Government promises "co-operation and compromise" on Afghan plan

This is from canada.com. It should read co-operation and co-optation. The Liberals are totally hopeless and spineless on Afghanistan. They will do everything possible in order to avoid defeating the Conservatives on the issue. I really hope that the Conservatives do move a vote on Afghanistan up before the budget vote. This will force the Liberals to defecate or get off the throne. It was the Liberals who got us into Afghanistan and Kandahar and who extended the mission by allowing enough Liberals to vote with the Conservatives. Vote NDP, Green, Bloc Quebecois, Communist, Libertarian, Christian Heritage. Don't waste your vote on Liberals or Conservatives. When the election comes make your vote count!



Government promises 'co-operation and compromise' on Afghan plan

Juliet O'Neill
Canwest News Service
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
CREDIT: CNS file
A Canadian soldier from the NATO-led coalition looks at a villager during a patrol near Sperwan Ghar base in Panjwaii district of Kandahar province, southern Afghanistan.
OTTAWA - The government promised to welcome in a spirit of "co-operation and compromise" today a Liberal counter-proposal for the Canadian military mission in Afghanistan that would end combat operations in a year, two years before the minority Conservative government proposes.
Despite the assurance of compromise made by Conservative government House leader Peter Van Loan shortly after Liberal Leader Stephane Dion claimed "strong support" from his caucus for a package of amendments, the two sides remained at loggerheads over interpretation of the troop withdrawal date in a government confidence motion.
The government says the mission would end in 2011. The Liberals object to a separate clause which provides for a review and possible renewal of the mission by legislators after that - saying the clause makes it a "never-ending mission" to the Liberals. Still, the government argues it just doesn't want to tie the hands of a future Parliament.
Dion emerged from a caucus meeting of more than two hours during which he urged Liberals "to take the high road" in a debate over the military mission that could become a theme in an election campaign while Canadian Armed Forces are taking casualties in Afghanistan.
Van Loan passed on an opportunity to squelch speculation that the government may put the Afghanistan motion to a vote before a vote on the budget, the issue on which the Liberals would prefer to trigger an election. Both are confidence motions that could bring down the government and both would be voted on in March.
Dion is set to release the text of the Liberal counter-proposals today. They fix an end to combat operations in February 2009, extend the military mission for two years for non-combat security duties and training, and would give NATO notice now that Canada is withdrawing all troops in 2011.
The Liberals would appoint a "special envoy" to Afghanistan and establish a parliamentary committee to which ministers involved in the Afghan file - defence, foreign affairs and development - would have to report monthly. Liberals want to tip the aim of Canada's military from combat to security for reconstruction and development.
Van Loan insisted the government motion does not comprise an endless mission though it states a review would take place in 2011.
"Any future Parliament can make whatever decisions it wants," Van Loan said at a late-night news conference. "Our government's position is that we are seeking approval to 2011. We believe the mission can be completed by that date."
The Conservatives and Liberals tangled over the issue in Commons question period earlier Monday. Pressed by deputy Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff on whether the government is proposing "a limited mission or an endless war," Van Loan confirmed the government wants to leave legislators in 2011 the option of renewal.
"We are not going to tie the hands of a future Parliament," he declared.
Dion, who condemned the proposal as "an open-ended mission and a recipe for disaster," said he would propose clear, thoughtful and exhaustive amendments today.
Most MPs left the caucus meeting smiling and reporting unity. Keith Martin, a Vancouver MP who earlier sought a free vote on Afghanistan, gave the thumbs up sign. Toronto MP Jim Karygiannis said the amendments reflected what his constituents want. And Roy Cullen, a Toronto MP, said the meeting was good.
Cullen was one of the MPs who presented Dion with a tough internal audience. He has been uncomfortable with the notion of leaving Canadian Armed Forces in the main combat zone of Kandahar without undertaking combat operations.
"If you're out there with some people that are building a road and suddenly you're attacked with mortars or whatever but people are hiding somewhere away from the road, what do you do?" he asked in an earlier interview. "Do you just sort of stand guard and put on your helmets or do you call for the 'search and destroy' people?"
Cullen said both Liberals and Conservatives should be willing to compromise. "I'd like to see us acting in the best interests of Canadians instead of being so partisan about it.
"It seems to me what's lost in this equation, apart from everyone protecting their ego and being seen as tough and determined and very categorical, is what in the hell is the best for us and what's best for Afghanistan," said Cullen.
Ottawa Citizen
© Canwest