STAND UP FOR CANADA = FIGHTING HARPERCRITS: Canada: Peace Maker and Paramedic

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        There are always choices.

        The Americans and Russians, our neighbours, are colliding.

        The Afghan War is in the process of spreading into the tribal areas of Pakistan.

        Some see Canada serving useful, productive purposes internationally with our present paths.

        What is considered below on balance in my view offers more productive directions: as peacemakers between our northern and southern neighbours;
        as the pre-eminent nation able to rapidly to the aid of traumatic occurrences wherever they occur in the world with our four huge new planes.

        As with all suggested undertakings there are positives and negatives that must be balanced in arriving at a decision.

        Not to my knowledge has there been discussion of these directions.

        They are presented to you for your consideration. And, should you be of a mind, your comment.

Joe

905-356-3901

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Canada: Peace Maker and Paramedic

Canada faces to-day two choices to-day, adhering to the directions of the United States of America in international affairs or following a "Made in Canada" course of action.

The United States is intent on extending the Afghanistan conflict into Pakistan. Six cross-border strike within the last nine days. Not just drones now but American boots on Pakistan ground. All without NATO allies being informed, let alone being asked for consent.

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates has a plan in motion and will be seeking "contributions from allies to help underwrite the $20 billion cost over five years."

Planned as well is a "command reorganization (that) implies that an American officer will be in charge of the NATO and American missions for the foreseeable future. "

Canadian Forces were committed to Afghanistan originally expecting to face little direct combat and to focus on reconstruction and on maintaining security in areas that were relatively calm.

They are now engaged in a war that cannot be won and that is being unilaterally extended into Pakistan.

The Second Regional Economic Cooperation Conference on Afghanistan, held Nov. 18 to 19, 2006, committed Canada to assist in the construction of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) pipeline project which runs partly through Kandahar province.

Casualties will increase as American plans unfold and the field of conflict widens. Exit in 2011 is a mirage.

The withdrawal of Canadian Forces and Canada's urging the United States to negotiate power sharing among the various factions in Afghanistan, which will be the eventual outcome in any case, is the most useful role Canada can play.

It would be in our tradition as peace makers. It would as well free us to employ our new planes as international paramedics to the world and enable us to use our good offices to have our neighbours, Russia and the United States, engage in negotiation rather than the
sabre rattling that threatens world peace.

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ANNOTATED COPY:

Canada faces to-day two choices to-day, adhering to the directions of the United States of America in international affairs or following a "Made in Canada" course of action.

The United States is intent on extending the Afghanistan conflict into Pakistan. Six cross-border strike within the last nine days.(1) Not just drones now but American boots on Pakistan ground. All without NATO allies being informed, let alone being asked for consent.

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates has a plan in motion and will be seeking "contributions from allies to help underwrite the $20 billion cost over five years."

Planned as well is a "command reorganization (that) implies that an American officer will be in charge of the NATO and American missions for the foreseeable future. " (2)

Canadian Forces were committed to Afghanistan originally expecting to face little direct combat and to focus on reconstruction and on maintaining security in areas that were relatively calm.

They are now engaged in a war that cannot be won and that is being unilaterally extended into Pakistan. (3)

The Second Regional Economic Cooperation Conference on Afghanistan, held Nov. 18 to 19, 2006, committed Canada to assist in the construction of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) pipeline project which runs partly through Kandahar province.(4)

Casualties will increase as American plans unfold and the field of conflict widens. Exit in 2011 is a mirage.

The withdrawal of Canadian Forces and Canada's urging the United States to negotiate power sharing among the various factions in Afghanistan, (5) which will be the eventual outcome in any case, is the most useful role Canada can play.

It would be in our tradition as peace makers. It would as well free us to employ our new planes as international paramedics to the world and enable us to use our good offices to have our neighbours, Russia and the United States, engage in negotiation rather than the sabre rattling that threatens world peace. (6)

(1) Pakistan: Uproar grows over first ground assault by US troops
     http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0904/p99s01-duts.html

     US targets Haqqani Network in North Waziristan
     http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2008/09/us_targets_haqqani_n.php

     ISAF says its troops dont operate in Pakistan
     http://www.pajhwak.com/viewstory.asp?lng=eng&id=61510

     Pakistan threatens to retaliate against US
     http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=68818&sectionid=351020401

     At Least 23 Killed as US Drones Attack School in North Waziristan
     http://news.antiwar.com/2008/09/08/at-least-20-civilians-killed-as-us-drones-attack-school-in-north-waziristan/

     US runs out of patience with Pakistan
     http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/JF17Df02.html

(2) Gates Pushing Plan for Afghan Army
     http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/08/world/asia/08military.html

     Top U.S. Marine sees shift from Iraq to Afghanistan
     http://www.newsdaily.com/stories/n27455527-afghan-usa-marines/

(3) Afghanistan struggle will last a 'generation'
     http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/frontline/2287412/Des-Browne-warns-Afghanistan-struggle-will-last-a-%27generation%27.html

     RETHINKING INSURGENCY.
     http://www.strategicstudiesinstitute.army.mil/pdffiles/PUB790.pdf

(4) Top Canadian officials agreed to Afghanistan 'energy bridge'
     http://www.thehilltimes.ca/html/cover_index.php?display=story&full_path=/2008/june/23/energy_bridge/&c=1

     Canadians could be defending Afghan gas pipeline
     http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080619/afghan_pipeline_080619/20080621?hub=Specials

     A Pipeline Through A Troubled Land
     Afghanistan, Canada, and the New Great Energy Game
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