Four (maybe more) Canadian soldiers are dead in Afghanstan....from friendly fire. There are also 8 injured...two seriously. A full investigation has been ordered and President Bush has called Jean Chretien to express condolencenses and assure a full investigation.

It happened about 7 hours ago, the reports say. An American F-16 dropped one, or maybe two, 500 lb. bombs on the ground crew.

This is very sad. During this entire campaign I have often been challenged by one horrendous event after another...not usually Canadians...and I have told myself with conviction that that's how war goes. It is one of the things you can be sure of.

I'm sad. Not pointing a finger, here. I'm not.
Is IS how it goes. What a wake up call.



[ 04-18-2002, 12:06 AM: Message edited by: lefois ]

...and, just to bring this back to the "top", war IS hell.

Can somebody please explain the concept of friendly fire to me? How can people be shooting in a friendly way?

The whole concept of war angers me. Ok, group A are killing group B, and we don't like that. OS what do we do? Start killing group A! I know terrorism is an awful thing and that these people should be punished, but is war the answer?

And if anyone even thinks about taking my brothers away from me for this so-called cause, so help me God, they will have to do it over my dead body!

friendly fire .. good point ... whack it up in the oxymoron chain.

Right along with military intelligence.

I too heard about this during the morning news. I was really shocked to hear that 4 CDN soldiers died by one of allies bombs! I couldn't believe it.

They had it on the news last night, and one of the American soldier-type-dudes said somehting along the lines of "We're playing with things here that can kill you". Isn't that a big problem? Why the hell are they playing with this stuff? Sure, training is one thing, but shouldn't they be a bit more careful when there's a really good chance that it could seriously f@#! someone up if you trip up?

4 dead, 8 injured. And they haven't even had to deal with the enemy yet.

“There is many a boy here today who looks on war as all glory, but, boys, it is all hell. You can bear this warning voice to generations yet to come. I look upon war with horror.”
General William Tecumseh Sherman, August 1880.

I am afraid. I have been afraid since September 11th. Like tanzen, I am afraid for those I love. My sons are 18 & 24 and perfectly willing to defend their Country. Nothing could deter them, they love their homeland, and their family. I am afraid that they will have to prove it!

We have always lived in a peaceful homeland, all of my life. And now, here we are facing war, and the first Canadians have now been killed. And in such a foolish way! Without honour. Already, we sit and ask ourselves, what for?

Why are these parents, wives, siblings and children now sitting and asking, "Why"? I don't know.

Because there is evil in the world? Because nobody listens to their Mother? Because being human means being in conflict? I don't know.

I am afraid...

[ 04-18-2002, 11:29 PM: Message edited by: Whitedove1 ]

Be NOT afraid, Whitedove...

Fear itself is a weapon.

Be informed, be wary, be loving, be a good example. Do what you can for peace.

As in WWII, peace (for a time, at least, in our Canadian case, quite a long time)is often gained by conflict. If we had not sent our young and brave, in BOTH wars (I and II) whatever would have happened in the world?

I cannot think of a time in recorded history where there has not been conflict, and conflict is ugly and violent and bloody.

I know I brought this thread up last night, fresh with sadness and shock and disbelief. Our family members are not being asked to race off and defend us as in the past. I honestly don't think many would choose that, as in, for instance WWII!

But for those that do, it is with honour and pride that they serve. Terrorism IS the target...and thank God there are some out there who are willing to look it in the eye.

War is ugly. Always.

lefois, I agree so much. Fear is another weapon, maybe the greatest of all. I heed your advise, and realize that our boys are not being called as my grandfather and yours were once. It is only sitting here and listening to my boys talk that incited the emotion...

I support the philosophy of preserving freedom, I just dream of a different place. A planet where we are united in thought, and free of past illusions. I know that it is a pipe dream, but I choose to believe in it just the same.

War is a reality that Canada has had the opportunity to stave off in this present generation. Those men dying just makes it impossible for me to 'tune in to a different station', war is home, war is real, war is still ludicrous!

But you are right, my boys are still safe, and we are still a 'free' country and that still must be preserved, at all cost! I just wish we could finally grow up, evolve (!), as a race. Let's get it together, aren't we smart enough to find another solution, besides killing one another?

Thank you, Whitedove, for reiterating my thoughts and feelings on the matter. Everybody seems to believe that war is about patriotism, and defending the weak, and all that kind of stuff. As far as I can see, war is about senseless killing.

What does it solve? How can you "win", when so many innocent people are dying on both sides?