Interesting... no mention by Canada's Harper of 'al-Qaeda' or terrorists when discussing Afghanistan

[bigtree]

. . . despite his remark today that, "There is no such thing as a threat to the national security of the United States which does not represent a direct threat to this country. We as Canadians have every incentive to be as cooperative and alarmed about the threats that exist to the North American continent in the modern age as do the people of the United States," Harper said in a press conference today with Pres. Obama.

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper framed the question of his support for a military commitment to Afghanistan beyond his 2011 exit plan as a matter of what their Parliament decides:

" . . . as you probably know, it was just last year that we were able to get through Parliament a bipartisan resolution extending our military engagement in Afghanistan for an additional close to four years at that point. As we move forward, we anticipate an even greater engagement on economic development. That was part of the strategy that we adopted.

I would just say this -- you know, obviously we're operating within a parliamentary resolution -- I would just say this in terms of the United States looking at its own future engagement. We are highly appreciative of the fact the United States is going to be a partner with us on the ground in Kandahar. The goal of our military engagement, its principal goal right now, beyond day-to-day security, is the training of the Afghan army so the Afghans themselves can become responsible for their day-to-day security in that country.

I'm strongly of the view, having led -- you know, as a government leader, having been responsible now for a military mission in Kandahar province, that we are not, in the long term through our own efforts, going to establish peace and security in Afghanistan; that that job ultimately can be done only by the Afghans themselves. So I would hope that all strategies that come forward have the idea of an end date, of a transition to Afghan responsibility for security, and to greater Western partnership for economic development.


Transcript: Obama-Harper press conference: http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/590305

[LakeSamish706]

1. With any and all hope the Harper Government is going down in the next election! n/t

[bigtree]

2. I'm thinking that's why he deferred to Parliament in his comments

. . . about the future commitment to Afghanistan, rather than put forward his own personal view on his country's involvement there. (which has exceeded Bush's at times)

What do you think of Liberal Leader Ignatieff and his 30 min. meeting today with the president? (http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20090219/iggy_obama_090219/20090219?hub=TopStories)

[ConcernedCanuk]

3. Did you notice how many times Harper says "you know" in his conversation with President Obama?

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"you know"

16 times

and a few more variations

but

STEVEN! - WE DON'T KNOW wtf you are talking about . . .

and maybe he doesn't either

fricken bush-clone

[bigtree]

4. you know

. . . he looked a bit whipped, his head down most of the time.