Posted on 05/24/2007 3:27:32 AM PDT by Clive
KANDAHAR - The Canadian Forces are making plans to stay in Afghanistan beyond the February 2009 deadline approved by parliament, the military's senior commander on the ground here said yesterday.
"Our plan right now is based on a mandate that goes till February '09. But clearly, from the military standpoint, we have looked at plans, we have looked at contingencies that go beyond that timeframe," said Brigadier-General Tim Grant, commander of Canada's 2,500 troops in Kandahar.
The Prime Minister and his senior Cabinet ministers have promised to revisit the future of the mission at a later date, but Stephen Harper has made it clear that Canada will not leave Afghanistan before its job as a NATO member is done.
On his first visit to Afghanistan 14 months ago, Mr. Harper told troops that Canada would not "cut and run" from its responsibilities in Afghanistan as long as he is prime minister.
Yesterday, on the second and final day of a surprise visit to Afghanistan, he said: "You know that your work is not complete. You know that we cannot just put down our arms and hope for peace. You know that we can't set arbitrary deadlines and hope for the best."
After the Prime Minister's speech, Brig.-Gen. Grant told reporters the Forces have no choice but to plan beyond the timeframe laid out by the politicians.
"The work will not be done here in February '09," he said.
Mr. Harper's refusal to submit to arbitrary deadlines for withdrawal was a clear reference to calls by the NDP and Liberal opposition to scale back the military component in favour of more development work. The NDP has called for an immediate withdrawal of troops, while the Liberals want Canada to notify its NATO allies that it intends to leave Kandahar -- where the current Taliban insurgency is strongest --as scheduled in 2009.
Polls show Canadians are divided on the merits of a mission that has claimed the lives of 54 military personnel and one diplomat since 2002. Brig.-Gen. Grant, however, said he was "out of touch" with the debate in Canada. "All I know is there's a lot of work left to be done."
In his speech, Mr. Harper lauded the Canadian soldiers for their sacrifices in Afghanistan and relayed the thanks of President Hamid Karzai, whom he met in Kabul a day earlier.
"Each of you stands among the greatest of your generation," Mr. Harper said. "You are Canada's sons and daughters and your country -- as much as this country -- owes you a debt of gratitude and its unwavering support.
"We will let no one diminish all that you have achieved here for Canada."
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Oops - wrong country.
Please send me a FReepmail to get on or off this Canada ping list.
Canada might end up being there longer than we are. Wouldn’t that be a damn shame.
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