Call Your MP Today To Oppose Motion To Extend Commitment In Afghanistan

We do have a chance to win this vote. The Strategic Counsel poll indicated that 38% of Conservative voters, 54% of Liberal voters, 60% of NDP voters, and 75% of Bloc Quebecois voters oppose having Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan. The contact information for your Member of Parliament can be found on our website, www.canadians.org in the "Take Action" section. The Council of Canadians believes that: 1. Canadian foreign and defence policies should not be made to please the United States. As reported in the Ottawa Citizen (March 25, 2006), "In a July 2005 interview...(then Defence Minister Bill) Graham...acknowledged that mending fences with the Bush administration played a role in the government's decision to take on the Kandahar mission. The U.S. was still angry over Canada's refusal to join its invasion of Iraq and it didn't help that the Martin government had declined to participate in the Pentagon's controversial missile defence system." Moreover, The Walrus political affairs magazine (March 2006) stated, "In the entwined corridors between (the ministries of) Defence, Foreign Affairs, and International Trade, and through shuttle diplomacy between Ottawa and Washington, the thinking may be that we will finally resolve the softwood-lumber issue and keep our border open to trade by lessening America's burden in Afghanistan." 2. The Canadian military should focus on peacekeeping, not combat operations. When then Defence Minister Bill Graham introduced the new mission in Afghanistan to the Defence and Foreign Affairs Committee on May 16, 2005, he did not speak of combat operations. As reported in the Ottawa Citizen (March 25, 2006), "...(Mr. Graham) did not explain to MPs that Canada's new role in Kandahar was part of the U.S. military's controversial Operation Enduring Freedom, which had been in Afghanistan since the Sept. 11 al-Qaeda attack on the U.S. In fact, several NATO partners had already refused to join the U.S. operation, blaming its aggressive counter-terrorism tactics for turning Afghan civilians against international efforts." A poll conducted by Ekos Research Associates in February 2005 found that 57% of Canadians favoured the Canadian military involved in "traditional peacekeeping" rather than peacemaking. 3. Canadian public opinion does not support our current role in Afghanistan. As reported in the Ottawa Citizen (March 25, 2006), "One 2003 poll in a Defence department report showed that while Canadians largely supported "peacekeeping," only 20% thought soldiers should take part in the United States' war on terror. As noted above, 54% of Canadians now oppose or strongly oppose Canadian involvement in Afghanistan. 4. Canadian soldiers should not be put in harm's way to support a trade agenda with the United States. As reported in the Toronto Star (March 29, 2006), the Canadian Embassy in the United States has spent $18,000 to have "huge signs and banners posted in seven strategic subway stations in the District of Columbia and suburban Virginia tout the Canadian contribution in Afghanistan, showing that the fight Stephen Harper calls 'our war' is also meant to curry favour in Washington. The poster features a Canadian soldier, weapon in hand, standing alongside Afghans, with the words, 'Canadian Troops in Kandahar, Afghanistan. Boots On The Ground'." 5. Members of Parliament should have voted on the original decision to send Canadian soldiers to Afghanistan. To date, there have only been "take-note" debates on Canada's role in Afghanistan but no vote. On the first take-note debate on November 15, 2005 opposition Defence-critic Gordon O'Connor (who is now the Minister of Defence in Stephen Harper's government) said, "The government unwisely meandered into this commitment without having a clear idea of what was involved." Conservative MP Dave MacKenzie "accused the government of avoiding debate, a vote and 'serious examination' of troop deployment." And Conservative MP Leon Benoit asked why the government had not provided Parliament with the basics of the Canadian Forces mission in Kandahar. Contact your Member of Parliament today and tell them that the Canadian government should not extend Canadian combat operations in Afghanistan. Again, you can find your Member of Parliament's contact information in the "Take Action" section of our website, www.canadians.org. -- The Council of Canadians 700-170 Laurier Avenue West, Ottawa, ON K1P 5V5. Tel: (613) 233-2773; Toll-free: 1-800-387-7177 Fax: (613) 233-6776 inquiries@canadians.org www.canadians.org 2. Ceasefire.ca action May 17, 2006 Is a snap vote meant to protect the Conservative's re-election agenda? A new report by Polaris Institute released today details the cost of Canada's role in Afghanistan: "Boots on the Ground: Canadian Military Operations in Afghanistan and UN Peacekeeping." Download report [PDF 30k] Dear Susan, As you may know, Stephen Harper’s Conservatives have called a snap vote on whether to extend the Canadian Forces’ mission in Afghanistan for an additional two years beyond February 2007, when the current commitment ends. After careful consideration, I am suggesting that you contact your Member of Parliament and urge him or her to vote "no" on the extension. * The short timing of the vote eliminates any possibility of reasoned and informed debate by Parliamentarians, and cuts-off any possibility of further expert and public hearings. * This decision appears to be completely driven by the Conservatives’ fears of flagging public support, and damage to their future re-election prospects. * There is no pressure from NATO, which is expected to assume control of the mission in the fall, for a quick decision like this from Canada. * There is growing evidence that the U.S.-led counter-terrorism mission, of which Canada is currently participating, is only making matters worse for NATO’s peace support mission in Afghanistan. And there is uncertainty about the terms of the new mission when Canada and other forces transition to NATO control. * Finally, the military mission in Afghanistan is consuming all available resources, preventing Canada from participating in UN-led missions elsewhere, such as in Darfur. Once a top-10 contributor to UN peace missions, we now rank a mere 50th as a contributor of soldiers for UN "Blue Helmet" missions. I urge you to take a moment and send a message to your MP using Ceasefire.ca’s Action Centre. http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?ID=M7167511610436662928304065 Best, Steven Staples, Polaris Institute & founder of Ceasefire.ca [Proofreader's note: this article was edited for spelling and typos on May 17, 2006]

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