October 6, 2006
WHEN THE GROWN-UPS ARE IN CHARGE:
Afghan death toll price of leadership: Harper (Canadian Press, 10/06/06)
The mounting Canadian death toll in Afghanistan is the price of leadership that comes with playing a significant role in global affairs, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Thursday. [...]Posted by Orrin Judd at October 6, 2006 8:54 AM“A Canada that doesn't just criticize, but one that can contribute,†he said. “They want a Canada that reflects their values and interests, and that punches above its weight.†[...]
“The Canadian men and women who serve there . . . have gone willingly, knowing that not all of them will return,†he said.
Some years ago a "politically correct" decision had been made to retroactively honor an American unit composed of minorities for its exploits in WWII in Europe. What they came up with was a recognition of the paucity of its casulties.
I never knew whether this was done out of ignorance of the significance of that "achievement," or out of cruel sarcasm: I suspected the latter.
Taking nothing away from the value of the individual sacrifices, casulties at the rate of less than one per month do not impress us as a prodigy of military virtue.
Posted by: Lou Gots at October 8, 2006 7:41 AM