Canada will be in Afghanistan until it can 'finish the job,' says MacKay: Knowledge Driven Revolution

Canadian troops will stay in Afghanistan as long as it takes to rebuild the war-torn country and establish democracy there, Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay said Sunday.

MacKay was responding to comments by Canadian and British military officials - including Canadian Gen. Rick Hillier - who have said international forces will be needed for up to five more years. Canada's current commitment expires in 2009.

"We've said all along that we're there to finish the job," said MacKay before meeting with Dutch Foreign Affairs Minister Bernard Bot.

"Will we be there five years? Will we be there longer? That remains to be seen. I would certainly defer to Gen. Hillier as far as his assessment on the ground."

MacKay said the Afghan mission will be the subject of future debates in Parliament. The current extension was voted in last spring.

Hillier told CTV's "Question Period" on Sunday that while Afghanistan's army is about 35,000 strong, it is not ready to take control yet.

"They've still got a long way to go, so it's going to be another two to five years," said Hillier.

He was echoing comments made a day earlier by the British commander of NATO forces in Afghanistan, who put his estimate at three to five years.

A newly released U.S. Congressional research report also says NATO faces a struggle of five years or more to free Afghanistan from Taliban influence.

MacKay said progress is already evident in Afghanistan. He said four million Afghans have returned to the country since the NATO mission began in 2002, and there have been positive developments in the volatile south.

The Afghanistan mission has been a contentious issue among political opposition in Canada, with the NDP calling for a withdrawal, along with Liberal party leadership candidate Gerard Kennedy.

Polls have suggested Canadians are deeply divided on the mission, as more Canadian soldiers are killed.

But MacKay repeated the Conservative government's assertion that Canada must fight terrorism abroad or face the threat at home.

"We either deal with this situation inside Afghanistan, or wait for it to come here," said MacKay. "Terror doesn't know any boundaries."

Canada has about 2,300 troops in Afghanistan, most of them in the south.

Last week, Ottawa announced it was sending another 450 soldiers and as many as 15 tanks. Canada's overall numbers will only increase by 200, because about 250 headquarters personnel are headed home.

The Conservative government will host Afghan President Hamid Karzai this week as it tries to build public support.

The Afghanistan mission has so far claimed the lives of 32 Canadian soldiers and one diplomat.

MacKay's meeting with the Dutch foreign affairs minister was in advance of a United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York this week.

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HOME V for Vendetta - R for Reality Canadian Bird Flu Pandemic Looming ? Shill of the Week: Stephan Harper Aspartame: The Sweetest Killer Chicken Little Terrorist of the Week: Creating Fake Terrorists Shill of the Week: Paul Martin The Number 1 Reason YOU became a Slave	Canada will be in Afghanistan until it can 'finish the job,' says MacKay James Keller - CP September 20, 2006 Canadian troops will stay in Afghanistan as long as it takes to rebuild the war-torn country and establish democracy there, Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay said Sunday. MacKay was responding to comments by Canadian and British military officials - including Canadian Gen. Rick Hillier - who have said international forces will be needed for up to five more years. Canada's current commitment expires in 2009. "We've said all along that we're there to finish the job," said MacKay before meeting with Dutch Foreign Affairs Minister Bernard Bot. "Will we be there five years? Will we be there longer? That remains to be seen. I would certainly defer to Gen. Hillier as far as his assessment on the ground." MacKay said the Afghan mission will be the subject of future debates in Parliament. The current extension was voted in last spring. Hillier told CTV's "Question Period" on Sunday that while Afghanistan's army is about 35,000 strong, it is not ready to take control yet. "They've still got a long way to go, so it's going to be another two to five years," said Hillier. He was echoing comments made a day earlier by the British commander of NATO forces in Afghanistan, who put his estimate at three to five years. A newly released U.S. Congressional research report also says NATO faces a struggle of five years or more to free Afghanistan from Taliban influence. MacKay said progress is already evident in Afghanistan. He said four million Afghans have returned to the country since the NATO mission began in 2002, and there have been positive developments in the volatile south. The Afghanistan mission has been a contentious issue among political opposition in Canada, with the NDP calling for a withdrawal, along with Liberal party leadership candidate Gerard Kennedy. Polls have suggested Canadians are deeply divided on the mission, as more Canadian soldiers are killed. But MacKay repeated the Conservative government's assertion that Canada must fight terrorism abroad or face the threat at home. "We either deal with this situation inside Afghanistan, or wait for it to come here," said MacKay. "Terror doesn't know any boundaries." Canada has about 2,300 troops in Afghanistan, most of them in the south. Last week, Ottawa announced it was sending another 450 soldiers and as many as 15 tanks. Canada's overall numbers will only increase by 200, because about 250 headquarters personnel are headed home. The Conservative government will host Afghan President Hamid Karzai this week as it tries to build public support. The Afghanistan mission has so far claimed the lives of 32 Canadian soldiers and one diplomat. MacKay's meeting with the Dutch foreign affairs minister was in advance of a United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York this week. Read the full article here Broken Link? If the link to the original article is broken or has been altered you can view the article by clicking here. About KDR \| \| Home \| \| Weekly Features Archive	Weekly Features Archive
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