Canada supports proposal to train Iraqi security forces as NATO summit begins

National Post ^ | June 27,2004 | Jim Bronskill, Canadian Press

[Levante]

ISTANBUL, Turkey(CP)-Canada may be willing to take part in a NATO plan to train Iraq's new security forces, but would stop short of committing soldiers to the war-ravaged country, says Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham.

As members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization prepared to gather for a summit meeting Monday, Graham said, "we might be able to help" Iraq's army find its feet.

[Huck]

Thats good. They say help is greatly needed in that area.

[Cobra64]

"Canada supports proposal to train Iraqi security forces

Seems to me the blind leading the blind.

I did not know that Canada had a military anymore.

[Ursus arctos horribilis]

Is this a joke? What in the hell does today's Canada know about security and fighting?

[Riel]

Canada might have a Conservative Prime Minister tomorrow. Stephen Harper is looking good right now and Canada is running the NATO operation in Iraq with Germany.

Give them time and they'll come around.

[beaver fever]

Canada won't have either a Conservative or a Liberal prime minister on Monday. It will be a minority government with the NDP and Bloc calling the shots. Harper has stated that he won't deal with either the NDP or Bloc, which means even if the Conservatives have a slim majority, the first bill they try to pass will be defeated and we will have another election by Christmas. Go to globeandmail.com and you can view the history of minority governments in Canada since Confederation. No minority government has held onto power without a coalition partner. The Liberals can count on both the NDP and Bloc to back them on a variety of issues. The Conservatives can't and won't form alliances with other parties. Sorry but them's the facts.

[Riel]

Well at the very least we can hope that the Conservatives get enough votes to make a difference in the way US/Canada relations have been going.

I noticed Martin was at the White House last month, but Chretien was snubbed for 3 years. It seems like just getting The Cretin out of there was a step in the right direction.

[beaver fever]

Sorry the State Dept views a Conservative government favorably and Liberal/NDP/Bloc coalition, (the most likely outcome), as the most unfavorable result in terms of Canada US relations.

It's a moot point however because a minority government will be so weak that it will fall in a non confidence motion on the first bill that is presented to Parliament.

Without a majority government, US Canada relations will be in limbo and won't improve in the near future.

We're going to the polls again within six months and you can take that to the bank.