Canada oh Canada, land of Joni mitchell and Neil young. To translataphrase,
so close to the United States,
so far from God…

I remember well those comments by the pugnacious Hillier in 2005, and while the then government hailed his statements as “blunt” and “refreshing”, I was livid. I’m still livid. Sounding like a cross between GWBush and a mess hall goon attempting to impress the new recruits, Hillier left little doubt in anyone’s mind that Canada’s role in Afghanistan would be one of murder and occupation.

Never mind that Afghanistan’s people has never attacked Canada. Never mind that this war torn country has every right to defend, in whatever manner possible, against the invader, Canada included.

Nor did Hillier tell Canadians that this deadly foray into the towns and villages of Afghanistan was to assist the US in its imperialist ambitions, and while emphasizing that Canada’s killing mode in Afghanistan was under the auspices of NATO, he declined to mention how NATO no longer remotely resembles its original purpose but is now simply a global army for the United States.

Today there are 2000 plus Canadian men and women occupying Afghanistan. They are there much like the US in Iraq, the Israelis in Israeli occupied Palestine. Canada is an occupying force!

And while much is made of the Canadian soldiers that have been killed “in combat”, little media attention is given to Afghan deaths. As if they didn’t matter. As if the innocent men, women, and children who have been killed at the hands of Canadian forces can be simply explained away as a simply a part of the tragedy of war. No, it cannot.

On Sunday, 23 March 2008, the CBC, “the state run media”, as Mr. Petersen called it, will be presenting a two-hour documentary about Afghanistan entitled “Between Hope and Fear”.

The ads are designed to fool the population — “Canadians are helping, but is it enough” goes the monster lie. Because, of course, Canadians are helping, all right, helping to kill and occupy.

Will this fact be presented to the Canadian people? Probably not. Hence, those watching, who, without independent thought, will feel compelled to support the current minority government in its “efforts” to “help” these “poor people”.

Will any mention be made that Canada is now an occupation force? Will mention be made that Canada’s occupation force is killing Afghanistan people in their own homeland? Will mention be made of the new role of NATO, being its readiness and willingness to carry out deadly wars because the United States wants access to the Caspian Sea Basin and its huge gas and oil resources? Will mention be made that there was no Afghanistan attack on Canada? Will, in the process of showing another Canadian soldier’s casket being returned to Canada, the CBC show the body of an Afghan fighter who has an inherent right to defend his homeland against invaders — and that includes Canada?

And what about Canadians? How do they feel about their military being an adjunct to the United States forces? Canadians never had a chance to be heard on the matter. The government is way too busy listening to the likes of Hillier et al to pay any attention to its citizens and what they feel.

But, of course, Canadians must “support” the troops who are “fighting for our freedom” — gasp! Otherwise, you are deemed to be unpatriotic! Well, take me out and shoot me at dawn because supporting troops who are ocucpying someone else’s homeland and killing its people is not anything I would ever do.

Killing is killing is killing. In fact, it’s murder. The Afghan people have as much right to live without foreign countries bombing them into the hereafter, and Canada and its people should be demanding an end to this US led invasion not out supporting it.

O Canada, what have you become?

That’s right, they do need to decide, and quickly. But as to how they can walk with killers the answer is simple: They’re cynical, nihilistic hedonists who don’t give a flying fuck about the misery and injustice of the world as long as their own asses are covered. Given that, even the concept of peace becomes a sick joke–forget about actually organizing to achieve it.