Majeres' Musings

Harper wants troops to 'finish job' in Afghanistan; dims hope for quick vote

By BRUCE CHEADLE

Prime Minister Stephen Harper wears a traditional outback hat and rain coat during the official photo at the APEC summit in Sydney, Australia Saturday, Sept. 8, 2007. (CP PHOTO/Tom Hanson)

SYDNEY, Australia (CP) - Prime Minister Stephen Harper has set the benchmark for what might be called winning conditions on a vote to extend Canada's military mission in Afghanistan.

Harper said Sunday there'll be no vote in Parliament anytime soon unless he can find enough support (majere, to lose more lives and gain nothing)  to ensure his wish to "finish the job." (majere; he can't finish the job or does he mean the weaning out of soldiers)  "I don't see the necessity of rushing into a vote unless we're able to have a situation where a vote would be successful - where there would be some agreement among at least some of the opposition parties that would carry the day and would give a mandate to our Armed Forces," (majere; to lose and lose more lives)  Harper told reporters following the end of an Asia-Pacific leaders' summit in Sydney.  (majere; Harper telling everyone he's a loser) 

Harper announced in June that the current military mission, set to expire in February 2009, would continue only if his minority Conservative government could get a consensus in Parliament.  (majere; as if Parliament agrees with losing the un-declared war and lives for nothing)

With the Bloc Quebecois, NDP and Liberals all lined up against an extension, many pundits argued Harper was throwing in the towel after publicly declaring that Canada would never "cut and run." (majere; one should know when to run to live to fight another day, not just stay and die)

Not so, Harper said Sunday.

"I want to finish the mission. At the same time, I want to ensure that when we have men and women in uniform in the field in a dangerous position, that they have the support of their Parliament." (majere;  the support of Parliament in an un-declared war to lose lives)

Harper said he's seeking "some kind of consensus to fulfil the government's objectives (majere; which are what?  lose a hundred lives??) and also, I think, to fulfil everybody's objectives of seeing Canadian troops leave - I hope would leave - when we've actually finished the job we've committed to do."

He said that job entails getting Afghan military and police forces to the point where they can provide security for their own country.  (majere;  easily done with my statements prior to this parsed article)

The Liberals said at their summer caucus they plan to bring the matter to a head when the Commons returns this fall by engineering an opposition day vote confirming the combat mission should end in 2009.

Dion accused the prime minister of flip-flopping on the issue Sunday.

"Canadians must understand that what the prime minister is trying to do is to be ensure that this combat mission will continue after February 2009," Dion said in Vancouver.

"And he's trying to go there with a lack of transparency, a lack of coherence. And in doing so he's not helping our troops, he's not helping our allies, he's not helping the people of Afghanistan."

NDP leader Jack Layton said his party remains firm that Canada should pull its military out of Afghanistan now instead of February 2009.

"Mr. Harper knows there will be a vote on the speech from the throne and that speech must address the war in Afghanistan," Layton said in Montreal. "The speech from the throne will be an opportunity for a full debate about the war and we're holding to our position that the withdrawal of our troops should take place now, safely and securely. A whole new approach for Canada in Afghanistan is what is required."

Bloc Quebecois leader Gilles Duceppe said his party will vote against the Conservatives if the troop pullout in 2009 isn't mentioned in the speech.

"In the speech from the throne we have said that we want it made clear that the mission will end in 2009," Duceppe said. "There will be a vote on the speech and if it's not spelled out there, we will vote against it."

While the official end of the mandate is more than a year off, NATO will be seeking as much lead time as possible in knowing whether the 2,000-plus Canadian military contingent in the Kandahar region is pulling out.

Harper has indicated a willingness to alter the existing military mandate, but not to pulling the troops out of Afghanistan altogether.  (majere;  Harper is still showing he's a loser)

The prime minister said the mission should not be treated as "a political football in this Parliament."  (majere;  when Harper cannot debate the mission he deflects to empy words)

"And I think it's irresponsible that it is a political football," said Harper. "So we're not going to put people in that place again."

Harper said he's still seeking a consensus  ( majere; to have soldiers killed), but a government official later said that consensus has to be in line with the government's wishes.  (majere;  the government aka Stephen Harper wishes for what????  More lives lost with a battle that cannot be won with present tactics)

The official said that "consensus" means 50-per-cent plus one MP in a parliamentary vote.

By that definition, some might argue there is already a consensus in the Commons to end the mission in 2009.

But the Conservatives point out there is division within Liberal ranks on the matter. They're hoping to flush those divisions into the open and get a firm answer from Dion about what he sees as Canada's role after the current military mandate expires.

unquote

Well Stephen Harper blew this one and it is costing much grief to innocent families that he himself is responsible for.

cheers :) majere

roger m roeder

Libby Davies only counts sometimes and won't committ goddamitt.