(Canadian Prime Minister) Harper makes surprise visit to Kandahar

[tuvor]

Prime Minister Stephen Harper arrived in Afghanistan on Sunday in a carefully planned and closely guarded mission to show support for Canadian troops and diplomatic staff.

"These are a great bunch of men and women doing a tough job," said Harper shortly after landing in the southern city of Kandahar.

"We want to make sure they understand their government and the population is behind them."

Harper said the Canadian force in Afghanistan serves the national interest because:

* International terrorism is rooted in the country. "It was in Afghanistan that Sept. 11 started."
* The country is a major source of narcotics, which have a terrible impact on Canada.
* It shows Canada providing international leadership and humanitarian aid.

http://www.cbc.ca/storyview/MSN/world/national/2006/03/12/afghan-troops060312.html

[PSPS]

1. Did he take a plastic turkey?

[Lautremont]

3. He sure did.

It's wearing his suit.

[daleo]

2. I wonder how far he will stray from the air field?

He is using the Republican patented "support the troops by supporting the war" meme.

[Endangered Specie]

4. when is the no confidence motion coming?

[laundry_queen]

5. If he keeps it up...

hopefully sooner rather than later.
But I doubt it. We're all electioned out.

[Texacrat]

6. Did he take a page out of the Bush/Rove meme

Jeezus

[daleo]

13. They even had him pretend to fly a plane

Seriously, he "took the controls" of a herc. Just like when a father puts his five year old on his knee and "lets him steer".

[ConcernedCanuk]

7. HEY! - That's just our PM's way of reaching out and touching sumone

.
.
.

[BlueManDude]

8. the "americanization" of canadian politics will ruin your country

sounds like mr harper's got his own rove giving him advice up there.

[ConcernedCanuk]

12. "americanization" of canadian politics - never happen

.
.
.

Our multi-party system is far superior to the USA's 2 party system IMO

It has it's flaws of course as politics affects peoples' integrity adversely it seems

Harper won't last, nor will his conservative Government which is just a coalition of failed parties from the past, that being the PC's and the Alliance

BUT

you are quite correct in the observation that "the "americanization" of canadian politics will ruin your country"

Look what it did to the USA!!!

[MrPrax]

9. "the population is behind them"

The 'population' (that 'heart-warming' reference to 'Canadians') are no more behind them, than they are YOUR minority government, jack-off.

"International terrorism is rooted in the country. "It was in Afghanistan that Sept. 11 started."
If true, where are the Americans? They mostly left to go and attack some country that had nothing to do with 9/11...in fact, the former head of AF, Omar, is currently issuing execution orders in places the Canuck troops are not even near.

The country is a major source of narcotics, which have a terrible impact on Canada.
If true, then it would be wiser to deploy the resources to directly protect this country rather than defending a government whose members are deeply implicated in the drug trade.

It shows Canada providing international leadership and humanitarian aid.
It actually shows that Canada is a toady to insane American foreign policy and Canada's valued role as an 'independent voice' in the international community is being compromised.

Oh did I forget to call you an asshole, Steve?

[tuvor]

10. Exactly how many US forces remaining in Afghanistan, anyone know?

Surely bush hasn't, er..."cut and run".

That quote from Harper seriously bugged me, too.

[MrPrax]

11. I not sure...

I think that is something we are suppose to not notice too closely...

I have read both 10,000 still in country to as high as 27,000 deployed in that 'thea-a-tah'...

But 2200 Canucks are going to kick some terrorist ass, stop drugs and help re-make a 3000 year old culture coz Stephen in charge and the 'nattering nabobs' can go to back to um--um---Cuba!! with their defeatist rhetoric and partisanship!!!