Should the mission of our Canadian Armed Forces be as auxiliaries to the US army as they seem to be now, or should they be an organization that is dedicated to the enhancement of cultural and economic values for our own country? The recent Environics poll in Afghanistan appears to reveal that the local population doesn't even realize that there are Canadian troops on the ground there. They think the foreign soldiers are either American or German (a country that doesn't have any soldiers there).

Has it not occurred to anyone in the decision-making loop in Ottawa that having adventures in far-off lands should not be part of the CAF mission except when the country is under extreme duress or must come to the aid of allies. Neither of these conditions are in place at the moment. We originally went to Afghanistan to share the workload with the Americans in rooting out Osama bin Laden. When the Americans abandoned that search to invade Iraq so that they could control the oil fields there, the Canadians were left like 'monkeys in the middle' of local insurgencies. This role is a waste of valiant, courageous and skillful troops who are stuck in a political morass that has no end and where there will be no winning outcome.

What about the patrol work that needs to be done on our ocean coasts, north, east & west? What about monitoring the Great Lakes? What about collaborating with our Coast Guard to protect our fisheries and so on. What about establishing a presence in the north to ratify our sovereignty there? Why aren't there coordinated programs linking the reserves with the active forces to ensure that there can be swift and helpful responses to domestic disaster situations?

Don't Canadians care about the real mission of our CAF or are we all satisfied that our leaders take direction from Washington?

I found it difficult to devote much time to the speech from the throne last night once I heard that the Conservative Government wants to extend the Canadian military mission in Afghanistan yet another two years beyond the last extension to 2009. The first question I have to ask myself is, "What, precisely, is the mission?".

I have commented earlier on the dubious merits of invading another country in order to change the government of that country. What is it in our collective western psyche that demands that everyone govern themselves the way we do? Frankly, the way we have been governing ourselves lately does not generate a lot of accolades in my mind (and I include the US, UK and others along with Canada). And what is it that motivates us to enter a field of battle where the likelihood of success is minimal to non-existent? I have argued in the past for taking on projects that have a high success factor instead of ones that have doom written all over them.

For example, if we want to impress other cultures, other political mindsets, why aren't we doing supportive, helpful things in those places where we are welcomed and regarded with respect? -- Assuming there are still places like that left. Are we so wrapped up in our recollections of past wartime glories that we must cater to the desires of our warrior classes who insist on proving that our armed forces are as tough, as valiant, as courageous as any others? That sounds more like a schoolyard boastfulness approach to world dynamics.

In the interests of full disclosure, I am ex-navy (RCN 058838) and I have high regard for the fortitude, skills and courage of our armed forces. What I question is the wisdom of our political leaders who take them into harm's way for many of the wrong reasons.

Is the only way to prove our mettle as warriors by invading others and killing our political adversaries? If there were soldiers from a country half-way around the world patrolling the streets of Toronto, smashing their way into houses on their own suspicions and tracking down and killing resistance fighters, I think I would want to try to join the ranks of those resistance fighters.

We hear about something called "ethnic cleansing", an abhorrent term that has a certain oxymoronic quality about it and which we deplore when other factions do it. Yet, isn't that what we are trying to do with the Taliban (virtually all from the Pashtun tribal group)? Didn't the West arm and support the Mujaheddin in Afghanistan so that they could drive the Soviets out of their country? Are we so surprised that others want to drive the Western forces out today? Why are we trying to "win over" those who look at the world through a very different prism by killing them rather than by setting an example worth emulating?

Are we still so enamored of 'My Lai' attitudes that we can only save a village by destroying it?

So what can you or I do about stuff like this? Unfortunately, not a lot. But we can do some things: we can write letters to MPs, to the Prime Minister, to key Cabinet Ministers; we can join a political party and work for individuals who are like-minded; we can join and support public interest groups working for the same objectives; and we can set positive, responsible examples ourselves for our friends and our children. What do you say?

Here's another book from the shelf that I had started years ago and never finished until recently. I have been an admirer of John Godfrey for some time because of his outlook on politics, his concern for youth issues and his general demeanour towards all things possible. In this book he teamed with Rob McLean and, although slightly dated (The Canada We Want, Stoddart, 1999), it provides a realistic outline of the kinds of national projects our country needs. And still needs.

We've come a long way since 1999: the twin towers attack in 2001 that continues to traumatize the US to this day; the US invasion of Iraq for world oil domination; the rise of US despotism in the form of torture, private mercenary teams above the law, concentration camps with no recourse to legal support, and so on. The Americans appear to have no serious political opposition in Washington and Canada has been coasting along with a sycophantic pseudo-conservative government since the demise of the Liberal party a couple of years ago.

The challenge from Godfrey and McLean is an arresting one: don't let Canada be like any other country that emulates the US; get some national projects going that will rejuvenate, stimulate, invigorate the people of Canada; don't count on governments to come up with the ideas for these projects -- get involved as citizens.

If your bookstore doesn't have (it may have been remaindered years ago!) your library might. If you can't find hard copy, go to http://www.canada.matrixlinks.ca where you will find bio info on the authors and the book contents. Check it out and tell me what you think. ****

About ten years ago, I happened to catch the CBC Radio program Ideas. It usually comes on in the evening and carries a specific theme for five weeknights in a row. The subjects cover everything from the justice system to new concepts in art. On this occasion it was John Ralston Saul on a subject he called "The Unconscious Civilization". I found it intriguing enough that I sent away for the audio tapes of the presentation and for the print version. Well, this also happened to be around the time I was negotiating my retirement package from Consumers Gas and subsequently setting up my home office business. Thus, the package arrived (i.e. the book and tapes) and they sat on my bookshelf for all these years since.

However, earlier this summer, as I was culling through my novels and thrillers that could be passed on to others, I picked it up and started reading. I found it was still fascinating ten years later and the positions taken by Ralston Saul were very much still on the mark. He very clearly identified some of the major problems we have in our society in relation to our inability to count on our governments to manage our economy. In effect, he said that we are totally within the thrall of the corporate organizations that buy our politicians and who respond only to their stockholders rather than the community at large.

But we always knew that didn't we? Or was it only sub-consciously? It is a very articulate argument for taking action and getting involved with our communities. He has not taken a partisan side politically but leaves the choice of action up to each of us. Available still in paperback from Anansi, it is an important read for every citizen who cares about the direction of our society. ****