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I tend to separate the 9/11 response in Afghanistan from "the war on terrorism," but not everyone does. This is where we need to be cautious and clearly define our role in that country. There are few, if any, ties between Afghanistan and Iraq.
Since there were Canadians caught in 9/11, we should be somehow involved in dismantling and preventing the regeneration of the system that empowered it, namely, the Taliban in Afghanistan. But we shouldn't be as willing to participate in an American "war on terrorism"/"coalition of the willing" for two reasons:
1) 9/11 happened on their territory.
2) The Americans are clearly in command of this war.
First, since the attack was targeted at America, we should realize that they need to be the primary response to their perceived enemies. The subway terrorist attack in the U.K. didn't spur us into giving any major support despite the fact an attack was made in the very city of our head of state. I know the situaton is quite different, but my point is that we assume the U.K. is primarily responsible for handling their problems, and we should assume as much of America.
Second, with the way things are playing out for America, both internally and externally, I don't want us to become too aligned with what, in my greatest fears, may become utter madness.
What should we be doing, then? We should act as a member of NATO and under the influence and responsibilities of the U.N. An American-led "coalition of the willing" could evenutally evolve into a "coalition of the depraved," if you don't believe it's already happened.
And, yes, Sticky, it was the Liberals who got things going in Afghanistan (and I admit I was relieved when the Liberals opted out of Iraq), but we will have to see how Harper's minority will respond to recent pressures. It can, however, be painfully difficult to get anything done with a fragile minority government trying to maintain "power."
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Knowing that death is certain and that the time of death is uncertain, what's the most important thing?
—Bhikkhuni Pema Chödrön
Humankind cannot bear very much reality.
—From "Burnt Norton," Four Quartets (1936), T. S. Eliot
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