Canada's Military Goes on Offence at Home--Toronto Star

[Gloria]

From the new World Media Watch up now at http://www.zianet.com/insightanalytical
Tomorrow at Buzzflash.com


5//The Toronto Star, Canada Mar. 7, 2006. 11:40 AM

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1141685411785&call_pageid=968332188492



CANADA’S MILITARY GOES ON OFFENCE AT HOME

PR campaign for Afghan mission
Returning soldiers will be recruited



Bruce Campion-Smith and Graham Fraser



OTTAWA—Canada's military is cranking up a public relations offensive in the face of new casualties and fresh questions about its Afghanistan mission that now is expected to stretch longer than first expected.

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But the real heart of this PR offensive promises to be the soldiers themselves. As they return from their tours of duty, they'll be sent to speak to hometown radio stations, television talk shows, service clubs, "wherever we can ... to explain to Canadians what we're doing, why we're doing it and why it's having a good effect," an official said.


Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay conceded yesterday that top generals now say Canada's role in the war-torn country will be a "longer-term commitment than was perhaps originally intended."

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Still, MacKay rejected opposition demands for a full debate on the Afghanistan mission when the House of Commons returns April 3, saying it might undermine support for the country's troops.

"I don't believe at this point we can undermine in any way our commitment to our forces and to our men and women who are there doing extremely important and extremely dangerous work," he said.


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New Democrat MPs have been leading the call for a full debate when the Commons returns.

"Canadians need to know exactly what are the terms of our engagement in Afghanistan," said NDP MP Dawn Black (New Westminster-Coquitlam).


(MORE)

[Nikki Stone 1]

1. There will be no debate over the mission?

Has Canada become the 51st state already?

[NinetySix]

2. Canada's primary role in the world is as a peacekeeping force.

I can't imagine how that applies to Afghanistan. Are we acting as a buffer between the Taliban-held countryside and the US-propped regime in Kabul? That would seem to indicate support for one side, namely the corrupt "government" of Karzai. Why would Canada act here and not in VietNam? It is entirely inconsistent with the role of peacekeeper that Canada long ago appointed itself to perform. Let's bring them home NOW.

If enough MPs bring the threat of non-confidence to bear, Harper will have no choice but to allow a democratic debate on the issue.