My Tax Dollars?

Reduce Armed Forces
Feb. 27, 2006. 01:00 AM
Military may recruit immigrants
Feb. 25.
No disrespect is intended to Gen. Rick Hillier but we, the taxpayers, have not been given a say in what, if anything, is spent on the military. I'm at a loss as to why Canadian soldiers are sent to Afghanistan to be adjuncts to the U.S. military.
In a recent speech, Hillier talked of taking a Canadian approach to the use of force in Afghanistan. I've also heard the security of Canada is a stake in rationalizing Canada's participation in the U.S.'s war on terrorism. There are ways of securing Canada other than further increasing the number of active Armed Forces members. We do have a coast guard, many police forces and a customs and immigration service. These services can be enhanced if need be.
To spend money on the military is akin to tossing this money into a bottomless pit. Canada is not a war-like nation. We enjoy one of the the highest standards of living in the world and should use precious resources to further enhance Canadian lives.
Our taxes and government resources must go toward infrastructure, enhancing universal health care and doing what is necessary to attract business and jobs to our country. As well, "meat and potatoes" humanitarian aid could also be increased. What the impoverished of Africa and Asia need is education and the skills needed to make their lives better, not more armed foreigners in their midst.
The Armed Forces should be greatly reduced in size rather than made larger. I do acknowledge there is a need for certain level of military expenditure, but certainly not at the level Hillier envisions. We need a force that is perhaps as small as one-fifth of the present number. This force should be along the lines of an elite "special forces" unit that is highly skilled in both military and humanitarian modes of operation. A truly Canadian force would be dispatched within Canada to aid victims of natural disasters and abroad to aid humanitarian efforts. This force would be "lean and mean" and good value for the money.
We must not be tempted to walk lockstep with the Americans in their unbridled military spending and the waste and misery it will cause those in need at home and abroad.
Bilal Abdullah, Brampton
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MR Bilal Abdullah of Brampton please be
aware should there be an uprising in Canada
by anyone set of people we will need protection.
And I as a taxpayer who is allowing Canada
to bring refuges here...demand this protection
to be paid for with my tax dollars