Dazed & Confused in Canada
It seems that some people in Canada cannot tell the difference between the NATO-sanctioned war in Afghanistan and the illegal American quest for booty in Iraq.
One confused Woman has stated (according to The Toronto Star):
" ... the Canadian armed forces, government and industry have no place in Afghanistan. It's an illegal war, it's a racist war and it's a greedy war. It should not be happening, plain and simple."
I guess she never heard of Al Qaeda, the Taliban, and 9/11. I would also venture that she has never heard of, or read Article 5 of the NATO Treaty of which Canada was a founding signatory.
At any rate, for those of you who are still confused, here is Article 5 of the Treaty:
"The Parties agree that an armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all and consequently they agree that, if such an armed attack occurs, each of them, in exercise of the right of individual or collective self-defence recognised by Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations will assist the Party or Parties so attacked by taking forthwith, individually and in concert with the other Parties, such action as it deems necessary, including the use of armed force, to restore and maintain the security of the North Atlantic area.
Any such armed attack and all measures taken as a result thereof shall immediately be reported to the Security Council. Such measures shall be terminated when the Security Council has taken the measures necessary to restore and maintain international peace and security."
All of this is quite simple really; since 9/11 is quite rightly viewed by the NATO membership as an attack on NATO, then NATO has the right to act until such time as the UN Security Council "has taken the measures necessary to restore and maintain international peace and security."
I for one, am still waiting.
The woman from the Star's article has most obviously confused Afghanistan with Iraq - and for that we can thank Bush, Cheney & Company. The illegal and illogical US operation in Iraq continues to undermine the correct response to the Taliban/Al Qaeda problem in Afghanistan.
Iraq has been, and continues to be, a stupid sideshow that has NOTHING to do with the very legitimate War on Terror.
Update: For now, it appears that saner heads are prevailing.