Posted on 07/26/2005 6:07:20 PM PDT by Clive
EDMONTON (CP) - Canada's top military officials are brushing off criticism from Independent MP Carolyn Parrish over the blunt language of Chief of Defence Staff Rick Hillier.
The maverick MP, a former Liberal, has called Hillier "dangerous" and "testosterone-fuelled" for saying the job of Canadian soldiers is to be able to kill people. Hillier was in Edmonton on Tuesday with Defence Minister Bill Graham to see off about 110 soldiers who are on their way to Afghanistan for a reconstruction mission. The plain-speaking general said he hadn't seen Parrish's comments but wasn't particularly concerned about them.
"I'm part of ensuring that Canadians understand and appreciate just what these fine men and women . . . just what fine work they do on their behalf," Hillier told reporters at Edmonton International Airport. "I'm not offended at all. I have a job to do, and I'm concentrated on doing that job."
Parrish is rumoured to be negotiating to return to federal Liberal caucus after being banished for criticizing Martin and his team and stomped on a George W. Bush doll as part of a TV skit satirizing her opposition to the U.S. president's ballistic missile defence scheme.
Graham described her as "a person with strong opinions an strong views," but stopped short of censuring her over her latest remarks.
If Parrish could see the work the Canadian Forces are doing in Afghanistan, he said, she could appreciate that the mission is dangerous and potentially deadly.
"To bring stability to a place like Afghanistan, they're risking their lives and they have to take measures," Graham said. "They have to be combat-ready to do that. That's what Afghans want, that's what President Karzai wants, that's what the Afghan people want and that's what they need.
"They're still bringing Canadian values in making lives better, but they're also realizing that in order for them to move to that level, they have to make the place secure first. That's what Gen. Hillier has been saying, and I have to say I back him up 100 per cent.
The soldiers who left Tuesday are part of a 250-member provincial reconstruction team that also includes representatives from the Canadian International Development Agency, Foreign Affairs, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and various non-governmental organizations.
Most of the troops are from 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group, mainly members of Edmonton Garrison's 1 Combat Engineer Regiment, 3 Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry and 1 Service Battalion. Another 50 from other Canadian bases will provide specialized skills such as satellite communications.
In Kandahar, the southern Afghan region that was once a stronghold of the Taliban, the reconstruction team will assist in defence, diplomacy and development. Members have been prepared for direct combat with Taliban fighters as insurgents promise more - and more sophisticated - attacks on foreign troops.
The Canadians will take over patrols in and around Kandahar from a U.S. team that lost four soldiers to a suicide bomb attack less than a month ago.
Afghan and U.S. officials have warned that Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida network is planning Iraq-style attacks against soldiers in the region, warning that such attacks will likely escalate in the coming weeks as the country prepares for elections scheduled Sept. 18.
Hillier called the mission a risky one but said his troops are well trained, superbly led and well equipped for it.
"They will be what the people in Afghanistan will remember about Canada - their face. This is up close and personal business," he said.
"I'm proud to be their chief of defence staff this morning."
Graham said he and Hillier plan to visit Kandahar in October to check on the mission's progress and make sure the troops have what they need.
In February, more Edmonton soldiers will arrive in the Kandahar area for a new rotation, and Canadians stationed in Kabul will move south. By the time that move is complete, another 600 to 700 Edmonton soldiers will be in the Kandahar area as part of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force.
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Canada used to be able to put a lot of divisions in the field. Now it's big news when they deploy a small company-sized element of 110 soldiers. Still, I'm glad for the service of every one of these soldiers -- glad to have them on the team.
As opposed to testosterone deficient.
Not me. Cantada's aims are to undermine the USA.
The 110 soldiers is an initial deployment ... more will follow. I wish we could do more. However, the libs are in power ... 'nough said.
Really? Please enlighten us.
I didn't know that -- that's good news. Canadians are always known as great soldiers, and the more we have on the "team" the better!
That's what a few of the more radical libs want you to think -- they want to imagine that there's this groundswell of opposition to liberty in the Middle East. But I don't think it's true.
..." for saying the job of Canadian soldiers is to be able to kill people."
Just what the hell are soldiers trained to do, shoot spit balls! For crying out loud! These far left liberal scum bags are making this world more dangerouse then any time in previous history. This stuff has lost any sense of humor many years ago and is now just pure sickening.
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