May 17, 2006
A Close Run Thing
The debate in the Commons this evening was a disgrace to a serious country. Any four citizens of Liechtenstein might have had a more intelligent discussion.
The government side--and this is a reflection on competence--did not clearly answer questions about:
2) UK and Dutch troop commitments.
These points were raised by opposition MPs. Yet the government never gave the clear and very simple answers. I am very worried that the government side does not know the facts. I am even more worried that they--along with the opposition--may not make the effort to learn them.
Update: Jim Travesty in the Crvena Zvezda, May 18:
1) Canadians will be in the front lines of George W. Bush's war on terrorism until 2009...
A war in Afghanistan endorsed repeatedly by the UN Security Council, a war to be mainly controlled by NATO this summer when it takes over (under a UK general) Regional Command (South)—where our troops are and including US troops—and almost completely NATO-controlled at the end of the year when US troops in Regional Command (East) transfer to NATO command.
2) Canada is targeting a lead role in Afghanistan at the expense of not being able to do much else in, say, Darfur.
Except for the facts that a) there is no mission in Darfur and may never be an effective one, and b) no-one wants a large Canadian contingent anyway.
UN diplomats say the force is expected to be largely drawn from African, South Asian and Islamic nations so as to reduce opposition to the move in Khartoum, while the United States and NATO would provide logistical support behind the scenes.
I suspect NATO can provide all the necessary support without Canada.
But Mr Travesty sees no need to explain reality to his readers. That would spoil a nice chance to score points off the government.
Trash journalism.
Upperdate: On Darfur, Iraq and Afstan, a delightful post at Arabian dissent.
Mark C.
Posted by markc at May 17, 2006 11:59 PM