepted a truck laden with 10-tonnes of explosives hidden underneath a load of potatoes.…
They Would Say That
“As long as Afghanistan is not able to ensure by itself the security in the country, the artificial timelines of withdrawal are not correct and they should not be set”…
In Afghanistan, Success Equals Failure
Afghan farmers are on target to produce a bumper crop of opium in 2012. Opium farming will increase across Afghanistan in 2012, driven by insecurity, massive corruption and economic fears…
Afghanistan, Why Do We Insist on Defeating Ourselves?
Okay, according to America’s own counter-insurgency doctrine, Western forces in Afghanistan have long passed the point where, in Afghan eyes, they transformed from liberator/defender to occupier/oppressor. And, okay, the drone…
The Wet Bandits, Taliban version
One mid-level Taliban commander turned himself in to Afghan authorities in order to collect the reward mentioned on the BOLO poster local authorities issued for him. According to the Washington…
Afghanistan Reels Under the Weight of Victory
It’s typical of the war in Afghanistan that all sides are claiming victory in the wake of the recent insurgent attacks on Kabul and other cities. We seemed relieved that…
What Victory Looks Like in American Eyes
An American asks now that the US has won the Afghan war, isn’t it time to leave? The editor in chief of AirForce Magazine concludes that the American forces have…
Afghanistan Infantry Firefight
A short video from an unspecified rotation by 3rd battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry in Afghanistan. The video is from a helmet-mounted camera worn by a soldier using a…
Green on Blue Now #2 Cause of Allied Death in Afghanistan
Three more Western soldiers gunned down by their Afghan counterparts today, two Brits, one American. Attacks by our Afghan allies on Western forces now rank second only to improvised explosive…
American Support for Afghan War Tanks
Four months ago a bare majority, 53% of Americans, thought US soldiers should no longer be fighting that conflict. Today that number stands at 69%. In November less than half…
Afghanistan – Rags to Riches to Rags
Iran, China, Russia and India are poised to become the real beneficiaries of the blood and treasure we’ve poured into the Afghan War. An investigation by the British newspaper, The…
#HarperHistory: Canadians Respond to Stephen Harper’s NDP ‘Hitler’ comment
In Parliament yesterday, NDP leader Thomas Mulcair asked PM Stephen Harper whether or nor Canadian special forces would stay in Afghanistan beyond the 2014 withdrawal deadline. Harper’s answer: “The leader…