Canadian soldier suffers self-inflicted gunshot in Kabul

[dArKeR]

Kabul, Afghanistan — A Canadian soldier was in critical condition Sunday after suffering a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the face, Canadian Military officials said.

It was not immediately known if the shooting was an accident or a possible suicide attempt.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20040215.wshot0215/BNStory/Front/

Repukes like Limbaugh, Rove, Gingrich, Wolfowitz, Perle, Cheney, AWOL... should be in these far away countries holding guns not our children! Bring our children home send the Repukes and Media Whores (Fineman, Russert...) instead.

[Lefta Dissenter]

1. So, so sad.

How many lives are we destroying? There's no way to count. American, Canadian, not to mention the thousands and thousands of Iraqi families we've destroyed. Yup, family values - that's the strength of the republican party.

[Mari333]

2. This so terrifies me

Im so sorry for the families..and this kid..who was so terrified he did this..my god what is going on why are all the talking heads ignoring this.
My stepson is over there now..I heard his voice cracking on the phone, he is starting NOW to think this wasnt a good idea..but its too late now, hes there today..I have no idea where...no one tells us anything..
so I have to sit and think of him..I know his personality..he has lived with us since he was 18..he has a short fuse, he has some anger issues with his mom..thats what worries me..his short fuse..I tried, when he moved in with us, to give him some love and attention, to treat him with some gentleness and show him that its okay to show your feelings and cry and have emotion..but Im afraid for him.Im afraid he will be in a situation that is horrible and he will blow..or turn it on himself...he did cry when he left here..
god, this year will be a nightmare. I will watch the news and wonder daily, and think rationally that he will probably be fine, but I still worry and I think thats normal no matter what anyone says.

[Occulus]

4. The young always learn the hard lessons

one second too late to chnge the result, don't they?

Your stepson is in my thoughts and prayers.

[K8-EEE]

10. Mari I Will Keep Your Stepson In My Thoughts And Prayers!!

I always read your messages about him and wish the best for him and for your family. I hope the situation somehow improves in the course of this year. PEACE TO YOU!

[leesa]

3. I don't understand why Canada participates in this 'war on terror' farce

I doubt their military-industrial complex cashes in too much and they are blocked out of all the other oil scams for the most part. Why do they participate in this nonsense?
The war on terrorism has absolutely nothing to do with 'terrorism' other than to foment more terrorism so we can sell more arms and more reconstruction contracts.

[mobuto]

6. Don't be ridiculous

Al Qaeda terrorists pose a threat to civilization everywhere. No, Canada wasn't attacked on 9/11, but it might just as well have been and it just might be attacked the next time 'round. The real question is why we haven't sent more troops to bring order to Afghanistan. And the answer seems fairly clear: its because we're foolishly preoccupied with Iraq.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

7. Sorry, but our actions in the Middle East are creating the next...

...two or three generations of terrorists that will fight us tooth and nail for the next several decades.

Why aren't we putting more troops in Afghanistan and/or Iraq? Because the Junta has to justify bringing the draft back online in mid-2005 by claiming not to have enough all-volunteer forces to successfully fight the "war on terror".

[mobuto]

8. Maybe so

And you're almost certainly right with regards to Iraq. But Afghanistan is different. They're we're fighting today's terrorists - the very people responsible for the attack on 9/11. Its hard to think of a more legitimate exercise in force than that. We can worry about the next generation when we come to it, but right now we need to defend ourselves from Afghanistan-based terrorists and we're not adequatly doing it.

Because the Junta has to justify bringing the draft back online in mid-2005 by claiming not to have enough all-volunteer forces to successfully fight the "war on terror".

I seriously doubt he'd try to reinstate the draft - but I think we should just that. Give young people a choice of military service or some other civic function and you give them a stake in society. And you generally think a little harder about war when your own sons and daughters run the risk of being sent.

[Mika]

11. Tell that to the innocent we killed

"And you're almost certainly right with regards to Iraq. But Afghanistan is different. They're we're fighting today's terrorists - the very people responsible for the attack on 9/11. "



Wrong! A small group of terrorists committed 911 (unless you're into LIHOP or MIHOP) NOT the people in Afghanistan who were basically subjugated by local warlords and despots we trained and empowered (and still do).

Justifying bombing out civilians living in shale and mud houses in absolute poverty by claiming that they are responsible for a multimillion dollar operation is a serious shifting of blame.

Its weirdly hypocritical too, because usually Americans like to demonize a single character/leader (like Saddam or Castro or Chavez) but relating to Osama & Afghanistan many endorse taking out and bombing an entire country & blaming all of its citizens for the actions of a few wealthy outlaws (most of whom weren't Afghanis) in their country.

-

"Its hard to think of a more legitimate exercise in force than that."



Let's hope the citizens of the rest of the world don't think similarly, because then we'd all be blamed for the actions of * and his cabal of wealthy outlaws.

[MrPrax]

9. Me Neither...

The Canadian Gov't decision not to back the US in the Iraq invasion was because it wasn't sanctioned by the UN...BUT they commit troops to an 'peacekeeping' action in AF under the aegis of NATO?

No real exit plan and NO real meaningful purpose...

it won't take long before Afghanis see the Canucks (and Germans) like they do the Americans and the Soviets before them...

[GRClarkesq]

5. Soldiers usually "clear" their weapons before entering camp

While plenty of accidents happen in the military this sounds more like a suicide attempt.

[JoFerret]

12. Poor sod if SIW

It takes a deal of desperation and courage to commit a SIW and then....all the consequences. owen and sasson and all the rest can speak to that.