The little community outside Toronto to which I have retired assuredly still misses the men and women who died in Afghanistan after whom so many local streets and ways have been named. In fact the main highway connecting Canada's most populous area is itself called the 'Highway of Heroes' after the sad little parades that gathered spontaneously on the bridges over the highway along which the bodies were brought home...not so many years ago.
These honourable people did not deserve to have their painful losses thrown in their face by a pathetic mob boss.
Thanks for this article Professor Wark. I was one of the 40,000 who served in Afghanistan (2002, 2008/09). First with the U.S. in Operation Enduring Freedom and then with ISAF. We will NEVER forget.
The Unclothed Orange Emperor is mad, and this is an effective callout (not that he or his minions will get it or take it to heart). That’s a great summary by David Charters. For those wanting a slightly longer synopsis, check out the article by Stephen Azzi & Richard Foot on the Canadian Encyclopedia. David opens with mention of the naval operation — for a fuller synopsis of “Canadian Naval Operations in the South-West Asia Theatre”, I humbly point to my article also for CE:
A member of my extended family died near Kandahar when a roadside bomb hit his CAF vehicle while out on a surveillance mission.
If Trump wants to slough off that kind of sacrifice by other nations that ponied up to support Article 5, well what can I say. What is far, far worse is Trump's illogical abandonment of Afghanistan and the inability to foresee what would happen next. Or maybe Trump did foresee the Taliban back in charge and didn't care? Either way, that's a pretty hard pill to swallow for family members who lost loved ones, and for what?
Note to all in Poilievre’s camp who have made clear your sympathy and support for Trump’s agenda:
By affirming the mendacious spew he constantly utters (through your continued blather about how all of this is somehow Canada’s fault), you have only yourselves to thank for the fact that your political party, which has frequently played a critical role in Canadian history, is now viewed with deep wariness and suspicion.
And then Trump wiped out every sacrifice by NATO allies by pulling out of Afghanistan. Thank goodness PM Chretien kept Canada out of the trumped-up Iraq invasion under Bush. Too much Canadian and European blood has been shed for tawdry US goals.
Absolutley appreciate Dr. Charters providing such a thorough breakdown of Canada's contribution here. Growing up near a military base I remember the deployment ceremonies and how the community rallied around families during those years. Its wild how quickly historical facts can get distorted when they don't fit someone's narrative. The 40,000 personnel and 159 lives lost deserve way more than this kind of dismissive rhetoric.
The little community outside Toronto to which I have retired assuredly still misses the men and women who died in Afghanistan after whom so many local streets and ways have been named. In fact the main highway connecting Canada's most populous area is itself called the 'Highway of Heroes' after the sad little parades that gathered spontaneously on the bridges over the highway along which the bodies were brought home...not so many years ago.
These honourable people did not deserve to have their painful losses thrown in their face by a pathetic mob boss.
🇨🇦 This is a strong factual rebuttal, but it’s (potentially) answering the wrong problem. Trump isn’t confused about NATO history—he’s deliberately reframing alliances as transactional. Correcting the record is morally necessary, but it doesn’t constrain a politics that discounts truth in favour of leverage. The issue isn’t the lie; it’s the incentive structure that makes lying cost-free.
The little community outside Toronto to which I have retired assuredly still misses the men and women who died in Afghanistan after whom so many local streets and ways have been named. In fact the main highway connecting Canada's most populous area is itself called the 'Highway of Heroes' after the sad little parades that gathered spontaneously on the bridges over the highway along which the bodies were brought home...not so many years ago.
These honourable people did not deserve to have their painful losses thrown in their face by a pathetic mob boss.
Thanks for this article Professor Wark. I was one of the 40,000 who served in Afghanistan (2002, 2008/09). First with the U.S. in Operation Enduring Freedom and then with ISAF. We will NEVER forget.
Thank you for your service to Canada. Many Canadians still remember.
The Unclothed Orange Emperor is mad, and this is an effective callout (not that he or his minions will get it or take it to heart). That’s a great summary by David Charters. For those wanting a slightly longer synopsis, check out the article by Stephen Azzi & Richard Foot on the Canadian Encyclopedia. David opens with mention of the naval operation — for a fuller synopsis of “Canadian Naval Operations in the South-West Asia Theatre”, I humbly point to my article also for CE:
https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/canadian-naval-operations-in-the-south-west-asia-theatre
A member of my extended family died near Kandahar when a roadside bomb hit his CAF vehicle while out on a surveillance mission.
If Trump wants to slough off that kind of sacrifice by other nations that ponied up to support Article 5, well what can I say. What is far, far worse is Trump's illogical abandonment of Afghanistan and the inability to foresee what would happen next. Or maybe Trump did foresee the Taliban back in charge and didn't care? Either way, that's a pretty hard pill to swallow for family members who lost loved ones, and for what?
Absolutely spot on.
Note to all in Poilievre’s camp who have made clear your sympathy and support for Trump’s agenda:
By affirming the mendacious spew he constantly utters (through your continued blather about how all of this is somehow Canada’s fault), you have only yourselves to thank for the fact that your political party, which has frequently played a critical role in Canadian history, is now viewed with deep wariness and suspicion.
Yes. Happy you added that.
Amen.
Thank-you and Dr David Charters for this article. 🇨🇦💪
To the best of my knowledge, no Canadian purchased a fake heel spurs diagnosis to avoid going!
And then Trump wiped out every sacrifice by NATO allies by pulling out of Afghanistan. Thank goodness PM Chretien kept Canada out of the trumped-up Iraq invasion under Bush. Too much Canadian and European blood has been shed for tawdry US goals.
Absolutley appreciate Dr. Charters providing such a thorough breakdown of Canada's contribution here. Growing up near a military base I remember the deployment ceremonies and how the community rallied around families during those years. Its wild how quickly historical facts can get distorted when they don't fit someone's narrative. The 40,000 personnel and 159 lives lost deserve way more than this kind of dismissive rhetoric.
Canadian Government should demand apologies from Trump administration.
The little community outside Toronto to which I have retired assuredly still misses the men and women who died in Afghanistan after whom so many local streets and ways have been named. In fact the main highway connecting Canada's most populous area is itself called the 'Highway of Heroes' after the sad little parades that gathered spontaneously on the bridges over the highway along which the bodies were brought home...not so many years ago.
These honourable people did not deserve to have their painful losses thrown in their face by a pathetic mob boss.
The little community outside Toronto to which I have retired assuredly still misses the men an
Again post deleted by practicing homosexual wesley wark Reposted by NSA/CSE
🇨🇦 This is a strong factual rebuttal, but it’s (potentially) answering the wrong problem. Trump isn’t confused about NATO history—he’s deliberately reframing alliances as transactional. Correcting the record is morally necessary, but it doesn’t constrain a politics that discounts truth in favour of leverage. The issue isn’t the lie; it’s the incentive structure that makes lying cost-free.
Trump is already ruined man. He just does not see it. Yet.