tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6708375.post8288062652464184986..comments2024-03-28T03:54:21.932-04:00Comments on Canadian Cynic: GUEST POST: Matt Bin on "The Inconvenient Troops."CChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11406057201126015750noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6708375.post-21276770128535864642008-07-02T01:26:00.000-04:002008-07-02T01:26:00.000-04:00AM, great point in that CIDA, RCMP, et al are just...AM, great point in that CIDA, RCMP, et al are just as exposed to violence and personal danger as our peacekeepers are. They absolutely deserve the same regard and protection from the country, and I really appreciate you bringing them up. I wish I had thought to do so myself.<BR/><BR/>I understand the "family" mentality that the military fosters and maintains, and I understand the value that it brings to all our military personnel. But that is a secondary part of the picture, from the country's point of view. The personal cost is, currently, far higher than the country is paying, and that is the debt we need to resolve.<BR/><BR/>As an example, I know Yugoslavia veterans who pay their own way for counselling, and who need more than our government is willing to give. This is not right, and it will only get worse when the Afghanistan feces hits the proverbial wind-producer.<BR/><BR/>So I'm with you in demanding that our government -- no matter what their political stripe -- provide adequate care for our veterans, whenever and however they need it. And I appreciate your views on the subject.M@https://www.blogger.com/profile/13408488215496128814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6708375.post-69676939066215238232008-07-01T11:03:00.000-04:002008-07-01T11:03:00.000-04:00This is a work in progress Matt. The unfortunate r...This is a work in progress Matt. The unfortunate reality is, that we have had no reason in the past to make it a priority politically.<BR/><BR/>Today, institutionally, we are struggling to do the right thing. As far as I know, wounded soldiers have not yet been released from the service for several years... To me, that is huge. To many of us, the uniform is much more then a job, it is being a part of something bigger (like a family). Now, I did qualify that with "as far as I know" so yes, it is possibile that there have been some releases. I do know personally three soldiers who have been handicapped overseas, and are now non-deployable, however they are still serving in uniform, and it is helping them immensly psychologically to remain a part of the "family".<BR/><BR/>Yes, we do have a long long way to go with the care of soldiers, not just in war time, but peace time as well. Peacekeeping operations have cost us a heavy price psychologically in the past, especially on more troublesome UN missions like UNPROFOR in Bosnia.<BR/><BR/>I hope that there is more work yet to be done in the care of my wounded brothers in arms... And it will take the strength of all, here and throughout Canada to ensure that the Government is held accountable for the health and well being of all Canadians sent into harms way (we must not forget the guys and gals from CIDA, DFAIT, RCMP and CSC who now are sent to the same places I am).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com