Posted on 05/17/2006 4:37:45 PM PDT by Aussie Dasher
PRIME Minister Stephen Harper warned today that would unilaterally extend the deployment of Canadian troops in Afghanistan by one year if Parliament failed to pass a motion to extend the mission longer.
"This government is not in a position to simply walk away or to run away," Mr Harper told the House of Commons. "If we do not get a mandate (from) Parliament to extend for two years and beyond, we will proceed cautiously with a one-year extension."
Thereafter, Mr Harper said he would ask voters for a mandate to extend it further.
Canadian MPs will vote today in what is expected to be a nail-biter to determine whether Canada's combat mission in Afghanistan should be extended two years to 2009 to coincide with the end of Afghan President Hamid Karzai's term in office.
Canada has 2300 troops in Afghanistan, mostly in the southern Kandahar region where militants loyal to the Taliban government toppled by a US-led coalition in late 2001 are particularly active.
It's been such a long time since I have been proud of our Prime Minister....Mr. Harper impresses me more and more as time goes by.
Thank you Mr. Lucky - I have been saluting YOUR great nation for years! All the best...
Well done, Canada.
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