Thanks for this story.

I am a Canadian looking for a better explanation of why we are fighting in Afghanistan.

My neighbours say it is so girls can go to school. My government says it is so we can help with the three D's -- development, diplomacy and defence -- which my news sources tell me have been cut down to only one D -- defence.

I question whether our role in Afghanistan fits the Canadian peacekeeping image.

If so, I for one would like to see our government make it plain. What is our goal in Afghanistan?

In conversation with a fellow I met, I was critical of Canada's role. I was halted when he talked about serving as a reservist in Bosnia. He made it clear that I should not be critical of the people who serve.

As he said, "When I was over there I had no time for any of this. I was too busy trying to keep my people from being blown up." And he meant it.

So it falls to us to ask for information and make our own judgement, and recomend to our governments what we expect.

jonku, sunset beach,

As a former Canadian Forces soldier ( 1966 to 1996 ) I will poing out that we ( Canada ) have been fighting way beyond our actual troop size in the sandbox, and if some of the other NATO countries, like Germany, Italy, Spain and France were to actually go out and SEEK the enemy, we might be more sucessfull as a whole. They have placed so many restrictions on their ROE that they might as well have sent troupes of clowns over there, for all they actually do. No night patrols, no staying and holding towns, and no appetite to actually fight and yes DIE, to get things turned around,

The CF in Afghanistan has a current manpower number of 2500 all ranks, of which only 900 are actual combat arms soldiers, the rest are medical, admin and reconstruction /education types, who are trying to rebuild the province of Khandahar's infrastructure, while the Taliban keep blowing it up.

Jim B. Toronto.

jim bunting, toronto , canada

This is just another instance where history will be the judge. Canadians blindly fighting a seemingly endless flow of Afghan militia.

Is that what they enlisted for when they joined the Canadian army?

Alex Penn, Kingston-upon-Thames,

Perhaps you(Azure ,Canada) meant to say that the Troops are brave ,but the Leaders are Stupid. I hope so. As for it not being Canadas fight, well, we all know where "splendid Isolation" gets you. The "if we leave Them alone , MAYBE they'll leave us alone" School of thought gets you the Rise of Nazism and the slow swallowing up of Europe ,the Rise of Fascism in a timid country that's emboldened by the Worlds inaction to invade Africa, the Rise of Communism which still has an iron grip on a third of the Planet. and now , the Rise of Fundamentalism in all it's Ghastly forms. THAT,i'm afraid is where hiding at home gets you. However, I do think we should pick our fights better. Iraq was So Wrong ,whereas Afghanistan should have been First and Foremost in our efforts.

Nigel, Whitby, u.k.

We are very proud of our troops and the work they are carrying out in Afghanistan, We also know there are many defeatists in our midst who wish us harm, These people forget why they or their parents came to Canada and all that Canada has done for them, Well that is what Canada is trying to do in Kandahar and other places to bring some sense of normality back to the lives of the decent people of that region especially the women and children too long abused by fanatics who's philosophy is the road to ruinous and everlasting war. Canada is not on an offensive operation here quite the contrary this is still a traditional Canadian peace brokering mission albeit a very difficult one.

peter k, Vancouver BC., Canada

Don't confuse stupidity with courage.

Afghanistan was never a Canadian fight, should never have been a Canadian fight, and we should leave immediately.

You cannot convert a population to support you by killing them. Canada has eroded its international standing as peacekeepers by becoming an aggressor nation. There is absolutely no gain for Canada for this mis-adventure. Canada will be very lucky if we don't lose our entire contingent.

Azure, Vancouver, Canada

We, in Britain , get hardly any news on the involvement of our brave Canadian cousins in Afghanistan. you have to trawl the Net to get anything really, which is unfortunate ,as their forces like our own , are currently in an impossible position of trying to implement a seriously flawed plan, regardless of much Bravery and toil. You can't ask a poverty stricken farmer to stop growing the most profitably and only cash crop he can farm, with the excuse that" the West doesn't like it" ,while giving no real alternative means to survive . No matter how nicely or firmly you tell him "the Taliban and Al Qaeda are your enemy, we are your friends" If we burn his crops and he can't feed his family, he's going to think "with friends like that who needs enemies" And if the Taliban offer him enough money to feed his family for months, just to plant one little bomb on the road beside his burnt field , which might encourage those Westerners not to return, his only choice left becomes too obvious

Nigel, Whitby, u.k.

Only an ignorant fool would criticize the bravery and courage of the Canadian armed forces. We are lucky to have such an amazing country as our neighbor. As Shakespeare put it; "We few, we happy few, we band of brothers. For whoever sheds his blood with me today, shall be my brother..." Heres to you, proud Canada. Long may you live.

ingo baker, los angeles, california, usa

Canadian forces efforts to win over the support of the locals and make them stand against the Taliban is a very good move. NATO or any other foreign forces are not there in Afganistan forever. I hope that Afghans will be able to protect their country on their own in near future.

Vitthal, Mumbai, India

Fair play to the Canadians they have always been there when they were need by Britain/Europe.

Britain would be well advised to remember who their greatest selfless ally has been down through the years.

Richard, Ireland,

We, in Canada, support our troops and are proud of the work they do in such a volatile and dangerous area of Afghanistan.
Criticism from the Americans relating to perceived shortcomings of the Canadian effort in Afghanistan is typical and to be expected. They (the Americans) would do well to take a page from the Canadian book.

Doug Rhyason, Sherwood Park, Canada