Replies

Harper actually wants the US to halp get other NATO nations to deploy troops to the south instead of sending them to the north with caveats that keep them out of hot theatres.

Also, The Manley report calls for Canada to get helicopters and UAVs to deploy. Canada has been trying without success to be allowed to jump the queue for fast delivery of new Chinooks. The US had allowed Canada to jump the queue for fast delivery of 4 C-17s. I suspect that this was also discussed with Bush in respect of the Chinooks.

BTW. Canada continuously maintains 2500 troops in Kandahar, not 1000. All of them are in Kandahar and without caveats. Canada rotates its troops between three battle groups, built around the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (Patricias), the Royal 22e Regiment (Vandoos) and the Royal Canadian Regiment (RCRs). Just about every regular force and reserve regiment in Canada has participated in the mission and there is no shortage of volunteers.