Justify Your Existence: Matt Jones
Here I am being interviewed in the Gazette. Funny, I remember myself sounding much more articulate...
Justify Your Existence: Matt Jones
When anti-war activists protested against the presence of soldiers in the stands at Molson Stadium to watch the Alouettes play the Argonauts June 21, some spectators thought the protesters, the soldiers, or perhaps both, were out of place at a football game. The military said the soldiers from Quebec City's Valcartier Base were simply enjoying the game before they head off to Afghanistan at the end of July. The protesters saw the contingent's presence as a manipulative public relations move to sell Canada's mission. The Gazette spoke to Matt Jones, 28, a spokesperson for the Collectif echec a la guerre, a coalition of more than 140 groups representing students, labour unions, environmentalists, sovereignists and church groups that oppose the war on terror.
Is the anti-war movement also anti-soldier?
When anti-war activists protested against the presence of soldiers in the stands at Molson Stadium to watch the Alouettes play the Argonauts June 21, some spectators thought the protesters, the soldiers, or perhaps both, were out of place at a football game. The military said the soldiers from Quebec City's Valcartier Base were simply enjoying the game before they head off to Afghanistan at the end of July. The protesters saw the contingent's presence as a manipulative public relations move to sell Canada's mission. The Gazette spoke to Matt Jones, 28, a spokesperson for the Collectif echec a la guerre, a coalition of more than 140 groups representing students, labour unions, environmentalists, sovereignists and church groups that oppose the war on terror.
Gazette: Why does your coalition oppose Canada's mission in Afghanistan?
Jones: We've been against Canada's participation (with other NATO forces) in the mission since it started in 2002. We opposed the United States' invasion before then. We didn't think it would bring lasting peace to the country, or more freedom to women there, or reduce the influence of the Taliban. If anything, the (foreign) military's presence only worsened things.
Gazette: But the Taliban have been removed from power. They harboured Al-Qa'ida terrorists. Wasn't getting rid of the Taliban a good thing?
Jones: There are certain links between Al-Qa'ida and the Taliban, but usually one tries to prove these links before invading. Anyway, if our being there is part of a revenge attack for 9/11, it has backfired. It's unfair for the civilians who have been caught in the middle. Take suicide attacks, for example. They were never part of the strategy before in Afghanistan. Now they're quite common. The military presence has drawn more terrorists there, not gotten rid of them.
Gazette: Isn't Canada's military posture necessary to establish good conditions to rebuild Afghanistan and protect our soldiers?
Jones: That's just NATO's attempt to sell the occupation. That's why we see buildings like schools being targeted (for bombings) by the Taliban. The NATO forces rebuild them and the Taliban attacks them. It's a vicious circle.
Gazette: What's wrong with some soldiers watching a football game?
Jones: There's nothing wrong with anyone watching a football game. But these were all uniformed soldiers. It was a way for the military to transform the game into a publicity stunt to promote the war. They're conducting the largest recruitment campaign since the Second World War.
Gazette: It's a volunteer army. Don't you think people can make up their own minds?
Jones: Yes, I do. And we were there to present our opinion, too. The Canadian military is showing up at more and more events, like the Grand Prix and the Montreal marathon. And the Stanley Cup being sent to Kandahar was another way to glorify the war. They're trying to attract more young people. You can see it in they're snazzy (promotional) videos and in the screensavers on their website. ... It makes it harder to see the military for what it really is.
Gazette: Do you oppose all wars, or just this one?
Jones: The Collectif is against the war on terror (which includes the mission in Afghanistan). Personally, I'm not categorically opposed to all war. There could be a good reason one day.
Gazette: What do you say to a Canadian soldier who is about to go and risk his or her life by serving in Afghanistan?
Jones: It is precisely because there are Canadian lives at risk that we should reconsider what we're doing there. Canadians are not on a peacekeeping mission over there. It's a war. It's not worth it to simply go along with U.S. interests in the region. Our position is that (Canada's mission) hasn't worked.
When anti-war activists protested against the presence of soldiers in the stands at Molson Stadium to watch the Alouettes play the Argonauts June 21, some spectators thought the protesters, the soldiers, or perhaps both, were out of place at a football game. The military said the soldiers from Quebec City's Valcartier Base were simply enjoying the game before they head off to Afghanistan at the end of July. The protesters saw the contingent's presence as a manipulative public relations move to sell Canada's mission. The Gazette spoke to Matt Jones, 28, a spokesperson for the Collectif echec a la guerre, a coalition of more than 140 groups representing students, labour unions, environmentalists, sovereignists and church groups that oppose the war on terror.
Gazette: Why does your coalition oppose Canada's mission in Afghanistan?
Jones: We've been against Canada's participation (with other NATO forces) in the mission since it started in 2002. We opposed the United States' invasion before then. We didn't think it would bring lasting peace to the country, or more freedom to women there, or reduce the influence of the Taliban. If anything, the (foreign) military's presence only worsened things.
Gazette: But the Taliban have been removed from power. They harboured Al-Qa'ida terrorists. Wasn't getting rid of the Taliban a good thing?
Jones: There are certain links between Al-Qa'ida and the Taliban, but usually one tries to prove these links before invading. Anyway, if our being there is part of a revenge attack for 9/11, it has backfired. It's unfair for the civilians who have been caught in the middle. Take suicide attacks, for example. They were never part of the strategy before in Afghanistan. Now they're quite common. The military presence has drawn more terrorists there, not gotten rid of them.
Gazette: Isn't Canada's military posture necessary to establish good conditions to rebuild Afghanistan and protect our soldiers?
Jones: That's just NATO's attempt to sell the occupation. That's why we see buildings like schools being targeted (for bombings) by the Taliban. The NATO forces rebuild them and the Taliban attacks them. It's a vicious circle.
Gazette: What's wrong with some soldiers watching a football game?
Jones: There's nothing wrong with anyone watching a football game. But these were all uniformed soldiers. It was a way for the military to transform the game into a publicity stunt to promote the war. They're conducting the largest recruitment campaign since the Second World War.
Gazette: It's a volunteer army. Don't you think people can make up their own minds?
Jones: Yes, I do. And we were there to present our opinion, too. The Canadian military is showing up at more and more events, like the Grand Prix and the Montreal marathon. And the Stanley Cup being sent to Kandahar was another way to glorify the war. They're trying to attract more young people. You can see it in they're snazzy (promotional) videos and in the screensavers on their website. ... It makes it harder to see the military for what it really is.
Gazette: Do you oppose all wars, or just this one?
Jones: The Collectif is against the war on terror (which includes the mission in Afghanistan). Personally, I'm not categorically opposed to all war. There could be a good reason one day.
Gazette: What do you say to a Canadian soldier who is about to go and risk his or her life by serving in Afghanistan?
Jones: It is precisely because there are Canadian lives at risk that we should reconsider what we're doing there. Canadians are not on a peacekeeping mission over there. It's a war. It's not worth it to simply go along with U.S. interests in the region. Our position is that (Canada's mission) hasn't worked.
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