I am going to try to say the thing no one wants to say. Today Nato has 150,000 troops in the war, 3,000 are Canadians. After WWII, Canada brought home a million men. In the battle of Vimy Ridge, Canada lost 10,000 troops before noon that day. In Afghanistan we have lost less than 200. Were any of the 10,000 lives any less precious? No the lives of all our soldiers are worth the same: far more than we can properly appreciate.
If Nato had similar numbers, if Canada had a more serious commitment, like that of the 2 major wars, would this have dragged on for 9 years--longer than both world-wars together? Instead I see the pathetic scrambling to commit as few as possible that would still allow us the political brownie points of saying we were doing our part.
It really is pathetic, but with even only 5 million men instead of 150,00. Nato would probably have already pulled out by now, schools would be built where bare ground is now. Infrastructure could stand without fear of being blown up. Pakistan wouldn't dare play footsie with the Nato forces to their north. No, instead we watch the scrabbling back of the free world, their half hearted failure being shifted onto those poor countries who didn't get out before we did.
The world would have been a different place. And this in no way depreciates or diminishes the heart of our soldiers on the ground right now. All I am saying is what could be done with 366 times more?
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