Peacekeeping in Mali

[Recheve]

As many of you may know, Justin Trudeau has recently pledged a certain number of Canadian troops to the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Mali. The force being deployed will include up to six CH-47 Chinook transport helicopters (Intro. 1962) and four CH-146 Griffon helicopters for escort (Intro. 1995).

The issues with the mission have made it incredibly controversial. First, Trudeau has focused upon the gender balance within the mission, which itself is not controversial but has raised concerns over whether the mission's operations are truly practical rather than moral. Second, the equipment being used is extremely old, and Griffon helicopters have proven untrustworthy during use in Afghanistan, overworked and deployed in missions that require superior vehicles. Third, many have pointed out that this deployment is a combat mission, which will likely lead to additional casualties for an underfunded and undermanned military still feeling the effects of the War in Afghanistan.

Some have accused Trudeau of sacrificing Canadian soldiers in exchange for perceived moral supremacy or power within the UN, while others have criticized the entire UN operation as flawed and futile. Anybody have opinions on the mission?

[Purpelia]

It would help if you actually informed us about what it is that is happening in Mali and why canadians are going there in the first place. Were they invited by the legitimate government there? Things like that.

[Washington Resistance Army]

As many of you may know, Justin Trudeau has recently pledged a certain number of Canadian troops to the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Mali. The force being deployed will include up to six CH-47 Chinook transport helicopters (Intro. 1962) and four CH-146 Griffon helicopters for escort (Intro. 1995).

The issues with the mission have made it incredibly controversial. First, Trudeau has focused upon the gender balance within the mission, which itself is not controversial but has raised concerns over whether the mission's operations are truly practical rather than moral. Second, the equipment being used is extremely old, and Griffon helicopters have proven untrustworthy during use in Afghanistan, overworked and deployed in missions that require superior vehicles. Third, many have pointed out that this deployment is a combat mission, which will likely lead to additional casualties for an underfunded and undermanned military still feeling the effects of the War in Afghanistan.

Some have accused Trudeau of sacrificing Canadian soldiers in exchange for perceived moral supremacy or power within the UN, while others have criticized the entire UN operation as flawed and futile. Anybody have opinions on the mission?

God that is fucking stupid.

[Firaxin]

It would help if you actually informed us about what it is that is happening in Mali and why canadians are going there in the first place. Were they invited by the legitimate government there? Things like that.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

[Purpelia]

God that is fucking stupid.

Not necessarily. It all depends on if this is an actual "peacekeeping" situation where the canadians have been invited by a legitimate government to help and are intent on actually doing so (in which case it is stupid as it potentially harms productivity) or if it is a political stunt meant to get him votes in which case it is actually smart.

But we can't really know that without the extra information I requested from the OP.

[Washington Resistance Army]

God that is fucking stupid.

Not necessarily. It all depends on if this is an actual "peacekeeping" situation where the canadians have been invited by a legitimate government to help and are intent on actually doing so (in which case it is stupid as it potentially harms productivity) or if it is a political stunt meant to get him votes in which case it is actually smart.

But we can't really know that without the extra information I requested from the OP.

No matter if it's an actual mission or just a PR stunt it's still retarded to care about gender balance.

Canada be silly.

[Baltenstein]

As many of you may know, Justin Trudeau has recently pledged a certain number of Canadian troops to the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Mali. The force being deployed will include up to six CH-47 Chinook transport helicopters (Intro. 1962) and four CH-146 Griffon helicopters for escort (Intro. 1995).

The issues with the mission have made it incredibly controversial. First, Trudeau has focused upon the gender balance within the mission, which itself is not controversial but has raised concerns over whether the mission's operations are truly practical rather than moral. Second, the equipment being used is extremely old, and Griffon helicopters have proven untrustworthy during use in Afghanistan, overworked and deployed in missions that require superior vehicles. Third, many have pointed out that this deployment is a combat mission, which will likely lead to additional casualties for an underfunded and undermanned military still feeling the effects of the War in Afghanistan.

Is there any Western military other than the American one these days which isn't described as being "underfunded and undermanned"?

[Gallia-]

other than the American one

Funny joke.

[Internationalist Bastard]

Hey that’s where I was deployed
Last I heard the main focus was Tuareg rebels, did that change?

[Internationalist Bastard]

Not necessarily. It all depends on if this is an actual "peacekeeping" situation where the canadians have been invited by a legitimate government to help and are intent on actually doing so (in which case it is stupid as it potentially harms productivity) or if it is a political stunt meant to get him votes in which case it is actually smart.

But we can't really know that without the extra information I requested from the OP.

No matter if it's an actual mission or just a PR stunt it's still retarded to care about gender balance.

Canada be silly.

Many of the refugees are women and children. Ensuring a large number of women are sent likely will help tremendously

[Otira]

As many of you may know, Justin Trudeau has recently pledged a certain number of Canadian troops to the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Mali. The force being deployed will include up to six CH-47 Chinook transport helicopters (Intro. 1962) and four CH-146 Griffon helicopters for escort (Intro. 1995).

The issues with the mission have made it incredibly controversial. First, Trudeau has focused upon the gender balance within the mission, which itself is not controversial but has raised concerns over whether the mission's operations are truly practical rather than moral. Second, the equipment being used is extremely old, and Griffon helicopters have proven untrustworthy during use in Afghanistan, overworked and deployed in missions that require superior vehicles. Third, many have pointed out that this deployment is a combat mission, which will likely lead to additional casualties for an underfunded and undermanned military still feeling the effects of the War in Afghanistan.

Some have accused Trudeau of sacrificing Canadian soldiers in exchange for perceived moral supremacy or power within the UN, while others have criticized the entire UN operation as flawed and futile. Anybody have opinions on the mission?

God that is fucking stupid.

Umm, sweetie? The gender gap in potential combat operations needs to be addressed.

[Purpelia]

No matter if it's an actual mission or just a PR stunt it's still retarded to care about gender balance.

Canada be silly.

It is indeed retarded to care about gender balance. But from a purely manipulative perspective if you know people do care about it, and they do, it makes good sense to exploit this for personal gain. Especially if you are in politics which literally amounts to a popularity pageant.

It really all depends on if he is doing this for ideological reasons or as an act of cynical political manipulation.

[Recheve]

Hey that’s where I was deployed
Last I heard the main focus was Tuareg rebels, did that change?

They're still certainly one of the primary factions, though the nature has completely changed. Now, the former government and the rebels are locked in a loose peace, while an Islamic group is forming in the north. The UN is deploying against the Muslim faction, technically siding with both the government and the rebels in the province of Gao.

[Internationalist Bastard]

Hey that’s where I was deployed
Last I heard the main focus was Tuareg rebels, did that change?

They're still certainly one of the primary factions, though the nature has completely changed. Now, the former government and the rebels are locked in a loose peace, while an Islamic group is forming in the north. The UN is deploying against the Muslim faction, technically siding with both the government and the rebels in the province of Gao.

The islamists are back to being a major threat? A branch of Boko Haram again or something else?

[Otira]

They're still certainly one of the primary factions, though the nature has completely changed. Now, the former government and the rebels are locked in a loose peace, while an Islamic group is forming in the north. The UN is deploying against the Muslim faction, technically siding with both the government and the rebels in the province of Gao.

The islamists are back to being a major threat? A branch of Boko Haram again or something else?

The group formerly known as Boko Haram (now ISWA - Islamic State in West Africa) is conducting a campaign of terror, yes, but I believe the main actor in Mali for the side of radical Islam is Nusrat al-Islam.

[Internationalist Bastard]

The islamists are back to being a major threat? A branch of Boko Haram again or something else?

The group formerly known as Boko Haram (now ISWA - Islamic State in West Africa) is conducting a campaign of terror, yes, but I believe the main actor in Mali for the side of radical Islam is Nusrat al-Islam.

Nusrat was always funded by the Nigerian brotherhood. Damn, I was hoping we’d pushed them back

[Otira]

The group formerly known as Boko Haram (now ISWA - Islamic State in West Africa) is conducting a campaign of terror, yes, but I believe the main actor in Mali for the side of radical Islam is Nusrat al-Islam.

Nusrat was always funded by the Nigerian brotherhood. Damn, I was hoping we’d pushed them back

The sad thing is their shameless tactics, combined with myriad religious and socio-economic issues, means even when they're pushed back they can still effectively conduct campaigns of terror disproportionate to what their losses would suggest. ISWA, for example has been using dozens of child suicide bombers and has kidnapped hundreds more children.

This is truly the stuff of nightmares and I hope it drives more Muslims against them.

[Internationalist Bastard]

Nusrat was always funded by the Nigerian brotherhood. Damn, I was hoping we’d pushed them back

The sad thing is their shameless tactics, combined with myriad religious and socio-economic issues, means even when they're pushed back they can still effectively conduct campaigns of terror disproportionate to what their losses would suggest. ISWA, for example has been using dozens of child suicide bombers and has kidnapped hundreds more children.

This is truly the stuff of nightmares and I hope it drives more Muslims against them.

I remember once seeing them blow up a mosque
They’re psychopaths who want to kill, nothing more

[Otira]

The sad thing is their shameless tactics, combined with myriad religious and socio-economic issues, means even when they're pushed back they can still effectively conduct campaigns of terror disproportionate to what their losses would suggest. ISWA, for example has been using dozens of child suicide bombers and has kidnapped hundreds more children.

This is truly the stuff of nightmares and I hope it drives more Muslims against them.

I remember once seeing them blow up a mosque
They’re psychopaths who want to kill, nothing more

Definitely power-hungry and ambitious psychopaths.

Reminds me of the video ISIS put up of their militants stopping truckers, quizzing them on the their knowledge of the Qur'an, and executing them if they got a question wrong.

[The Two Jerseys]

No matter if it's an actual mission or just a PR stunt it's still retarded to care about gender balance.

Canada be silly.

Many of the refugees are women and children. Ensuring a large number of women are sent likely will help tremendously

It would help if we had a breakdown of what assets are being sent. Sending a lot of women with a civil affairs unit to help female refugees would make sense, sending a lot of female helicopter mechanics for the sake of "gender balance" doesn't.

[Internationalist Bastard]

Many of the refugees are women and children. Ensuring a large number of women are sent likely will help tremendously

It would help if we had a breakdown of what assets are being sent. Sending a lot of women with a civil affairs unit to help female refugees would make sense, sending a lot of female helicopter mechanics for the sake of "gender balance" doesn't.

True, though female peacekeepers would be good
A sense that it isn’t just armed men surrounding you at all times

[Recheve]

Many of the refugees are women and children. Ensuring a large number of women are sent likely will help tremendously

It would help if we had a breakdown of what assets are being sent. Sending a lot of women with a civil affairs unit to help female refugees would make sense, sending a lot of female helicopter mechanics for the sake of "gender balance" doesn't.

As of right now we don't actually know what's being sent, aside from the models of helicopters and an estimated 200 to 250 personnel. The number of helicopters varies between reports. It was originally thought that two transports and four gunships would be sent, but now the number seems to have grown. In any case, quite a large number of Canadians will be sent, and it doesn't seem as though they will have any duties aside from the operation and maintenance of the aircraft.

I personally like the idea of including more women in missions, and the UN has set the standard at a soft 15%. However, Canada is known for its often nonsensical quotas and gender-political nonsense. For example, Trudeau famously formed a 50/50 cabinet of male and female Ministers, remarking that "it's 2015". I don't think the issue is sexism, it's that in some instances you want the best people for the job, not whoever got thrown in because a quota barred another individual.

A minimum quota would be ideal, even as high as 25 to 30%. However, more focus should be going into recruiting and encouraging female recruitment, not into overworking the few women that actually enter the forces. The fact of the matter is that military culture can be extremely unappealing for many individuals, and we should be accepting anybody who is willing and able rather than denying those who don't fit the criteria we want.

[Recheve]

This was an accidental post and it won't let me delete it. Oh well.

[Digital Planets]

This is obviously a ploy by the Canadians the annex Mali.

[Recheve]

This is obviously a ploy by the Canadians the annex Mali.

THE GREAT CANADIAN EMPIRE

It's time for our great nation to seize our birthright as the world's pale, passive aggressive overlords.