January 22, 2007
As reported by the Canadian Press, Defence Minister Gordon O'Connor said this weekend, "When the Taliban or al-Qaeda came out of Afghanistan, they attacked the twin towers and in those twin towers, 25 Canadians were killed...The previous government and this government will not allow Canadians to be killed without retribution."
While Mr. O'Connor's words - implying that he believes Canada is in Afghanistan to exact vengeance or punishment - lead to questions as to why we are there, questions should also be raised as to the Harper government's handling of the war effort itself.
Recent media reports have noted a trend of escalating violence in Afghanistan, a projected increase in the number of Canadian military casualties, the rising costs of the war, and analysis that the country is "sliding into chaos".
As a new contingent of soldiers - 2,200 troops from bases in Atlantic Canada, Ontario and Alberta - are deployed to Afghanistan starting this Friday January 26, the defence minister must speak to the current situation in Afghanistan rather than just offering speeches at rallies on military bases.
ESCALATING VIOLENCE
As reported by Graeme Smith in the Globe and Mail on January 18, "...many analysts say NATO will likely face a spring offensive by insurgents...(and)...the top U.S. military commander in Afghanistan (Lieutenant-General Karl Eikenberry) told reporters Tuesday that he's worried the coming season will be particularly violent."
U.S. military statistics demonstrate a striking increase in violence in Afghanistan. In 2006 there were 4,542 direct attacks by the Taliban with guns, grenades and other weapons, up from 558 in 2005. As well, in 2006 there were 1,677 roadside bomb explosions, up from 783 in 2005.
INCREASING CANADIAN CASUALTIES
This may also be one reason why the Canadian military is estimating that there will be 200 Canadian military casualties between this February and August.
As reported by Shawn Berry of The Daily Gleaner (Fredericton), Commander David Wilcox, the senior military physician in Atlantic Canada, says 60 of the injuries may be severe enough to require transportation back to Canada.
200 casualties in 6 months would represent a dramatic increase from the 190 casualties confirmed by the Canadian Forces in 2006. As reported by the CanWest News Service on October 21, 2006, "Of the 190 wounded, 65 had to be medically evacuated back to Canada."
THE RISING COST OF THE WAR
According to CBC.ca in their "Afghanistan, by the numbers" report, "The military costs for the mission in Afghanistan reached $1.8 billion in May 2006, or about $1.45 million per day of the mission. The costs are projected to exceed $3 billion by 2009."
Yet, CTV.ca quotes Defence Minister O'Connor as saying that by 2009 fighting the Afghan war will have cost Canada close to $4 billion. A CBC The National report put the price tag at $1.5 billion this fiscal year alone.
AFGHANISTAN "SLIDING INTO CHAOS"
This past Friday January 19, Defence Minister Gordon O'Connor speaking at CFB Gagetown said the lives of Afghans were improving and that, "These are real achievements and as the progress continues, the momentum will build and the chances of the Taliban regaining their hold on this country will be more and more remote."
The minister's statements appear to stand in stark contrast with other analysis. As reported by the CanWest News Service on January 6, 2007, "...a new article in the prestigious international journal Foreign Affairs warned Afghanistan is "sliding into chaos" and that the NATO-led coalition is doomed to fail without a dramatic change in strategy...(the article's author) says fighting battles against the Taliban will achieve nothing in the long run unless the NATO coalition can solve the problems of Afghan poverty, corruption and meddling by Pakistan."
THE DEMAND
Use the form below to tell Defense Minister O'Connor at OConnor.G@parl.gc.ca yourself.
Sample message:
Defence Minister O'Connor
As a member of the Council of Canadians, I am concerned by your comment that Canada is in Afghanistan to exact "retribution" for the 25 Canadians who were killed in the 9/11 terrorist attack in New York City. While the individuals guilty of that crime should be brought to justice, it is wrong to approach a war with vengeance and punishment in mind. Your misreading of this situation leads to concerns about your ability to handle a war that has already claimed the lives of 44 Canadian soldiers.
-
Given that the top U.S. military commander in Afghanistan Lieutenant-General Karl Eikenberry has acknowledged that there will be escalating violence in the war over the next several months, how high do the Canadian Forces project casualties will rise in 2007? Media reports have suggested a doubling of last year's casualties over just the next six months.
-
You have recently stated that the cost of the war will total $4 billion by 2009. That would put the cost of the war at more than $1 billion this year, or $2.7 million a day. Please confirm how much your government intends to spend on the war in Afghanistan in 2007.
- Analysts have suggested that without addressing "the problems of Afghan poverty, corruption and meddling by Pakistan" that "fighting battles against the Taliban will achieve nothing in the long run..." What are you doing to ensure that these key factors are being addressed so that our soldiers are not unnecessarily being put in harm's way.
I await your reply.
Read more
- Visit the peace section on our website with link to the Marching Orders report - How Canada abandoned peacekeeping - and why the UN needs us now more than ever.
SEND YOUR LETTER NOW:
