"The spectacularly stupid and offensive Fox News show Red Eye with host Greg Gufeld (above) sunk to new depths this week by belittling a neighbor and ally in the so-called war on terrorism. Although Canada opted out of involvement in Iraq, they have been in Afghanistan since 2002. Originally slated to leave in 2009, the Canadian government has extended the Afghan mission to 2011. At least one of the guests claimed he didn't know Canadian forces were in Afghanistan, which is typical of the expertise on the show. Certainly, conservative radio host Monica Crowley wasn't out of place.
An ill-considered and ill-timed bit of idiocy it was too, as yesterday four Canadian soldiers were killed and eight wounded near Kandahar."
See the clip here.
Bits:
Canada's involvement in Afghanistan "has produced the largest number of fatal casualties for any single Canadian military mission since the 25th Canadian Brigade served in the Korean War from 1950 to 1953. Canada has suffered the third-highest absolute number of deaths of any nation among the foreign military participants." [wiki] The number killed so far: 120 including four more on Friday. Adjusted per capita, this is like the US losing 1,200 (the US has had 667 casualties in Afghanistan).
This clip is getting a lot of play in Canada where about 58% of the population is against extending the mission in Afghanistan. Fighting in this war has cost Canada about $22 billion.
Some choice quotes from C & L's comment thread:
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Sun, 03/22/2009 - 12:22 — Stupid Git
First, they feminize the entire Canadian military:
"Andrew Leslie, an unusual name for a man"
"do some yoga, paint landscapes, run on the beach in gorgeous capri white capri pants"
"They're getting manicures, pedicures..."
Then insult the entire Canadian nation:
"We have police officers, they have mounties"
"This is not a smart country."
Then make this claim:
America is the "Most powerful country in the universe"
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Who the hell are these idiots?!
Prime example of why the U.S. is thought of as ignorant & absurdly arrogant by many in the rest of the world. Sure we know better...that the majority of Americans are thoughtful & humane, but these jerks certainly aren't helping their country.
I only hope that any of my fellow Canadians who have lost loved ones in the war in Afghanistan do not happen upon this clip.
Digusting!!
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now im getting pissed.
Sun, 03/22/2009 - 12:19 — Original Col Kilgore
As a proud Canuck , i am increasingly distressed that our kids are there, at all, and dying in greater numbers lately too. It even bothers me more due to my beliefs in the event (911) that sent them there in the first place. I support the troops but have no faith in the mission now. I disliked the Taliban the minute they started blowing up 2000 year old artifacts long before 911. The world is full of repressive and crazy regimes. I just cant see any benefit to Canada to stay there a minute longer. I know the individual soldier will get a certain amount of satisfaction out of helping some of the people there but it seems like a bottomless pit of despair otherwise.
Letting right wing freaks belittle our efforts and blood wont do much to endear the Canadian public anyways. Some of these people need to get out and stand, along the " Highway Of Heros " in Ontario, in the freezing fucking cold as our fallen are brought home to rest. There will be thousands of people out this week too as our latest fallen heros are brought home. People routinely line the road and bridges to pay their respects en masse for every soldier. As far as the fighting spirit of Canadians? You might want to ask the German SS Panzer groups we decimated after D Day.
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taking up the slack
Sun, 03/22/2009 - 12:22 — nylund
I'm American, but I spent a few years in Canada (just moved back to the US), and I met a number of Canadian soldiers who serve(d) in Afghanistan. They worked their asses off in one of the most violent parts of the country, and when the US moved their priorities to Iraq, it was the Canadians that stepped up and took over operations in the most violent regions.
They've been handling a majority of the hard fighting in "the good war" and you'd think that even the Fox types could appreciate that.
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A Fallen Canadian Returns...
Sun, 03/22/2009 - 12:41 — BetteB
The idiocy of the FOX people is just too much to even respond to. Instead, I'd ask all our allies, American, Brits and others the world over who are reading here, to watch what happens when we bring a fallen soldier home. This clip shows it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sL4nl78hB50&fe...
There are 50 bridges over the Highway of Heroes, between Trenton and Toronto. And every one of them is crowded with people when our fallen soldiers pass by -- cops, firefighters, old veterans and folks of all ages standing silently and waving flags -- we salute our guys and honor their service and their passing. They paid the price for all of us. Four more will be coming home tomorrow. The bridges will be jammed with people. That makes about 118 or so since this war started that have taken the final trek on the Highway of Heroes.
We got into this war on behalf of Americans - when they were threatened and attacked on 9-11. We are allies of the US. We stayed in Afghanistan after the US pulled most of their troops out to concentrate on Iraq, and we're still there doing the dirtiest of work. And dying too.
Those people at FOX should be ashamed.
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OMG
Sun, 03/22/2009 - 12:41 — Trittydi
I am so terribly sorry to see and know about this. It shames me as an American that this has happened.
I hope most Canadians know that "Faux Newz" doesn't speak for normal, sane and intelligent Americans. That they are a propaganda arm of the re-Thuglic Party and only represent the lunatic fringe in this country.
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Cowards and chickenhawks
Sun, 03/22/2009 - 13:27 — snookie
I'm really sick of these jerkoffs and the people who listen to them. Here is the e-mail I sent to redeye@foxnews.com
"I spent 13 years in the U.S. Marine Corps and am a disabled vet due to combat injuries. I cannot believe that this chickenhawk, coward, ignoramus Greg Gufeld was so stupid as to slander Canada's military after all the fighting and dying they have done. I have fought alongside them and have seen them die and be wounded just like us. Greg Gufeld you are an ignorant asshole."
I wanted to say what I would like to do with my size 14 wide combat boot if I ever saw this guy but held back.
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Words fail me
Sun, 03/22/2009 - 13:48 — not the gipper
As a former active duty army officer, and a current army reserve officer who has served with Canadian military personnel in a combat theater, I am absolutely disgusted by these clowns. Not a one of them has spent a day in the military, nor knows anything about the military, and especially the Canadian military. The Canadian military is small (I believe about 30,000 altogether) but highly, highly professional. In many ways they put the US defense establishment to shame. Even if you are a conservative, you should be offended by these asshats. If this panel of morons had done any research, they would know that a Canadian sniper team in Afghanistan holds the world record for the longest confirmed kill (2310 meters, over a mile). They would know that the optempo for the Canadian military matches or surpasses ours - and doing it with less resources, and less personnel). Sometimes I think the description of items posted here get a little on the hyperbolic side, and I thought so maybe this time too, but I was wrong. Revolting.