It was such a pleasure to hear Captain Lisa Haveman speak on Wednesday. Her lecture was not only insightful, but powerfully provoked me to think about a topic I normally do not pay attention to. It dawned on me how crucial and under-appreciated our military’s works are. I argue that our troops’ peacekeeping efforts are necessary and should be more supported by the government and population.

It is elementary that states must strike against blatant security threats, such as the proceedings of September 11.  For example, the efforts to clear ground obstacles which included Taliban footholds in Kandahar province (Haveman, 2014) were vital missions that the Canadian troops undertook in the fight against terrorism. Furthermore, it is not only a token of sovereignty, but a necessity for a state to be well equipped in anticipation of conflict, no matter how unlikely it may seem. It is largely understood that the US will defend Canada against enemies because it serves as a threat to American security as well (Sinpeng, 2014). So with this in mind, Canada must continue to develop a military that is proportionate to its needs; high conscription and overly expensive state of the art weapons are unnecessary, but a Canadian force that is prepared to carry out its designated missions will suffice.

According to Cpt. Haveman, her tour of Afghanistan included a lot of development and aid for the locals, such as medical services and educational support. This aspect of peacekeeping is what I believe to be imperative work that Canada – and other states – must constantly be involved in. As a preemptive and humanitarian act, targeting the structural issues of sensitive developing states is a lesser-used but potentially highly effective tool in international relations. Creating more livable and less hostile environments is not only something that I believe states should all partake in to preserve universal human rights, but it could also curb the growth of radical extremist groups that very often spring from such conditions.

Though military actions are not something that dominate the political agenda and media coverage in Canada, there must at least be a heightened recognition of it. These men and women risk, and in some cases ultimately lose, their lives when they deploy. Because these actions are necessary for a state’s sovereignty and security, our government must be more active and transparent in developing strategies for combat as well as providing a wider range of services to veterans after their tours. The public, too, should be provided with more coverage of our military’s actions, and not just when there are high casualties to report (Haveman, 2014).

As Canadians, we know that we are not an aggressive country, and it is (jokingly) acknowledged worldwide that our troops are nothing to brag about. But I believe that our military is doing great and important things overseas that all Canadians should know about and be proud of.

Sources:

Haveman, Lisa. “Serving in Afghanistan: Perspectives from the Canadian Forces.” Poli 360. UBC, Vancouver. 2 Oct 2014. Lecture.

Sinpeng, Aim. “Canada at War: Afghanistan.” Poli 360. UBC, Vancouver. 30 Sept 14. Lecture.