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Canada: War planners get cold feet
National Post (Canada) ^ | Nov 20, 2001 | Sheldon Alberts

Posted on 11/20/2001 7:55:50 PM PST by jodorowsky

November 20, 2001

War planners get cold feet
Canada reconsiders role: 'We don't want to have a big fight there,' PM says as rebels turn inhospitable

Sheldon Alberts, with files from Chris Wattie
National Post
Jodie Sinnema, The Edmonton Journal

Military personnel in Edmonton yesterday examine equipment, including tents, stoves, rations and ammunition which is loaded on to toboggans, as they prepare to depart for Afghanistan.


OTTAWA - Canada's plan to send 1,000 infantry troops into Afghanistan as part of an international stabilization force might be shelved because of federal government concerns the soldiers are not welcome and could draw heavy fire.

"The principal role that we hope they will have if, whenever and if they go there -- because there is no final conclusion -- will be to make sure [aid gets] to the people who need it," Jean ChrŽtien, the Prime Minister, said yesterday.

"Of course, we don't want to have a big fight there. We want to bring peace and happiness as much as possible."

Three rifle companies from Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, an engineer squadron and combat support company have been on 48-hour standby for deployment to Afghanistan since Wednesday.

But senior government officials are now reconsidering the soldiers' role after Britain delayed the deployment of 2,000 of its troops yesterday because Northern Alliance commanders said the foreign soldiers would not be welcome.

Members of Britain's 16 Air Assault Brigade were to arrive this week at Bagram air base outside Kabul, but their landing was cancelled after Alliance chiefs said the foreigners were not needed.

John Manley, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Art Eggleton, Minister of National Defence, cited that development as the primary reason Canada's plans are in flux and said it is possible the Canadians will remain at home.

"Obviously we are not going to send our people into a condition in which they are unwelcome," Mr. Eggleton said.

Mr. Manley said foreign troops will never be welcomed by all the factions in Afghanistan. "But clearly, we'll want to be very closely co-ordinated with other members of the [international] coalition before we go in."

Initial tension between Britain and the Alliance over the presence of British troops at Bagram is now being called a "misunderstanding" by both sides.

Northern Alliance military commanders were apparently angry that Britain failed to ask their permission before sending in an advance team for the stabilization force, which is to include the Canadian troops.

British diplomat Stephen Evans said yesterday that there was "no problem about the current level of troops at Bagram." But he acknowledged there was still no progress on further troop deployments.

The uncertainty prompted the Canadian Forces yesterday to postpone the departure for Afghanistan of a small reconnaissance team, which was supposed to scout possible areas for the Canadians to patrol.

Military officers are still planning specifics of a possible Canadian mission in conjunction with U.S. commanders at the coalition against terrorism's central command in Florida, Mr. Eggleton said.

"I still hope that our troops will have a role," he said.

The Defence Minister has been under fire from opposition parties and some military analysts for signalling last week that Canadian troops would be pulled from Afghanistan if they encountered heavy fighting.

Their mission would be to secure transportation routes to allow the delivery of humanitarian aid. They would not be equipped with heavy artillery or armoured personnel vehicles necessary to engage in front-line warfare, Mr. Eggleton said.

"If they suddenly face that kind of situation without the proper equipment, without the proper preparation, it would only be appropriate to pull them back," Mr. Eggleton said.

Dr. David Bercuson, the director of the Centre of Military and Strategic Studies at the University of Calgary, said Mr. ChrŽtien's statements suggest the government has a "bizarre" notion of what soldiers are supposed to do.

"Perhaps the Prime Minister has found a new role for the Canadian military," he said. "Instead of fighting and winning wars, he seems to think they're for handing out humanitarian aid or helping out with disasters."

Dr. Bercuson said the government's reluctance to commit ground troops to Afghanistan is all the more puzzling since he is convinced the public supports the idea.

"We need to commit ourselves to this war ... [and] the people of Canada clearly want to be involved in this war," he said. "I think the government just doesn't want to do it."

Stockwell Day, the Canadian Alliance leader, accused the government of sending mixed signals about Canada's commitment to stand "shoulder to shoulder" with its allies in the war on terrorism.

"I do not know if the Prime Minister has been watching the news. There is a big fight there," Mr. Day said. "Canadians will always work on plans for peace, but we have never run from a fight for freedom."

He expressed concern over the possibility the light infantry companies on alert for duty in Afghanistan will not be fully equipped for intense fighting.

"If they are going into a highly intensive ground combat situation, they need to be prepared to be able to do that. And we are getting a mixed message from the government. They need to clarify it."

The confusion surrounding the multi-national mission has put Tony Blair, the British Prime Minister, on the defensive. For one thing, his office at 10 Downing Street had to deny Mr. Blair's ambitions for a large multi-national force had opened a rift between London and Washington, which holds a dimmer interest in presiding over what follows the bombing in Afghanistan.

"Simply not true," said a Downing Street spokesman about reports of a British-U.S. schism.

As well, there have been numerous reports of unhappiness among British military planners over what they see as a mission with no clear aims and no exit strategy.

The British government insisted the Northern Alliance had come around to the idea of a multi-national force after receiving assurances its mandate would be to help the humanitarian relief effort.



TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
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"Of course, we don't want to have a big fight there. We want to bring peace and happiness as much as possible."

"Obviously we are not going to send our people into a condition in which they are unwelcome," Mr. Eggleton said.

1 posted on 11/20/2001 7:55:50 PM PST by jodorowsky
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To: jodorowsky
good god.
2 posted on 11/20/2001 7:59:31 PM PST by Husker24
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To: jodorowsky
Words fail me when I try to describe the contempt in which I hold successive Canadian governments for having gutted our country's defences to pay for the ever-growing welfare state.

The first role of any government is protect and defend its citizens, its territory, and its national sovereignty. None of which Chretien and company have ever cared for.

3 posted on 11/20/2001 8:01:42 PM PST by Loyalist
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To: Husker24
What if we had used this rational during WWII. We wouldnt have invaded Germany cause they wouldnt have wanted us there.
4 posted on 11/20/2001 8:03:20 PM PST by Husker24
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To: jodorowsky
What has happend to Canada, im almost speechless.
5 posted on 11/20/2001 8:04:29 PM PST by Husker24
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To: Loyalist
The Canadian soldiers buried in Flanders Fields must be turning over in their graves.
6 posted on 11/20/2001 8:06:27 PM PST by Polybius
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To: jodorowsky
Canada mission in the War on Terrorism will be what is was before the war on Terrorism.... to make the country safe for its anti-American PC crap.
7 posted on 11/20/2001 8:07:06 PM PST by prometheus
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To: jodorowsky
"Afghanistan as part of an international stabilization force might be shelved because of federal government concerns the soldiers are not welcome and could draw heavy fire."

Well Bush said it was going to be a deferent kind of war.

8 posted on 11/20/2001 8:13:23 PM PST by Liberal Bob
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To: jodorowsky
War is scary, Taliban bad. We might get hurt. MOMMA!!

Geez, what a bunch of limp d*cks!

9 posted on 11/20/2001 8:15:33 PM PST by Brett66
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To: jodorowsky
Tell this to the ghosts of those who took the beaches on D-Day, tell it to the ghost of WWI's greatest fighter ace and scores more who gave their lives, who suffered wounds in both world wars so that we might be free. Shame on a nation that once produced warriors and now gives us .... Peter Jennings.
10 posted on 11/20/2001 8:18:00 PM PST by AmericanVictory
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To: Brett66
What a bunch of wimps.
11 posted on 11/20/2001 8:19:19 PM PST by spokeshave
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To: jodorowsky
Of course, we don't want to have a big fight there. We want to bring peace and happiness as much as possible."

"Obviously we are not going to send our people into a condition in which they are unwelcome," Mr. Eggleton said.

I'm glad the Canucks did not ask the Germans for permission to storm Juno beach.

12 posted on 11/20/2001 8:28:00 PM PST by redbaiter
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To: redbaiter
I don't think I have ever been so ashamed of our government. The PPCLI boys were ready to go. What a way to kill morale.
13 posted on 11/20/2001 8:32:02 PM PST by Proud Canadian
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To: redbaiter
If Costa Rica decided to invade Canada tomorrow, The Canadians would have to ask the U.S. to defend them. Chretien is beneath contempt.

"Cry the beloved country"

14 posted on 11/20/2001 8:35:01 PM PST by Guillam
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To: Proud Canadian
I feel for you. I've had the privilege to meet some of Canadian pilots who flew Spits and Hurri's fighting the Nazi's in the Battle of Britain. This kind of stuff from the "Quebequa" (spell) is really upsetting to these silver haired heroes.
15 posted on 11/20/2001 8:46:17 PM PST by elbucko
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To: Proud Canadian
Maybe Canada should give Quebec independence......
16 posted on 11/20/2001 8:50:49 PM PST by Dan from Michigan
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To: jodorowsky
What do you expect? Our enlightened dictator-for-life and his lackey Liberal Party would rather take our tax money (and damn if there ain't a lot of it) away from our military and pump it into such 'progressive' social systems as a failing health care system, pathetic publik skools, arts programs that spew PC crap, etc.

But we deserve it. We keep voting the bastiches in.

17 posted on 11/20/2001 8:52:38 PM PST by Rightwing Canuck
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To: Loyalist
Greets Ontarian! Saw your profile. Alliance supporter, eh? I haven't been keeping up to date with the latest on their status after the shaky stuff that happened earlier this year, mainly because Yank politics are so much more interesting. How's your take on the current state of the party?
18 posted on 11/20/2001 8:55:06 PM PST by Rightwing Canuck
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To: jodorowsky
Canada's plan to send 1,000 infantry troops into Afghanistan as part of an international stabilization force might be shelved because of federal government concerns the soldiers are not welcome and could draw heavy fire.
Ya think so!!!Maybe it's better they stay home.
19 posted on 11/20/2001 8:58:38 PM PST by HP8753
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To: Husker24
Can't blame them. Any wounded Canadians would be thrown back upon the mercies of their health system. That's too much to ask of anyone.
20 posted on 11/20/2001 9:05:24 PM PST by Elihu Burritt
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