Report From Parliament's Hill - February 14th, 2008

By Prince George - Peace River M.P. Jay Hill

Common Sense Prevails in Debate Over Afghanistan

Canada did not lose a single soldier due to a combat mission in Afghanistan last year.

Yet it would be understandable if you thought otherwise were you to listen only to the shameless political rhetoric of Jack Layton and others who reject Canada’s proud history built upon our soldiers’ willingness to fight, when necessary, to defend our freedoms.

The roadside bombs, suicide bombers and IEDs (improvised explosive devices) that have been killing Canadian troops AND soldiers from other nations will not stop.  Taliban insurgents don’t care whether our soldiers are engaged strictly in re-construction efforts or peacekeeping duties in Afghanistan.

You do not need to pick a fight with the Taliban … they are at war with EVERYONE who doesn’t share their narrow views, including innocent civilians.

Combat missions undertaken by Canadians have been successful as preventative action to weaken the Taliban’s ability to strike whomever, whenever they can.  Also, as the non-partisan Manley panel on the Afghan mission pointed out in response to the option of withdrawing Canadian troops yet continuing to train Afghan troops: “In reality, training and mentoring Afghan forces means sometimes conducting combat operations with them.”

On the two previous occasions when Canada tried to completely limit itself to “peacekeeping”, the results were horrific.  Remember Bosnia, when our soldiers ended up being disarmed, tied-up and humiliated because they were politically hand-cuffed and couldn’t fight back?  And Rwanda, when our troops, in the name of “peacekeeping”, were not allowed to intervene to prevent the unspeakable genocide that took place there?

Canada has a proud tradition of peacekeeping and we’ve had many successes in that regard but, as I have repeated many times before, THERE IS NOT YET ANY PEACE TO KEEP IN AFGHANISTAN!

And so, if Canada or any other nation wants to succeed in re-construction efforts and ever hopes to see a lasting peace for Afghan citizens, we can’t simply let the Taliban organize and amass weapons in one region while we build a hospital or school they eventually intend to blow up in another region.

But we do need help.  That’s why our Conservative Government introduced a motion echoing the recommendation of the Manley Panel to extend Canada’s commitment to the United Nations-mandated mission in Afghanistan until the end of 2011, on the condition that Canada can secure a partner to provide a battle group of approximately 1,000 troops, along with medium helicopter lift capacity and high performance Unmanned Aerial Vehicles.

This is not a Conservative mission or a Liberal mission.  This is a Canadian mission.  Parliament cannot micromanage the military.  We are politicians not military strategists.  And the divided federal Liberal caucus finally convinced Stéphane Dion of this important fact. 

The Liberals now say they will support Canada conducting a real military mission until 2011, so long as we get the help from our NATO partners that Prime Minister Stephen Harper has requested.  This belated response by the Liberals is a welcome one.  At least thus far, the best interests of Canada, the Afghan people and international security may have triumphed over partisan politics in Ottawa.

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