Afghanistan, Iraq, and Gresham's law

http://www.brandonsun.com/story.php?story_id=19463

George W. Bush has fumbled and stumbled in a very serious way in the War on Terror. He has taken a necessary task - and perhaps doomed it, with his needless foray into Iraq. Of course, this is not a new observation on anyone's part, but it is a timely one for Canada - now that the Canadian Forces have taken-up the overall Command of Allied operations in Kandahar.

The fact that a clear majority of Canadians now seem to oppose the Canadian participation in Afghanistan is due in full part to Bush's incredibly stupid invasion of Iraq. Iraq was NOT part of the Al Qaeda network responsible for 9/11, and in fact, Saddam Hussein's regime was anathema to Bin Laden and the AQ leadership cadre. These are facts.

Because he has undertaken a highly dubious war in Iraq, the entire mission that is the "War on Terror" is now jeopardised. The average Canadian voter was generally supportive of our initial commitment to Afghanistan, but now that the waters have been muddied by the large sideshow in Iraq, they are confusing the two as being part of the whole unjust & sordid package.

But the truth remains: Afghanistan and the Taliban were fully integrated into the AQ network and were providing men, facilities, and safe haven for AQ terrorists. Thus Afghanistan, the Taliban, and the inherent and historic instability of Afghan society are a fair and just target in this War. We need to be there. We need to stay the course.

Canadians were murdered on 9/11. Canadian domestic security is at risk as long as AQ remains intact. We belong in Afghanistan. We also carry our share of the burden of the defence of Western Civilisation in participating in these Operations. Such participation - and even Leadership - is part of the Canadian tradition. We did not shy away from our duty in Flanders in 1914, nor in our obligations to the war against Fascism in 1939. We went to Korea to fight Communist expansionism. We are committed and founding members of NATO.

The war in Iraq is an unjust war - even though Saddam Hussein was a brutal dictator in the mode of Joseph Stalin - and was the wrong direction to take after the initial action in Afghanistan. I despise Jean Chretien for many reasons, but he was right to keep us out of the morass in Mesopotamia.

The war in Afghanistan is a just war.

We need to make clear distinctions between the two wars - and quickly.

Bush's stupidity has confused the two actions, and is now endangering the entire mission. This is the most egregious of all of Bush's many blunders. History will judge him harshly on that basis. The Americans will get what they deserve out of all of this. It is just too damn bad that they will drag most of the West down with them.