Canadian troops may go to Haiti

UPI ^ | Feb 28, 2004 | UPI

[Skywarner]

OTTAWA, Feb. 28 (UPI) -- Canadian officials were reportedly close Saturday to sending hundreds of troops to Haiti as part of an international stabilization force.

The Toronto Globe and Mail said Prime Minister Paul Martin spoke with U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan Friday, as Martin worked to help build an international consensus aimed at resolving the crisis.

"He's been personally taking a hand in this," an official said.

Consideration of sending a significant number of troops would depend on the makeup of an international force and the ability of the Canadian Forces to pull together a contingent on short notice.

"Potentially, hundreds could go," the unidentified government spokesman told the newspaper. "But it would depend on the need there. "It's going to be a challenge, without question."

About 120 Canadian troops are already on standby in case help is needed evacuating fellow citizens from the island.

[Skywarner]

I'm not sure if this is funny or sad. Sending several hundreds of troops to Haiti is going to be a major challenge to Canada by their own admission.

Perhaps the State Police from Rhode Island or Deleware can help them out? Maybe the US airlift command can lease them a plane for a few days? :-)

Canada is nothing at all like it use to be back during WWII or even the first Gulf War. It's sad what the socialists have done to their military.

[Terpfen]

But there's no imminent threat in Haiti! Martin hasn't made the case for going to war. There's no UN resolution. This is an illegal invasion.

[leadpenny]

There is probably a large Canadian population in Haiti.

[Paleo Conservative]

Canadian officials were reportedly close Saturday to sending hundreds of troops to Haiti as part of an international stabilization force.

So in other words protect Aristide from his just rewards. I'd rather the Canadians staid at home.

[Paul Atreides]

I thought they were sending the troops to invade Conan O'Brien's studio.

[boomop1]

This has to be a joke.

[Skywarner]

Isn't it AMAZING how the libs and many (not all) of the Euros start screaming about the UN this and the UN that WHEN IT SUITS THEM?

With Haiti, France first offers civilian police to handle the problem, but only under the auspices of the United Nations. The diplomats at the UN talked all week about the bloodshed in Haiti and demanded that the United States do something. Heck, even a couple of human rights groups were actually COMPLAINING this morning that the United States needed to intervene because of the killing. Of course, they had no problem with the rape and torture in Iraq. Well, we are intervening: we're sending 2000 Marines off of the coast of Haiti to stop the flow of refugees to America. Good!

Basically, what President Bush is saying is "What, you need OUR help? We're a little busy right now, so please leave your name and number at the sound of the beep, and we'll get back to you when we can. Thanks and have a nice day."

This week's event's at the UN is yet another is a long string of examples of where the UN and much of the international community just don't get it (and even if they did, there is little that they're capabale of doing anyways.

[MEG33]

I hope they are properly outfitted .It does worry me.Their military has a fine tradition and deserve better.

[G.Mason]

"Canada is nothing at all like it use to be back during WWII or even the first Gulf War. It's sad what the socialists have done to their military."

I like Canadians, at least those I have met, but one can't expect more from a nation that is protected (by mere association of borders) by the United States, and is a passive socialist country.

It's "not your fathers Canada" anymore.

I just wish they would stop sucking up to the U.N..

[Skywarner]

"There is probably a large Canadian population in Haiti."

Perhaps the Canadian nationals in Haiti can help their military out when they arrive. They need some transportation apparently. ;-)

[cripplecreek]

Haiti is a lost cause. There are no good guys in this fight, just the corrupt Aristide govt and the zombie cultists. I say we let them have a go at each other and we can decide whether the winner is worth dealing with or not.

[CalKat]

I believe he meant the Haitian situation itself would be a challenge, which everyone admits, not that sending a couple hundred troops would be a challenge for Canada.

[MEG33]

But Kerry is going to put the UN in charge of Iraq(what's he going to do ,kidnap some "UN" troops to send?)

[68skylark]

Well, you may be right -- the sentence seems ambiguous to me. Canadian military airlift and sealift capabilities are so run down that I can easily believe it would be a challenge to transport a few hundred troops with their equipment.

It's a shame to see -- like someone else said on this thread, the troops in the Canadian military deserve lots better support than they've received. Personally I think we should offer all these guys a chance to keep their rank and transfer to the U. S. military -- we'd pick up some superb troops.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Ok I foresee a new US policy. Anytime there is a little brushfire and we can't devote the time to putting it out all we have to do is announce that we will not get involved and the world rushes to send in their troops.

I like it.

[BurbankKarl]

While the UN debated for a week what to do, the UNITED STATES evacuated their personnel!

U.S. Embassy special security agents stand guard at the international airport in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti, February 26, 2004. U.S. agents escorted a convoy of U.N. nonessential staff and their families and other foreigners to their flights out of the country.

You know, this is how Mexico will go in a couple years....they will overthrow the elites that take all the money.

[TexasCajun]

Canada has an military?

[Enterprise]

The United States has 50 Marines guarding the U.S. Embassy. The rebels have already stated publicly is essence that they want NO TROUBLE with the Marines.

[Tacis]

This could cause some problems for Canada. When Canadian military guys ("soldiers" is, well, too warlike) bring home Haitian females with whom they've become involved, they'll be Haitian War Brides (or, "Haitian Peacekeeping Brides") but when they get involved with Haitian males and bring them home, what will they call them? Yeah, I know. Could be a big problem.

And, since the Haitians they bring home already speak French, won't they have to learn English?

[olde north church]

Take it to the next step:
France goes to ---->Haiti
Quebec = France
Quebec = Canada