NDP Defence Critic and Victoria MP call for a new direction
VICTORIA – NDP MP Denise Savoie (Victoria) and NDP Defence Critic Dawn Black (New Westminster-Coquitlam) supported calls by protestors today for the determined and safe withdrawal of Canadian Forces from Afghanistan. Today’s meeting of NATO generals in Victoria is likely to focus on Afghanistan as the central issue. “The generals may want to meet in private to discuss their plans for Afghanistan, but their elected leaders should be hearing the voices of Canadians on this issue,” said Savoie.
NATO has been facing increasing problems in Afghanistan, including rising civilian casualties. The mission is wrong and it doesn’t work. “NATO needs to realize that if they continue to follow the narrow-minded agenda of the Bush administration on this issue, then they will simply fuel the cycle of violence in Afghanistan,” said Black.
Since the war in Afghanistan began nearly six years ago, there has been little sign that NATO is willing to acknowledge its failings or change its approach in Afghanistan. Canada has been involved in the counter-insurgency mission in Kandahar since 2005 when the Liberal government deployed troops to the southern province.
The Liberals, the Bloc and Conservatives all support Canada’s involvement in the war in Afghanistan until February 2009. “If they believe that this will be the wrong mission for Canada in 2009, then why is it not the wrong mission now?” asked Savoie.