This is Harper's War Now

Canadian soldiers, "training behind the wire," will continue to die in combat. So-called combat "trainers" frequently find themselves in live and death battles. If Canadians support the training mission, as it, it's because they do not understand what a military training mission entails.

Until now, Harper has insisted that Canadians will withdraw by July 2011. But NATO countries have been lobbying for months to persuade Harper to change his mind. Very suddenly Harper did an about face. The country must ask was Harper trying to restore his tarnished reputation at the expense of our Military? The conservatives of Canada had been rebuked by the world community just weeks before. Harper had suffered an humiliating defeat at the United Nations. The loss of a seat at the Security Council had been a blow to Harper's Government and his blaming Opposition Leader Michael Ignatieff wasn't getting much traction here at home.

Colin Kenny, once an adviser to the Right Hon. Pierre Elliott Trudeau, and now a Liberal Senator who specializes in defense matters noted the following:

When we talk about making tough foreign affairs decisions, we are talking about defending and advancing the interests of all Canadians. Anyone who thinks that having a president in Washington convinced that you have betrayed him when he needed you the most is not coming to grips with Canada's interests…. It has been reported that Stephen Harper gulped at the press conference in South Korea before answering a question as to whether he had changed his position on remaining in Afghanistan after 2011. I would have gulped too. There is no easy way out of this one.


Harper had a way out:
As prime minister in a minority government, he cannot commit Canada absolutely to any course of action. He must take it before Parliament for a debate. Was Harper not savvy enough to know this presented a way out for him, or was his "thirst" to be the only "decider" guiding him. Remember his words: "I make the rules"

In May 2007 Harper told the Parliament the following (this is a quote)

“Mr. Speaker, as members of the House know, we made a pledge during the last election campaign to put international treaties and military engagements to a vote in this chamber.

Guess Mr. Harper just changed the rules!                                            

In a recent poll 62% of Canadians vote NO on extending the Mission
38% of Canadians vote YES to extending the Mission 




All Afghanistan is a Battle Field

There will be pressure for Canada to lift its non-combat caveats, especially if the war worsens over the coming years."  Harper has already gambled the safety of  Canadian troops once and probably will not hesitate to do it once again

- The Bloc Quebecois will introduce a motion this week in Parliament to force a vote on the future of Canada's mission in Afghanistan, according to party leader Gilles Duceppe. It will be supported by the Liberals and the NDP Parties.