Big Gamble?

[Seascamp]

The Canadian forces in Afghanistan have shifted from what has been a peace keeping role in the Kabul area to an active combat role in the Kandahar region and are now going head-on against the active Taliban and Al Qaeda forces. One faction in Canada argues that this proactive move will make Canada a terrorist target while another argues that they already are. At present there is neither positive evidence that PM Martin will be supportive of Combat actions and the Canadian troops involved nor any evidence that he will not be supportive. More or less a foot in both camps and equivocal, not unlike having ones head in the refrigerator and feet in the fire, but on average, we?re ok.

My bet is that once casualties are suffered in any numbers, the Canadian forces will be forced to disengage by the Ottawa federal Liberals. Too much water over the dam and too many active terrorists groups have set up shop in Canada to allow for much wiggle room and like Wily Coyote, they sit upon a box of ACME explosives with the fuse ready to be lit.

The London bombings have been a bit of a wake up call and the debate has fired up and is rolling. Right now, it appears that a pacifist-compliant posture is preferred but I don?t know if anyone has that luxury these days. To date, Canadian forces have been under orders to avoid a ?big fight? and this standing order goes back to post 9/11, so this reversal of orders has the pot bubbling and we?ll see what comes of it. But I think it fair to say that the status quo is up for grabs, at least momentarily. Good luck, God speed and good hunting Canuk Troops.

Scamp

[Jerry D]

Might make some of them Canuks Proud to have the Maple leaf on their Uniform again in Mixed company(UK&US) again

[BLUEHAWK]

These things tend to ebb and flow... but my hunch is that it was the Commanders on the ground in Afghan who demanded this.

If Toronto or Montreal are attacked, then (of course) "popular sentiment" will swing back toward engagement in any case.

[Seascamp]

You called it Blue, spot on. Actually it was Canadian Gen. Rick Hiller, Chief of Defense Staff, that made the announcement last week and used language that included ?We?re going after those murderers and scumbags? and no doubt in my mind where he got those words from, you bet.

Scamp

[BLUEHAWK]

The Canadians are no slouch when it comes to military preparedness and effectiveness. They even permit their recruiters to pass out literature in the Tiny Naylor restaurants up there.

I'm grateful to have them beside us in this war to whatever extent they can be.

It is a terrible shame that it takes an attack as in London to awaken, or to reawaken, people to the seriousness of the threat to us all.