[bootlegga]

Quote:

Afghans, who risked their lives working for Canadian soldiers in Kandahar, are getting a raw deal from Canadian immigration officials.

In 2009, Citizenship and Immigration Minister Jason Kenney announced Afghan interpreters, who gave 12 consecutive months of service to Canadian forces, and whose lives were at risk from the Taliban, would be allowed to immigrate to Canada under a special visa program.

At the time, Kenney suggested Canada would welcome 450 interpreters while estimating that applicants would only have to wait an average six months to a year to obtain a visa.

As of July, only 60 interpreters had been accepted and average application processing times have been well north of two years.

Moreover, two out of every three Afghan translators who have applied under the program have actually had their applications denied.

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/blogs/canada-p ... ml#more-id

[DrCaleb]

Sad. These guys stood up for us, and we've let them down.

[jeff744]

DrCaleb wrote:

Sad. These guys stood up for us, and we've let them down.

But they must be doing something evil since they are immigrants, can't let them go taking jobs on everyone. [/right wing]

[Guy_Fawkes]

This really is a kick in the balls for guys who put not only their lives but the lives of their families on the line. Most 'terps' concealed their identity and worked with thier faces covered in order to protect loved ones who could have been targeted. I would like to see the reasons why they are being denied though, that part is never really explained.

[Macguyver]

Sick. Typical government policy. Makes our troops look like a bunch of liers when they have to make promises that our government has no intention keeping. Good ammunition for the other side:

"Why trust the Canadians? Look at what they promised you, look at what you got. Told ya so."

Not good for moral of the troops either, having to tell people that your made promises to (people you work with) now you've got to eat your own foot.

[fifeboy]

This sucks, but expected.

[Guy_Fawkes]

Macguyver wrote:

Sick. Typical government policy. Makes our troops look like a bunch of liers when they have to make promises that our government has no intention keeping. Good ammunition for the other side:

"Why trust the Canadians? Look at what they promised you, look at what you got. Told ya so."

Not good for moral of the troops either, having to tell people that your made promises to (people you work with) now you've got to eat your own foot.

I'm quite sure the interpreters realize this is a bureaucratic thing, and that the soldiers have nothing to do with it. They are neither dumb nor naive, and I wouldnt be surprised of most saw this coming.

[2Cdo]

Guy_Fawkes wrote:

Macguyver wrote:

Sick. Typical government policy. Makes our troops look like a bunch of liers when they have to make promises that our government has no intention keeping. Good ammunition for the other side:

"Why trust the Canadians? Look at what they promised you, look at what you got. Told ya so."

Not good for moral of the troops either, having to tell people that your made promises to (people you work with) now you've got to eat your own foot.

I'm quite sure the interpreters realize this is a bureaucratic thing, and that the soldiers have nothing to do with it. They are neither dumb nor naive, and I wouldnt be surprised of most saw this coming.

Well it must be government policy to refuse for no reason.

Just look at the source of the post.

[Canadian_Mind]

Wow, what a fucking kick in the nuts.

[eureka]

Apart from the unkept promise and the death sentences that will ensue, why should there be a six or twelve month wait for those who will be taken in?

They should be granted immediate asylum.

[Macguyver]

Guy_Fawkes wrote:

Macguyver wrote:

Sick. Typical government policy. Makes our troops look like a bunch of liers when they have to make promises that our government has no intention keeping. Good ammunition for the other side:

"Why trust the Canadians? Look at what they promised you, look at what you got. Told ya so."

Not good for moral of the troops either, having to tell people that your made promises to (people you work with) now you've got to eat your own foot.

I'm quite sure the interpreters realize this is a bureaucratic thing, and that the soldiers have nothing to do with it. They are neither dumb nor naive, and I wouldnt be surprised of most saw this coming.

Really? So are you saying that our troops intentionally lied to hundreds of Afghans on order to enlist them into service?

And you think the interpreters who are risking their lives to help us "understand" that its "a bureaucratic thing" when their lives are at risk, when their families are in danger and when they are caught, tortured and murdered by the enemy?

You're probably right (not).

I’m sure there are some people on this forum who have first hand knowledge of working with these people and the lengths the troops go to in order to get trustworthy people to work with us.

And I for one would be spitting mad if I promised one of these Afghan people that we would take care of them and get them to Canada if they helped us, then had to go tell them that the program has change, so thanks for putting your balls on the line but “see ya, hate to be ya”.

This is not right, we should not be making our troops make promises we do not keep, and it is not right to have misled those Afghans who risk their lives AND their families lives. If someone asked me to make promises on behalf of Canadians, I would expect that any words out of my mouth are backed by all the assets of our government.

Anyone ever heard of “The Honour of the Crown”?

It means don't make promises you can’t keep. It cheapens our integrity. If you are a cheap, lying backstabbing a-hole, make your own promises. But don’t attach my name to any of them.

[Canadian_Mind]

Macguyver wrote:

Guy_Fawkes wrote:

Macguyver wrote:

Sick. Typical government policy. Makes our troops look like a bunch of liers when they have to make promises that our government has no intention keeping. Good ammunition for the other side:

"Why trust the Canadians? Look at what they promised you, look at what you got. Told ya so."

Not good for moral of the troops either, having to tell people that your made promises to (people you work with) now you've got to eat your own foot.

I'm quite sure the interpreters realize this is a bureaucratic thing, and that the soldiers have nothing to do with it. They are neither dumb nor naive, and I wouldnt be surprised of most saw this coming.

Really? So are you saying that our troops intentionally lied to hundreds of Afghans on order to enlist them into service?

The rest of your post would have been fucking brilliant if it weren't for this line. Guy isn't implying that at all, basically feels the way you do.

[Macguyver]

If you saw it coming then either you were naive and made the promise anyway, or you made the promise anyway and lied.

I think that the chain of command said "Here is what you can promise" and gave them orders. They believed what they were telling the Afghans was backed up through the chain of command to the government.

Now we got front line folks who have to answer to the interpreters about the promises they made on our behalf, which to me is not right because then the honour of our troops is in question. And it feels like shit to promise something then have to go back and say "oops, looks like I can't deliver". That is not what our guys should be forced to do.

[Guy_Fawkes]

Macguyver wrote:

Really? So are you saying that our troops intentionally lied to hundreds of Afghans on order to enlist them into service?

No, I highly doubt any soldier made any promise to them unless they knew 100% that they would be allowed into Canada. I think it was more likely that a bureaucrat, told an employment agency that it would be likely they could immigrate to Canada.

Macguyver wrote:

And you think the interpreters who are risking their lives to help us "understand" that its "a bureaucratic thing" when their lives are at risk, when their families are in danger and when they are caught, tortured and murdered by the enemy?

Yes. Different country dude, you should see how their own government treats them most of the time. Being promised paradise only to be denied is pretty standard.

Macguyver wrote:

You're probably right (not).

Again, if you spent time there you would have a diffident opinion.

Macguyver wrote:

I’m sure there are some people on this forum who have first hand knowledge of working with these people and the lengths the troops go to in order to get trustworthy people to work with us.

And I for one would be spitting mad if I promised one of these Afghan people that we would take care of them and get them to Canada if they helped us, then had to go tell them that the program has change, so thanks for putting your balls on the line but “see ya, hate to be ya”.

Again, you live in one of the most comfortable places on the planet. You expect that what you are told is the truth, and you have a right to get what you are promised. The quality of life you have is VERY different in the more nasty places of this planet.

Macguyver wrote:

This is not right, we should not be making our troops make promises we do not keep, and it is not right to have misled those Afghans who risk their lives AND their families lives. If someone asked me to make promises on behalf of Canadians, I would expect that any words out of my mouth are backed by all the assets of our government.

Im sure I had said this before you made this post, the soldiers are not making promises to any non Canadian civilians. If anyone mislead them it were diplomats and agencies who handed them the pay cheques.

Macguyver wrote:

Anyone ever heard of “The Honour of the Crown”?

It means don't make promises you can’t keep. It cheapens our integrity. If you are a cheap, lying backstabbing a-hole, make your own promises. But don’t attach my name to any of them.

You just described most members of Parliament.

[Guy_Fawkes]

Macguyver wrote:

If you saw it coming then either you were naive and made the promise anyway, or you made the promise anyway and lied.

I think that the chain of command said "Here is what you can promise" and gave them orders. They believed what they were telling the Afghans was backed up through the chain of command to the government.

Now we got front line folks who have to answer to the interpreters about the promises they made on our behalf, which to me is not right because then the honour of our troops is in question. And it feels like shit to promise something then have to go back and say "oops, looks like I can't deliver". That is not what our guys should be forced to do.

You do realize the interpreters make a lot of money. They dont walk down the street, find some dude who speaks a few languages then pays them a donkey and some goats for their trouble. I knew one guy who used his money to pay for an apartment for himself and his family back in Dubai.