Quote:
The government said it plans to have MPs vote on the Afghan motion next month before the Prime Minister heads to a summit of NATO leaders in Bucharest, April 2-4. The government wants NATO to commit another 1,000 troops to Kandahar and help it obtain helicopters and unmanned drones.
The Tory motion adopted almost all of the wording of a motion proposed by Mr. Dion on Feb. 12, but changed a few key points.
It deleted the Liberals' demands that the Canadian Forces refuse to transfer detainees to Afghan authorities. Instead, the government commits to "meeting the highest NATO and international standards" on respecting prisoners' rights.
Mr. Rae said the important point is that the government agreed to accept a firm end date, broadening the mission with more aid and diplomatic efforts, and adopting the Liberal wording on changing the focus of the mission to training Afghan forces and providing security for reconstruction efforts.
"That's what the mission will do. The issue will be if NATO says, 'We want other things to be done,' you say, 'Well, if you want those things to be done, you're going to have to find an additional partner to do that.' "
Also yesterday, Mr. Harper delivered a speech to a defence think tank that stressed the need to be willing to send soldiers to fight to enforce peace in dangerous areas, rather than sticking to classic blue-bereted peacekeeping.
"That is the reality and will be the reality of our world for the foreseeable future," he said. "That means we will need a strong, multifaceted military, backed by the political will to deploy."
He said the world will ignore well-meaning countries without military strength.
"Countries that cannot or will not make real contributions to global security are not regarded as serious players," he said.
"They may be liked by everybody. They may be pleasantly acknowledged by everybody. But when the hard decisions get made, they will be ignored by everybody."
Mr. Harper promised his government would hike the "automatic" increases in military spending in the federal budget starting in 2011, from 1.5 per cent a year to 2 per cent. He said accelerating the increase in defence spending would "thoroughly reverse the so-called rusting out of our Canadian Forces."
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http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servl...l_gam_mostview
I assume the MP's will vote yes?
Very contradictory things going on up there..
One side is saying out of Afghanistan and NATO will just have to find another member to do x if x still needs doing.....great plan btw zz
..while Harper (I assume representing the other side?) is saying buildup because we need a military to fight wars like that in Afghanistan...