The Taliban are--surprise, surprise--betting on Taliban Jack

Modern communications are allowing the bad guys in Afstan to try and manipulate our politics.

Did the Taliban time their gutless and deadly attack to coincide with the opening of Canada's Parliament to add pressure?

Military sources say they believe this to be true. And so does the Afghan consul general to Toronto.

The result was the deaths of four Canadian soldiers and the wounding of an unconfirmed number of Canadian soldiers and Afghan children and civilians.

If this is so, it's an ugly side of war that comes when one side is not unified. Divide and conquer has been the strategy of many successful war planners and the Taliban is good at war. "I don't think people realize how sophisticated this enemy is," said one military officer yesterday.

The officer said they are well aware of the critics and were pleased to exploit that...

The Taliban have satellite TV, cellular phones, the Internet and even have informants whose goal it is to drive Canada out...

Although some in opposition have a weak resolve, they do have a loud voice in a country without the stomach for this kind of carnage. It's the Afghan government's biggest fear and music to the Taliban's ears. "It's a morale thing for them," said Wali [Afghan consul officer]. "The (opposition) sends the wrong message and the Taliban hear that message."

Wali hopes Canadians won't quit on them. "When people say, 'This is not the right mission for Canada,' what does that mean?"..

Peter Worthingon takes on Taliban Jack directly, something a foreign diplomat cannot do.

If ever a reason was needed why Canada should not pull its troops out of Afghanistan, four soldiers murdered by a suicide bomber on a bicycle is that reason.

It's not just that we aren't a "cut-and-run" country that Jack Layton and his NDP would prefer, but that we stand for something. Our troops cannot be intimidated by this latest attack that Brig.-Gen David Fraser, angrily and understandably calls the work of "cowards."..

That the Canadian "victims" of this murderous assault were giving goodies to the kids (normal for Canadian soldiers), shows that our troops are there not just to defeat a nasty enemy, but to help people.

What the likes of Layton ignore in their opportunistic quest for political advantage, is that fighting on behalf of others is what our soldiers do.

If Canada suddenly decided to quit and bring our soldiers home, well, the repercussions on Canada would be inestimable. A hollow ally.

We are not in Afghanistan because Stephen Harper is lapdog to George Bush, as some insist. We are there as full partners of NATO -- the UN-mandated International Assistance Security Force (ISAF), backed by allied troops and 26 countries...

More: ' Afstan: UK Defence Secretary surprised by "Tenacity of Taleban"/Taliban took beating'.

Mark C.

Update: Celestial Junk eviscerates Jumpin' Taliban Jack. What I've always wanted to say but...ah hell, just read it.

Posted by markc at September 20, 2006 02:27 PM