From Macleans:
The top Canadian general in Afghanistan concedes that eight months ago he never dreamed of asking Ottawa to send tanks to the war-torn country.
"When I first came here, the last thing I was going to ask for was tanks," said Brig.-Gen. David Fraser, head of NATO forces in southern Afghanistan.
"At the same time, the enemy has a vote. You take the equipment, you take the capabilities and the skill sets you need to deal with the enemy. The enemy we fought in June was different than the enemy we just fought. He has changed, and we are changing at the same time."
"The success of the operation is great, but the enemy has also learned how to adapt," Fraser said. "By Canada putting even more in here, we've just overmatched them even one step further. I just think it's a prudent course of action and it's great we have this level of support coming from back home."
Um, which enemy is he talking about?
The Taliban?
Or the Liberals?
Eight months ago the election had not quite happened. The Liberals were still in power. They had put Canadian troops in Afghanistan, but there were no orders for helicopters, for heavy lift, and certainly no tanks. Just wheeling and dealing with the NDP and their anti-military, anti-Afghanistan agenda (just nascent at the time).
Is it different now that the Conservatives are in power? Listen to Brig.-Gen. Fraser's words:
"he never dreamed of asking Ottawa to send tanks"
Does he mean he didn't think he would need tanks, or was it that he didn't think it was worth asking for something that would never be allowed to have?
"it's great we have this level of support coming from back home"
Why make this point? Does it mean that it wasn't something that was there before? From the government? They're the ones who will approve the tanks.
I'm sure Brig.-Gen. Fraser was talking about the Taliban.
Well, mostly about the Taliban.
