“Over the past century, Canadian attitudes towards the use of force and the exercise of military power in support of national aims have fundamentally shifted”. This is a quote written by Major Todd Strickland in his article, titled, “From the Boers to the Taliban: How Canadians Attitudes towards War Have Changed”. This article reviews Canada’s history within the wars and also Canadian’s thoughts on war. The Afghan war began in 2001 and is still ongoing today. The war began due to the terrorist attacks that took place in the United States on September 11th, 2001, also known as 9/11. The purpose of this war was to invade Afghanistan and to disassemble an organization, known as the al-Qaeda terrorist organization. Another objective was to dismantle the Taliban government. The Taliban government was simply to blame for the deaths of so many Americans on 9/11. The leader, brains and financial support behind this organization was one by the name of Osama bin Laden. Because his country did not surrender him, the United States made the decision to declare war on Afghanistan and fight for those who lost their lives in 9/11. Canada became involved in the Afghan War very quickly after the attacks of 9/11. Because the Afghanistan war is a war that is constantly covered by the media, it makes the information overwhelming. To narrow the topic down, this paper will focus mainly on the Canadian’s involvement in the Afghanistan war. Violent political wars have been reoccurring for as long as anyone can remember, and the intensity of this violence continues to rise. The magnitude of political violence involved, the main interpretations on the causes of political violence, and the prospects for conflict resolution are all topics that will be covered...
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...in reasons that most political violence occurs, and how to resolves these conflicts of political violence. After the research was completed, it is very apparent that Canada has had a very positive impact on Afghanistan. There are not many countries who would continue to stay in the country after completing their time in battle. Although Canada was involved in the war against Afghanistan, the country itself still found it mandatory for troops to continue to serve in Afghanistan as peace makers. Canada is known for peace and freedom and this exemplifies just that. Canada is putting forth time, effort, and money, to improve the living conditions of those in Afghanistan and helping them build a sustainable, peaceful life that they can carry out for years to come. Every country will have its own corruption; the answer is to begin from the basics. Peace and security.
Smith, Gordon. “Canada in Afghanistan: Is it working?” Canadian Defence & Foreign Affairs Institute, 2007.
Eleven years after the second world war, a crisis occurred which had the potential to escalate into a third world war. Hostilities ran high and the background causes that prompted this crisis contained the same fundamentals as were seen in the first and second world wars. Those being militarism, alliances, imperialism and nationalism; wrought by those countries that had an interest in the Suez Canal and the Arab states. In the world of superpowers in conflict, Canada made a name for itself through an innovative peacekeeping scheme, instead of aggression (Encyclopedia Britannica Online, 1999-2000). If Canada had not become involved in the Suez Crisis, as a neutral party, it could have escalated into a world war. The three components which add up to the conclusion of the Suez Crisis and a bench mark for Canada and world peacekeeping are: Canada's choice for those countries directly involved in the crisis, Canada's choice for involvement, and Canada's resolution of the United Nations Emergency Force, which would put a stop to a possible world war.
As the world goes to show you, there is and always will be hostility, violence, and disputes amongst people and nations. To be able to create peace in the world and to prevent war from breaking out, peace keeping missions are to be carried out and good relations are upheld with other countries. The Suez Canal Crisis was and urgent matter which arose in the 1950’s in which Canada established a key role in resolving and negotiating. Lester B. Pearson prevented any hasty actions from being made by the UN and other countries, Canada played a major role in both creating and contributing to making the United Nations Emergency Force, Canadians worked hard to restore Egypt to its former glory after the crisis had passed. Lester Pearson worked endlessly to promote the United Nations Emergency Force.
...ore that 100 at this moment who have been deployed. At the end Canada has help all around the world to bring justice, and aid to those in need. Canada it’s seen as a peaceful nation and it has earn that title for all this work, and perseverance to make a better world by helping other nations with all this peace keeping missions.
The post-war time was a period where major changes were occurring. After being involved in two international conflicts, Canada was ready to reestablish their economy. During this time, Canada had started working on ways to become stronger and reputable. It is evident that Canada had matured through the post-war era. Canada’s economic progress left a positive impact on the growth of the country as consumerism became popular, and economic ties with America became stronger. Moreover, the removal of racial and ethical barriers contributed to Canadian social affairs such as the huge wave of immigration and the baby boom. The Canadian government also had become more aware and involved in issues impacting Canadian citizens. Canada as a whole started identifying itself as an independent nation and participating in events that brought a positive reputation amongst them. These economical, social, and legal changes helped Canada mature into the country it is today.
In order to understand the complexity of the Anti-Americanism, it is important to understand the history and relationship between Canada and the United States. The sentiment was first conceived by the Europeans and the issues it had with the upcoming “rebellious” American culture. Europeans at the time had the tendency to see Americans as, “overconfident and self-important… it was this egocentricity that most aggravated Europeans” (O’Connor, 2004). In its earliest form, the American ideology seemed to be an opponent to the popular European ideology. Which soon became a campaign between “high culture” (the European ideology) and “low culture” (the American culture) and through that rivalry many European citizens held the belief that,
Canada is known by outsiders to be a very peaceful country. But if you ask any Canadian, they will tell you that is unfortunately not the case. There is a large ongoing conflict between Canadians. The conflict is between the French and the English, or more specifically between Quebec and the rest of Canada. As a result of this conflict, along with some wrongdoing and propaganda.
In his essay “What We Are Fighting For”, Rex Murphy outlines reasons why Canadian army is fighting in Afghanistan. In the beginning, Murphy clearly states that Canada’s involvement in eliminating the Taliban Government was in retaliation for the 9/11 terrorist attacks to our ally, the United States, particularly because of those Canadian citizens who murdered in those attacks. According to Murphy, the international campaign to combat terrorism would be effective not only by eradicating the Taliban Government, but also by helping Afghan citizens in establishing a democratic state. Furthermore, Murphy explains that the Canadian army remains in Afghanistan to secure the peaceful democratic transition of power, as well as to assist Afghans with
Canada is a great country with great opportunities to succeed with not many complaints that affect our whole life but have you ever wondered what it is like to live in a place where the odds of you living are 30 years younger? or make 97 percent less money or how about you are 5 times more likely to get murdered? This is how an everyday life looks in developing countries and specifically, Afghanistan. It is interesting to see one country struggling so much where the other is not necessarily struggling at all. What is also interesting is the similarities we do have although lifestyle may totally be different. With Afghanistan’s population of 34.66 million, it makes it the 40th largest country in the world and with Its area of 652, 230 square kilometres it makes it
As I have already stated Canada is very well known for our many peacekeeping efforts. This is due to the many places our peacekeepers have been, or are at this very moment, such as Bosnia, East Timor and even Central Africa. These are just a very small portion of the places our peacekeepers are presently stationed. I am not even mentioning the dozens and dozens of other places they have been to. Our peacekeepers have helped save countless lives and Canada has gained relatively little in return, but Canada does it anyways, because it is the right thing to do.
...d the contributions of the Canadian government. Canada is not only distressed by domestic terrorism, but it is concerned with international terrorism. By creating a strategy to deal with terrorism, Canada is taking many steps to end terrorism. Also, through international collaborations and conventions, Canada has faith that the UN and its members will be able to end terrorism.
In the book entitled Canada, NATO and The Bomb: The Western Alliance in Crisis by Tom Keating and Larry Pratt the main issue discussed was Canada’s position in Europe, North America and their view on the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. It went into specific issues dealing with political tension within Canada and tension outside Canada with other countries. It went through the years of different political parties and how they dealt with the matters of NATO.
Canada refused to participate in the Suez canal crisis, “this action was a symbolic gesture that showed both England and the World that Canada was now a fully autonomous nation in total control of its foreign policy” (http://mrmillerss11.blogspot.ca/2010/02/feb-24-canadas-autonomy-timeline.html) . To stop any violence that would soon abrupt Lester. B.Pearson came up with the idea of “peacekeeping”. He stated “We are now emerging into an age when different civilizations will have to learn to live side by side in peaceful interchange, learning from each other, studying each other’s history and ideals, art and culture, mutually enriching each other’s lives. »
Along with the financial costs, there is human cost with the loss of life of civilians, Canadian soldiers. The invasion of Afghanistan is only a short term solution to a bigger problem. When Canada and other nations leave the country, the Taliban and the warlord tribes will continue to insight fear on the Afghan citizens (Endersby, 2011). Conclusion Canada’s involvement has brought about a continuous debate on whether or not they should be in Afghanistan fighting a war that is half a world away. The events of September 11, 2001 in the United States reinforced the need to fight terrorism on a global scale.
Afghanistan since its beginning has been a place of conflict, despair, and at times lost hope. It has been taken advantage of and lost its sense of identity, which has had a direct effect on its people, and there own sense of what justice truly is.