Canada could stay (in Afghanistan) beyond 2011, MacKay says

Source: The Globe and Mail

KANDAHAR AIR FIELD -- Canada may well stay in Afghanistan beyond its 2011 military mandate, said Defence Minister Peter MacKay today, as he left a NATO base in Afghanistan where Ottawa is planning to buy up hundreds more beds for next year.

As U.S.-led forces and the Taliban brace for what may prove the deadliest summer yet, Mr. MacKay said Canada's role is changing to delivering aid to city dwellers "rather than simply focusing on holding swaths of land."

"I believe there are a number of roles Canada can play well into the future," the minister said, capping off a three-day visit, but added that this is subject to the will of the people. "We've said time and time again we're going to respect Parliament's voice on this," he said. "We can't come to Afghanistan and help them develop their democracy and not respect our own."

Public documents tendered this month on a government Web site indicate Defence Construction Canada wants to buy 400 more beds at the Kandahar Air Field by next year, at a cost of $5-million, with an option to build 400 more. The documents don't state who the beds are for.



Read more: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20090518.AFGHANTORART0011/TPStory/National

We like Obama and his family is beautiful but that doesn't mean we think he's on the right track about Afghanistan, health care and a few other things I could mention. I wish you had Dennis Kucinich for your president. He might be able to fulfill the wishes of the people who voted for Obama thinking he would end the wars, close Guantanamo and etcetera etcetera.

Obama never said he was going to withdraw from Afghanistan. In fact, he said just the opposite. So if anyone voted for him thinking he was going to leave Afghanistan, then that is their own oops. As for Iraq, ehnnnnn.

Especially when he allowed a war criminal to give speeches in your country.

didn't try to arrest him. But now he's going on to Toronto. Should be interesting as Toronto is left-wing country!

In the same paper there is an article which pretty well sums up how Canadians will view an extension of our time in Afghanistan. I for one never thought we should be in there in the first place believing it is about oil, the pipeline and UNACOL.

I am horrified that Obama is ramping up the firepower there and bombing the rat-shit out of Pakistan. Quite frankly. But better you should fight the enemy there than have them attack you while you are shopping at Walmart, eh?

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