Englishman, great info posted.
Wars are indeed not pretty, regardless of who the good/bad guy is. People get killed. Soldiers, civilians and many other creatures.
Canada participated in World War 2, a full 3 years ahead of the US. We are paulty in comparison: population, troops that served, but in a comparitive ratio, we lost a lot of men and women. Our population was pretty small, so most of our founding citizens, were lost, including some of my relatives.
Sidenote, then the colony of Newfoundland, now part of Canada since 1949, sent many men and women in the war effort: WW1 and WW2.
The US participated as well.
But it was a GROUP effort in the long run. The Nazis and Japanese were defeated as a result of combined group effort. Canada and many other nations were involved in the Pacific theatre as well.
As for Iraq, as I expected, Canada will probably go over and help with UN peacekeeping efforts (RCMP too, from what I have read/heard). This is not surprising. It is what we've been known for globally for many years. Part of our UN peacekeeping iniatives. (Lester B. Pearson's contribution to the UN)
Pr_Capone buddy, the pics posted are undeniably tributes to fallen American soldiers. I can assure you that there are many French citizens who make great efforts to remember these men/women who died there.
But one has to remember: there are other nationals buried in the nearby cemeteries. Not the effort of 1 nation, but many.
Thanks Englishman, great contribution to this thread. Shines some light on 'other' nations' efforts.
If anyone gets a chance, read up on the Aussie's/Kiwi's battle of Gallipoli. Now there was a slaughter of unprecidented proportions.
Lest we forget.