Dion and Ignatieff visit Afghanistan

Why does Ignatieff need to go with Dion? To hold his hand? To tell him what to say? As far as I am concerned Canada should get out of Afghanistan in all respects. The money can be better used elsewhere. Aid of whatever sort in the context would still simply make Canada a junior partner in US imperialism but as the carrot provider rather than the stick user.
Notice that the objection of Ignatieff to bombing is not that it kills civilians but that it is not effective!


Dion and Ignatieff visit Afghanistan
TheStar.com - Canada - Dion and Ignatieff visit Afghanistan

January 12, 2008
Bruce Campion-Smith
Ottawa Bureau Chief

OTTAWA – Liberal Leader Stephane Dion is in Afghanistan, making his first trip to visit with Canadian troops and diplomats.

Dion, joined by deputy leader Michael Ignatieff, kicked off his visit in Kabul this morning where they visited with Afghan President Hamid Karzai.

“This was a wonderful opportunity to meet face-to-face with President Karzai to hear first-hand the impact that troops and civilians are having here,” Dion said in a statement after his visit.

Ignatieff called the meeting productive.

“We had a very fruitful discussion about the NATO mission in Afghanistan and Canada's role in it. I hope it was the first of many more to come,” Ignatieff said.

In the statement, the two politicians said they shared Karzai’s concerns about the “effectiveness” of air and artillery strikes that have caused civilian casualties, sparking anger among the Afghan population.

As well, they also said they pressed their call for a NATO-wide solution that ensures detainees are not transferred into a situation where they could face torture.

However, the statement was silent on Karzai’s reaction to the Liberal policy that Canada withdraw its more than 2,000 troops from combat in Kandahar in February, 2009. The Afghan leader has repeatedly called on Canada not to abandon the dangerous southern region of his country before stability is achieved.

The surprise visit was kept under wraps because of security concerns. While Liberal MPs have made their own forays to Kabul and Kandahar, this trip marks Dion’s first visit.

It comes as Parliament prepares to debate the future of the mission when the current military commitment expires in just over a year.

The Liberal party this week released a policy paper saying that Canada’s combat mission should end in February, 2009 but left the door open for other roles for the military in the war-torn country, perhaps as trainers for Afghan military and police.

As well, the policy paper also urged a greater focus on diplomatic and development efforts.

“The Liberal Party of Canada is very proud of the contributions our men and women in uniform have made to try to bring peace and stability to this region," Dion said in the statement.