Um, OK...

Does the Toronto Star come up with questions for any other reason than ferreting out the nutbars? I'm referring to yesterday's "Voices" question, this time: "Ottawa is proposing to extend Canada's deployment of troops in Afghanistan for another two years. What's your view?"

Ok, here's some of the "cream" rising to the top:

"I don't agree with extending our troops stay in Afghanistan for another two years. Bush started this war -- let them finish it. I understand we should help our NATO countries. Let’s see if Mr. Harper is willing and his family members are willing to go to Afghanistan and fight. I don't see any government people coming forward to help fight the war in Afghanistan." - Claudine Mau, Toronto

Um, OK Claudine, most conspiracy theorists have now given up on he notion that Bush sent those planes into the twin towers. When are you going to give up the idea?

"It would be very informative if we knew just how troops feel about the subject. After all, they are the ones on the front line, they are the ones in the trenches, they are the ones who see it face to face each day. Does anyone ask or are they afraid of the answer?" - Moira Minke, Guelph, Ont.

Um, OK Moira, we'll send your request for a military "show-of-hands" right off to Ottawa.

"Canadian soldiers are known and admired as peacekeepers and defenders of our nation. Let us return to our traditional role as gracefully and quickly as we can." - Donald Chisholm, Cornwall, Ont.

Um, OK Donald. So it's our tradition, is it? When did this "tradition" start? In the 60s/70s? Canadian tradition is standing up for your friends, and staying by their side. The gutting of our Armed Forces and plopping blue helmets on their heads can hardly be pointed to as "tradition".

"Bring our troops home. We have no business been in a country doing Americans’ dirty work. Afghan people, Taliban and others have done nothing to justify our presence there. Our military is here to defend Canadian interests. Americans (government and transnationals) are the greatest danger to Canadians' interests. They want our resources. Terminate the NAFTA agreement and support the troops by bringing them home." - Regina Bueno Renke, Vancouver

Um, OK Regina. I'm sure there's some logic in there somewhere about the Taliban not having done anything to justify our presence in Afghanistan. And you're 100% right - we need our troops here to fight off the accursed Americans when they come after our water.

"We should get out of Afghanistan immediately. Remember that the U.S. went to Afghanistan to capture an alleged terrorist, not to install a puppet government. We need to go back to the days when Canadian political leaders like Trudeau thought of Canada as a sovereign country, and made decisions based on what was right, instead of what the U.S. administration wanted us to do." - Bryan McNaughton, St. Catharines, Ont.

Um, OK Bryan. Like *anyone's* going to listen to someone pining for the days of Trudeau! Oh yeah - that "puppet government"? Would that be the one that had 70% of Afghan voters turn out to elect their president, or the smaller 50% that turned out for the Legislative elections? Let me know, would you?

Oh my God, I could go on.

There were some positive responses, though. I think they were best summed up with:

"It makes me very sad to hear people saying that the war against Taliban in Afghanistan is not our war. It will be little Afghan boys’ war for a reason to live, it will be little Afghan girls’ war to get an education, it will be elderly and feeble Afghans’ war to find medicine. But please don’t think that selfish Western liberals too could enjoy this peace of mind forever if you give back Afghanistan to the terrorists." - Upul Cassim, Scarborough

Thanks, Upul. You sound like the way "traditional" Canadians used to. And thanks too to The Star for continuing to ask questions in the hope of gathering support for their oft-tenuous positions.