What we did to Iraq and Afghanistan

[Jacob]

They came here for the same reason that many people come here--economic opportunity. And they were also fleeing chaos.

Bad sample size. You have only discussed this issue with refugees. Refugees are obviously not going to be happy about the situation in the place they fled.
I'd be interested to see a more scientific poll of Iraqis. As for Afghanistan, I'd have no great hopes, but even if it is an economic mess, the Taliban is evil.

When I traveled to Russia in 1993, I met people who thought things were much better under communist rule. They wanted to go back. They were also members of the communist party.

[Jacob]

It's interesting to see how Germany and Japan responded to us after we destroyed and then rebuilt their countries and contrast it with these Neanderthals in Afghanistan and Iraq.

It not just a matter of starting a civilization anew after being defeated in a war. Germans and Japanese already had civilized societies and a national identity prior to WWII that they could build on. Afghanistan has been a mess of warring tribes for decades.

[SoonerCoug]

When I traveled to Russia in 1993, I met people who thought things were much better under communist rule. They wanted to go back. They were also members of the communist party.

You could argue that it's a bad sample, but not a bad sample size. I have a hell of a lot of patients from Iraq and Afghanistan.

When I was in Russia last year, there were still quite a few people who felt that way who were not members of the communist party. Do you speak Russian? What was your experience there? Mission?

[Color Me Badd Fan]

It not just a matter of starting a civilization anew after being defeated in a war. Germans and Japanese already had civilized societies and a national identity prior to WWII that they could build on. Afghanistan has been a mess of warring tribes for decades.

That's my point, they're a bunch of Neanderthals.

[Jacob]

You could argue that it's a bad sample, but not a bad sample size. I have a hell of a lot of patients from Iraq and Afghanistan.

When I was in Russia last year, there were still quite a few people who felt that way who were not members of the communist party. Do you speak Russian? What was your experience there? Mission?

Just a 9-day "cruise" tour down the Volga river, also St. Petersburg. I don't speak the language. I was there as a tourist.

[SoonerCoug]

Just a 9-day "cruise" tour down the Volga river, also St. Petersburg. I don't speak the language. I was there as a tourist.

Bad sample.

I was a missionary there, have a bachelors degree in Russian, was an interpreter for the Belarussian Olympic Team, have about 70 Russian clinic patients, have visited within the last year, am active with the local Russian community, and speak much better Russian now than I did after living there for two years. Most Russians think I am Russian.

[Jacob]

Bad sample.

I was a missionary there, have a bachelors degree in Russian, have visited, was an interpreter for the Belarussian Olympic Team, have about 70 Russian clinic patients, have visited within the last year, am active with the local Russian community, and speak much better Russian now than I did after living there for two years. Most Russians think I am Russian.

What sample? I just gave an anecdote. I don't claim any expertise on Russia, other than to say that, in a pinch, Rubles can pass as a decent replacement for russian toilet paper.

[SoonerCoug]

What sample? I just gave an anecdote. I don't claim any expertise on Russia, other than to say that, in a pinch, Rubles can pass as a decent replacement for russian toilet paper.

The ruble has been pretty stable against the dollar for a very long time now. I think you're clueless even about rubles.

[wuapinmon]

Bad sample.

I was a missionary there, have a bachelors degree in Russian, was an interpreter for the Belarussian Olympic Team, have about 70 Russian clinic patients, have visited within the last year, am active with the local Russian community, and speak much better Russian now than I did after living there for two years. Most Russians think I am Russian.

TripletDaddy will point out that you're not Russian if you keep this up.

[Indy Coug]

The ruble has been pretty stable against the dollar for a very long time now. I think you're clueless even about rubles.

Russian food sucked really bad 20 years ago when I visited there. My suspicion is that it's been that way for a very long time now.

[SoonerCoug]

Russian food sucked really bad 20 years ago when I visited there. My suspicion is that it's been that way for a very long time now.

Russian food still sucks.

[Jacob]

The ruble has been pretty stable against the dollar for a very long time now. I think you're clueless even about rubles.

Sorry. I'm apparently clueless about your humor as well.

[SoonerCoug]

This reminds me of an incident in 6th grade when the teacher asked the class if anyone knew what scruples were. There was silence for what seemed like about 20 seconds. I raised my hand and said: "Russian money!" How embarrassing.

[DU Ute]

Canada's military presence and sacrifice in terms of commitment and lives lost in Afghanistan has been as great or greater than any other nation, the US included. The people I work with and have taught are very appreciative.

This is wrong. Based on up to date casualty numbers and 2010 World Bank data, here are the rates of casualties per person in Afghanistan:

Canada 1 per 215,878
USA 1 per 160,448
UK 1 per 152,124

Also, there have been no Canadian casualties in Iraq, compared to 4486 for the US.

[SoonerCoug]

This is wrong. Based on up to date casualty numbers and 2010 World Bank data, here are the rates of casualties per person in Afghanistan:

Canada 1 per 215,878
USA 1 per 160,448
UK 1 per 152,124

Also, there have been no Canadian casualties in Iraq, compared to 4486 for the US.

There goes whatever credibility Tooblue might have had.