Our help is not wanted!

Malalai Joya, an ex-deputee recently came to Canada to ask for withdrawal of all troops from Afghanistan. Image taken here, retrieved on 11/12/09.

I think that Canada should not be involved in Afghanistan for many reasons. The argument that touches me the most is that Afghanis may not perceive our troops as people trying to help them, but as enemies or intruders imposing their own lifestyle and traditions. This shocks me, because if our help is not wanted, I do not see the point of wasting time, money and human lives in this war.

Afghanistan has been occupied by the Soviet Union, which has ever since been provoking mistrust in foreign interferences. To the Afghanis, there may be no difference between the NATO’s assistance and the URSS’ invasion. I think that seen from that point of view, it is understandable why many Afghanis refuse the NATO’s help, but it is also a good reason for Canada to withdraw its troops. The Taliban’s attacks against the Canadian forces have caused not only military, but also civil deaths and because of these deaths, a large number of the Afghan population cannot see us as people who do any good since their homes, families and villages are destroyed because of our presence.

To conclude, I think that Canada should not be involved if the Afghanis think that they would do better without foreign aid.

Margarita

References : 1, retrieved on 10/12/09 & 2, retrieved on 10/12/09 & 3, retrieved on 27/11/09 & 4, retrieved on 10/12/09