Mr. Harper goes to Washington
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By Robert Billyard
PM Harper accuses others of playing political football on the issue of Afghanistan when it is surely he who is playing just such a wicked game.
He has just announced he will only hold a Parliamentary vote on the issue when he can be assured he can get a rubber stamp approval to go beyond 2/2009. In other words Harper will only proceed with a vote when he can pre-empt the Parliamentary process. As suspected from the outset the PM is playing a very deceitful game.
Some very good reasons for opposing this war are the US/Nato coalition is critically undermanned, there is an excessive and indiscriminate use of air power and the number of civilian casualties is unconscionable. These are all issues that hinge one on the other.
It is also a highly contentious issue whether the Taliban are best dealt with by means of the present overly aggressive military approach or through negotiation and diplomacy.
Historically, Afghanistan has been a sinkhole for invading occupiers and there is every reason to believe this will continue to be so especially when present strategies are so obviously flawed.
It has also been reported Canadian troops are taking a disproportionate number of casualties because they are not properly equipped.
Until such time as Canada and its NATO partners squarely address just such issues Canadians have a binding obligation to question the integrity of this mission.
Where as Canadian troops went to Afghanistan at the behest of the Martin Liberals in a humanitarian/developmental role; it was the Harper Conservatives who expanded the mission into a fighting role.
As Deep Integration proceeds unchecked, America’s wars become our wars and Canadians must consider the stark reality that Mr. Harper is taking his orders from Washington, not Parliament, not the Canadian people.
@ September 12, 2007