Thursday, November 18, 2010
THREE YEARS TO TRAIN AFGHAN SOLDIERS?
As Canada's Harper government commits to keeping Canadian troopers in the war in Afghanistan for three more years to train the country's military and police, here's one, simple, stupid question that nobody has asked:
Why will it take three years of training to put together a local army in Afghanistan ?
In wartime, it has never taken 'three years' to train and prepare an army to fight an enemy. If so, in the 1930's and 40's, NATO's soldiers would never have been ready in time to face Hitler’s forces- and we would all be speaking 'German'.
In Canada’s army of today, the basic training of recruits takes 13-weeks with another 13 to 18 weeks for a specialization in a trade. The total is, give or take, of around six-plus months.
That's not 'three years'.
According to "United States Army Basic Training Operating Instructions", the final, "Phase III” of basic training is even shorter, It "begins at the start of the seventh week and continues to the end of "the ninth week" of training, or upon completion of Phase II until graduation.
That's 'nine weeks', before any trade specializations, not ‘three years’.
Why will it take ‘three years’ or maybe even longer, to train Afghans to defend their country against insurgents?
Nobody has ever asked.
Why will it take three years of training to put together a local army in Afghanistan ?
In wartime, it has never taken 'three years' to train and prepare an army to fight an enemy. If so, in the 1930's and 40's, NATO's soldiers would never have been ready in time to face Hitler’s forces- and we would all be speaking 'German'.
In Canada’s army of today, the basic training of recruits takes 13-weeks with another 13 to 18 weeks for a specialization in a trade. The total is, give or take, of around six-plus months.
That's not 'three years'.
According to "United States Army Basic Training Operating Instructions", the final, "Phase III” of basic training is even shorter, It "begins at the start of the seventh week and continues to the end of "the ninth week" of training, or upon completion of Phase II until graduation.
That's 'nine weeks', before any trade specializations, not ‘three years’.
Why will it take ‘three years’ or maybe even longer, to train Afghans to defend their country against insurgents?
Nobody has ever asked.
Labels: AFGHANISTAN, DUCEPPE, HARPER/CONSERVATIVES, LAYTON, MICHAEL IGNATIEFF
