Another droplet of information for the taxpayers – Defence Minister Peter MacKay is said to be “very interested” in a Liberal plan to keep Canadian troops in Afghanistan to train Afghan troops and cops. This from the Toronto Sun/QMI (highlights mine):
The Conservative government is open to a Liberal pitch to keep troops in Afghanistan post-2011, Defence Minister Peter MacKay said Monday.
Last week, Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff said Canada should end its combat role as scheduled, but deploy soldiers in a safer region like Kabul training Afghanistan’s police and military. MacKay said there is “great interest” in that proposal – but hinted the ball is in the opposition’s court as the government is bound by an existing motion to pull out next year.
“I’m very interested. I know the Prime Minister has expressed interest in what Mr. Ignatieff said. But the parliamentary motion is very clear so that is where we are today,” he said …. “Throughout this mission there have been changes – we’ve seen extensions in the past. But that motion is rock solid in the mind of the government” ….
As I’ve been saying for almost a year now, the Motion is clear about leaving KANDAHAR, not AFGHANISTAN.
Also, note to headline writer: a Cabinet Minister sounds open to the idea, NOT the government. If the PM said it, maybe.
Would someone please strap on a pair and either:
1) put a motion forward calling for the training mission post-2011, and get some planning rolling, or
2) say “it’s over – full stop”.
I can dream, can’t I?
Previous rants:
The Official Message Still Stands, and On Training “Inside the Wire”
MILNEWS.ca Blog 