Iraq vs. Afghanistan
I recently stated that, as a given, Afghanistan is not Iraq; however the more I see and hear on the subject the more I wonder if it’s NOT a given. So I set myself the task of explaining in very simple terms what the differences are.
A terror group supported by Afghanistan attacked an ally, our continent, our citizens, and human beings. I think each of these is cause for outrage and response. Iraq invaded Kuwait over tens years ago and already felt the repercussions in the war Desert Storm.
23 Canadians were killed on Sept. 11th, an ally was savagely assaulted, our continent attacked, and human beings killed. Of all those crimes the only one in which Iraq has perpetrated is killing human beings. So in this admittedly simplified examination they are only alike in one out of four ways. Only 25% similar if you want to put a number to it. The point is they are more dissimilar than alike so how can they be the same?.
Admittedly I don’t know if Kuwait qualifies as an ally but I think the point still stands given that this is a different war.
We even have different goals. In Iraq the US was out to oust Saddam and spread democracy - if it weren’t for the issues surrounding the UN weapons inspections it would be a clear-cut case of a war of aggression for gain. In Afghanistan we were retaliating in self defense after being attacked.
And beyond all that, they’re different countries. Assuming all nations in a region are the same is like claiming Canada is the 51st state. In an effort to blindly distinguish ourselves from Americans we’re adopting their ignorance.
