Unpublished Letter to the editor

Afghanistan

Editor, Globe and Mail

If the clashes between domestic and foreign forces are getting worse and more soldiers dying, then the presence of Canadian and other foreign troops in Afghanistan is not making peace (Afghan officials: Threat getting worse--April 24). If 'security in general is deteriorating', then Canadian and other foreign forces are not contributing to security in Afghanistan.

Foreign intervention in Afghanistan is violating sovereignty and impeding the development of democracy in Afghanistan, facts that will motivate patriotic reactions and aggravate clan wars. The US-led coalition was supposed to be hunting down the Al Qaeda, but somehow this mission became regime change and the branding of every opponent to the occupation forces and dissident within the country as "the Talibans".

Matching terror with terror is not the answer. Bring the Canadians and all the occupying troops home and prevent further needless tragedy to our compatriots and other people.

Barbara Waldern