- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 210
As an ignorant (but not-too-stupid-Canadian civilian) I have a few questions and thoughts on this. Please correct me if my thinking is wrong and I will certainly stand down.
I think it would be better at this point in time for Canada to not take up the Congo mission and instead, focus on the learning curve in the Middle East: concentrate on training, increasing the force, buying badly needed equipment--hoping that learning loop travels back to NDHQ as wisdom and support to those in theatre.
Am I wrong in thinking that part of the (political) problems that trickled down to the CF in the mid-nineties happened because politicians made too many peacekeeping commitments which overextended your resources? Wouldn't it be better for the time being to focus on the Afghanistan mission while also have the foreign affairs experts, analysts, politicians etc. continue tracking problems in Africa in preparation for a possible future deployment?
E. R., I agree with the point you are making regarding the need for possible Canadian intervention in parts of Africa; but is this the right time for us to do this? I'm not sure we can do this effectively from my understanding of problems facing the CF. I hope if Canada commits the CF to this mission that the CF will demand very clear directives that will be communicated clearly from the top down to the lowest ranks putting themselves in harms way.
Although I certainly don't know Mr. Fowler personally, what I have read about him is that he was responsible for a lot of upper echelon miscommunication during the dark days: mid-nineties for the CF. He was portrayed as a rather villanous Iago-like creature responsible for withholding information, pitting people against each other, etc.
Perhaps, he has been demonized by the media ... ?
(Mods feel free to delete this comment if it's too inflamatory and off-topic: I sincerely hope that Canada will never need to witness the disbanding of an entire regiment again: the disbanding of the Canadian Airborne Regiment (in retaliation for the actions of a few) is , to my mind, one of the greatest travesties of Canadian history--in fact--it was an attempt to erase a piece of history--I say this with the deepest respect for all those who served in that regiment.)
I think it would be better at this point in time for Canada to not take up the Congo mission and instead, focus on the learning curve in the Middle East: concentrate on training, increasing the force, buying badly needed equipment--hoping that learning loop travels back to NDHQ as wisdom and support to those in theatre.
Am I wrong in thinking that part of the (political) problems that trickled down to the CF in the mid-nineties happened because politicians made too many peacekeeping commitments which overextended your resources? Wouldn't it be better for the time being to focus on the Afghanistan mission while also have the foreign affairs experts, analysts, politicians etc. continue tracking problems in Africa in preparation for a possible future deployment?
E. R., I agree with the point you are making regarding the need for possible Canadian intervention in parts of Africa; but is this the right time for us to do this? I'm not sure we can do this effectively from my understanding of problems facing the CF. I hope if Canada commits the CF to this mission that the CF will demand very clear directives that will be communicated clearly from the top down to the lowest ranks putting themselves in harms way.
Although I certainly don't know Mr. Fowler personally, what I have read about him is that he was responsible for a lot of upper echelon miscommunication during the dark days: mid-nineties for the CF. He was portrayed as a rather villanous Iago-like creature responsible for withholding information, pitting people against each other, etc.
Perhaps, he has been demonized by the media ... ?
(Mods feel free to delete this comment if it's too inflamatory and off-topic: I sincerely hope that Canada will never need to witness the disbanding of an entire regiment again: the disbanding of the Canadian Airborne Regiment (in retaliation for the actions of a few) is , to my mind, one of the greatest travesties of Canadian history--in fact--it was an attempt to erase a piece of history--I say this with the deepest respect for all those who served in that regiment.)