Layton wants troops home
September 1, 2006
Graham Fraser
NATIONAL AFFAIRS WRITER
OTTAWA—As Canadian soldiers marshalled for a major battle against Taliban forces in southern Afghanistan, NDP Leader Jack Layton called yesterday for Canada to pull its troops from the country by next February.
"Withdrawal should begin as soon as possible — working with our international partners to ensure a safe and smooth transition — but with a view to having it complete by February 2007," Layton said, calling Afghanistan the wrong mission for Canada.
"Canada can then focus on building a made-in-Canada foreign policy that moves us towards reclaiming Canada's place in the world. One that is clear, comprehensive and balanced," he said.
Layton's announcement came as Canadian and NATO forces in Afghanistan were preparing to retake a Taliban stronghold in the country's south.
NATO commanders warned Afghan civilians yesterday to flee the Panjwaii district near Kandahar where Canadian troops have fought — and several have died — to repeatedly retake the same dusty villages and scrubby grape farms.
Col. Steve Williams, the NATO deputy commander in southern Afghanistan, promised this attempt would have long-term results.
"This is going to be different because we're going to stay," said Williams, leader of 2,500 U.S. troops based with NATO forces in Kandahar. Canada has 2,200 troops in southern Afghanistan and is leading the multinational brigade there.
"Part of the problem in the past is forces would go in, engage the Taliban and then leave.
"We've realized you have to leave forces in the area to keep the Taliban from coming back. So that is our plan," Williams said, adding that the precise timing of the operation remains secret.
Eight Canadian soldiers died in Afghanistan in August, bringing the total killed there to 27 since 2002, and recent opinion polls suggest support among Canadians for the mission is waning.
Yesterday, Cpl. David Braun, a 27-year-old killed in Afghanistan last week when the convoy he was travelling in was hit by a suicide bomber, was buried in Raymore, a tiny farming community north of Regina, Sask.
Layton argued Canada's efforts in the region are overwhelmingly focused on military force, and that the $4 billion in spending on the military effort in Afghanistan vastly outweighs what is being spent in aid.
Canada has announced aid contributions for Afghanistan totalling $1 billion over 10 years.
"Prime Minister Harper need only look at the experiences in Iraq to conclude that ill-conceived and unbalanced missions do not create the conditions for long-term peace," he said. "Why are we blindly following the defence policy prescriptions of the Bush administration?"
Saying Afghanistan is not the right mission for Canada, Layton argued it lacks a comprehensive reconstruction plan, development program or strategy to achieve peace.
"Unfortunately, the number of conflicts around the world today, including the deepening tensions in the Middle East, mean that we must carefully choose where we can make the greatest difference," he said.
Layton reiterated his argument that Canada should be involved in the multilateral force in Lebanon.
"New Democrats understand the need to send troops into combat and the risks involved," he said. "We support and have supported appropriate missions."
The key factor for the NDP, he said, was to ensure Canada participates in missions where the objectives and mandate are clear and where there are clear criteria for success.
He pointed out the NDP is meeting for a major policy convention in Quebec City next week.
"I'm asking New Democrats to send a strong message to all Canadians, and to the world, by supporting, in overwhelming numbers, motions that call for the withdrawal of our forces from the Liberal-Conservative mission in Afghanistan," he concluded.
Under questioning, Layton said the priority should be a comprehensive peace process.
"We've proposed that what should happen in Afghanistan, and what the world should put into place, with the Afghans, is a comprehensive peace process, not a counter-insurgency war," he said. "There needs to be immediate and significant balance introduced ... with regard to reconstruction, with regard to humanitarian aid."
Asked if this meant negotiating with the Taliban, Layton replied: "A comprehensive peace process has to bring all the combatants to the table."
He said that he had the sense that being involved in wars of this kind, "linked right in to the foreign policy agenda," is not making Canada a safer place, but is increasing the climate of fear.
Liberal defence critic Ujjal Dosanjh called Layton's proposal irresponsible.
"The focus needs to be regained in Afghanistan, but to say we should have a withdrawal without taking into context our international commitments, our NATO allies and their views, I think that would be irresponsible," he said.
Dosanjh said that on the right, Harper has extended Canada's mission in Afghanistan without a debate, without much thought or planning, and on left, Layton is proposing a withdrawal without a concrete plan, or discussion with NATO or examination of Canada's international commitments.
Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay quickly brushed off Layton's proposal.
"Canada will not go back on its word to its allies and people of Afghanistan to fight terrorism and help to develop and stabilize the region," he said.
He pointed out that the Commons voted last spring to extend the Afghan mission to 2009.
"It's unfortunate that Mr. Layton cannot accept the will of Parliament."
The NDP voted against that motion, but it passed with support from a splintered Liberal party.
The bulk of recent Canadian casualties have taken place in an area 30 kilometres west of Kandahar, where Canadian commanders have trumpeted several victories and boldly predicted rapid reconstruction.
Instead, much of the area keeps falling back into Taliban hands.
One Afghan leader from the area said NATO is in for a tough fight that won't end once troops move in again. He said the alliance should attempt some form of reconciliation with local militants.
Haji Agha Lalai, the chief Panjwaii district elder who was chased out of his village by Taliban, said the insurgents have infiltrated every aspect of life there.
While NATO's Williams said the time for reconciliation is over, he did promise a major reconstruction push would follow behind combat troops to quickly restore local commerce and infrastructure.
In the latest violence to shake the war-battered country, Taliban militants attacked a southern town yesterday, sparking intense fighting with government troops that left two insurgents dead, the defence ministry said.
A NATO air strike pushed back the militants, who used mortars, rocket-propelled grenades and heavy machine guns in the attack on Naw Zad, in volatile Helmand province, said defence ministry spokesman Gen. Zahir Azimi. He said fighting between the Taliban and Afghan troops was "intense."
A Dutch F-16 fighter jet crashed in Ghazni province in central Afghanistan, killing the pilot, military officials said. Hostile fire was ruled out. The 29-year old pilot, the only person on board, was found dead at the crash site.
The Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry has just returned from a six-month rotation in Afghanistan, and the First Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment is replacing them. The Royal 22nd Regiment is scheduled for the next rotation.
With files from Canadian Press
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