Nato defence ministers meeting today are not expected to offer any more troops for Afghanistan, despite a plea from military commanders for another 7,500 soldiers, alliance sources said yesterday.
...And this is why Harper and co. want the HOC vote before April, when our dear NATO allies tell us to get stuffed. Also interesting is that the motion will be "Manley Minus"
meaning that it will call for an extension of the combat role, without mentioning some of the recommendations made by the Manley panel on humanitarian aid, diplomacy, and more open communications by the federal government.
You can interpret this as being a gesture to the Liberals--some of Manley's stuff can get added to the motion via LPC amendments--or (more likely) you can interpret it to mean that diplomacy and humanitarian aid are so much chin music to the Tories and they really are willing to commit to a war without end.
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Which of course begs the question of whether or not NATO is even relevant anymore - that or could this impasse lead to the demise of the alliance. A lot of scary "what if" scenarios, then again, if our enemies can see that NATO can't build consensus on partnering in dangerous war zones, does that embolden those same enemies. Interesting and troubling times...
This whole meme doesn't pass the smell test.
Harper, unlike the average reporter or Liberal blogger, knows that barely half of Conservative supporters are behind the Afghanistan mission. Didn't know that, did you? Well it's true, and has been true for about 2 years now.
So the media would have us believe that Harper would call a referendum on an issue that splits his own party, not to mention the rest of the country. This, in pursuit of the majority government we are told he covets.
Not logical. Doesn't even compile. Most likely, the the Tories are just fucking with the media's tiny brains.
"Harper, unlike the average reporter or Liberal blogger, knows that barely half of Conservative supporters are behind the Afghanistan mission."
Actually, I did know that. Its been about 75% of Canadians against the extension of the mission, which must include a substantial portion of CPC support.
I don't really understand it either, or the media spin "Dion Trapped!"
Expect to see, as prescribed by Manley, a good sales job on the Afghan mission.
Starting here:
Weekly Afghan briefings to begin
http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/301339
If the opps and media think that PMSH screwed up by not selling the Afghan mission earlier,
consider how effective a flood of 'good news information' will be, just before a vote/during an election (even if there are casualties).
If msm won't carry the stories, we have Tory TV, direct feeds to local stations.
Remember a long long time ago, when it was reported that soldiers, in the field, were being trained as reporters?
And if you think that PMSH has just recently started to call NATO leaders for support, as accused, stop kidding yourself.
This mission has ALWAYS been #1 on PMSHs agenda.
Libs obligingly said it was his war!
He's been on this since January 2006.
PMSH wants Canadians to know exactly what he will do in Afghanistan, if they gave him a majority.
Liberals can not go into an election fearmongering when PMSHs cards are on the table.
He will shread the fairtale Liberal position 'stay in Afghanistan but don't fight'.
check and mate
What was the name of that fellow from Iraq TV that kept assuring the world that the US wasn't at his doorstep???
I think he escaped and is now working for Harper under the name, "wilson".
Hey, maybe we'll find Harper hiding in a hole too when this is all over.
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