Afghanistan: Canada's Iraq?

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

C. L. Cook
May 22, 2005

Last week, in a speech to the Standing Committee on National Defence and Veterans Affairs and the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, National Defence Minister Graham reiterated how Canada will face its "new" role in global military affairs. He cited the completion of a new Defence Policy Statement and its central document, A Role of Pride and Influence in the World.

According to Graham, that pride and influence will be expanded in Afghanistan first, then on to other "failed and failing states" around the globe. How those "failed and failing" will be chosen, or by whom, was left unsaid, but the minister did make it clear, Canada will move towards a "more sophisticated" operational integration with the U.S. military. Presumably, enhanced sophistication isn't necessary on the diplomatic front.

Graham informed the assembled worthies, Canada recognizes, "security at home often begins with security abroad," adding the new policy means his government will be "enhancing Canada's contribution to global security and peace building." The new direction is, in Graham's view, "informed by the rich operational experience of the Canadian Forces, both in Canada and locations ranging from Afghanistan to the Balkans, to Haiti. That that "rich operational experience" includes the death and maiming of Canadian soldiers, as in Afghanistan; providing assistance to murderous thugs in the overthrough of a democratically elected government in Haiti; allowing the fastest growing human trafficking region in the Balkans; uselessly witnessing the explosion of heroin production, again in Afghanistan, Minister Graham will excuse a lack of enthusiasm for his proudly announced new initiatives.

Never mind the more than $600 million cdn price tag that comes with Mr. Graham's new found muscularity. Never mind that what the minister and his government recognize as splendid achievements are less charitably described in the countries where his largesse is experienced. The problem with Mr. Bill Graham's Role of Pride and Influence in the World is the precise diminishment of Canada and Canadians it will bring. By unleashing well-heeled NGO's like CIDA, in accompaniment with military logistic support, a la the U.S.A. will undoubtedly put Canada in the sights of the very terror groups he so sonoriously warns against. But, there is a more immediate problem with Graham's thinking: Afghanistan.

more: http://www.pej.org/html/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=2602&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0

[Maple]

1. Local blogs

from unknown groups with an axe to grind aren't a good source for news.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

2. It's not a blog. They've been around since 1996... Pre weblog.

:toast:

[Maple]

3. Same thing

[oblivious]

5. Right, if it isn't govt-approved Reuters or AP, it might be dangerous.

This might be more appropriate in the editorials forum, but I see nothing in the article that can be shown to be untrue or questionable.

Because the writer is unknown to you it doesn't mean the writer is 'unknown'.

What possible benefit to Canada can result from closer integration with the US military on foreign adventures. How on earth can Graham call Canada's participation in the invasions of Afghanistan and Haiti "enhancing Canada's contribution to global security and peace building."

What a nightmare!

[Shadowen]

4. A part of me doesn't really care, to be honest.

I just think we have to fucking *fix* our military. I advocate Richard Clarke's suggestion: our army is too small to have generalists and numerous specializations like America's. Our elite task forces are among the best in the world, but our conventional troops are underequipped and underfunded. What we need to do is pick a specialty for our "regular" soldiers and train them mostly towards that end. (I nominate peacekeeping.)