VANCOUVER (CP) - Afghanistan's ambassador to Canada says he was shocked to hear protesters demanding Canadian troops pull out of his country claiming it was better off under the Taliban.
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"My embassy just called me this morning and said that some of the demonstrators were saying that Afghanistan was better off under the Taliban," Omar Samad said Monday. "For God's sake, these people have no clue whatsoever about what they are talking about, so let's sit down and discuss this."
The comparison apparently came during weekend demonstrations marking the third anniversary of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.
Canadian protesters took the opportunity to push for Canada to withdraw its 2,300 troops from Afghanistan and equated Canada's role there with that of American forces in Iraq.
Samad, speaking to a meeting hosted by the Fraser Institute, said the comments reflect a profound lack of understanding of Afghanistan's recent history.
Two generations of Afghans have been devastated by coups, the Soviet invasion, followed by years of insurgency and culminating in five years of tyranny under the brutal, theocratic Taliban.
There is no comparison between the invasion and occupation of Iraq and the mutilateral effort to stabilize and rebuild Afghanistan, said Samad, who fled into exile in the United States after the 1979 Soviet invasion.
"Obviously these groups have their own views and they're entitled to it," he said.
"I have contacted some of these groups. They're sort of reluctant to discuss the issues."
Samad suggested it was hypocritical of opponents to Canada's involvement in Afghanistan to protest now when they remained silent in the 1990s while the Taliban oppressed women and denied children a modern education.
"Where were you when the women of Afghanistan were imprisoned?" he asked. "Where were you when the children of Afghanistan were denied schooling? Where were these demonstrations for human rights and dignity and honour?"
Samad said he is not afraid of a healthy debate about Canada's role in Afghanistan.
"My job is to tell anyone who is opposed or supportive that there are very strong reasons for Canada to be part of this large international contingent, this multilateral effort in Afghanistan," he said.
Recent polls showed a wild swing in public opinion on whether Canada should be in Afghanistan, at first opposed and then in favour.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper spent two days in the country visiting troops in the Taliban hotbed of Kandahar and reaffirmed Canada's commitment to the country.
But opposition parties have suggested the continuing role merits a debate in Parliament, if not a vote.
Liberal defence critic Ujjal Dosanjh backed the debate idea last month but foreign affairs critic Stephane Dion said on Sunday the party opposes a vote because the mission falls under the government's executive authority, which Parliament shouldn't second-guess.
Samad shared the podium Monday with David Sproule, Canada's ambassador to Afghanistan.
"Our presence there is to provide security but also to take away the means for the continuation of the conflict," said Sproule.
International forces under NATO command are involved in the collection and eventual destruction of weapons and the dismantling of warlord armies. Canada is helping with security, as well as the rebuilding of national institutions and addressing the poverty that makes Afghanistan the fifth poorest country in the world.
Sproule noted 60 per cent of Afghanistan's economy depends on illegal narcotics and the country supplies 90 per cent of the world's heroin. Efforts to wean farmers off the poppy and replace it with fruit as a cash crop are making progress, he said.
"I think over time the security situation will become better as economic development continues," said Sproule.
Afghans do not want foreign troops to stay indefinitely, Samad said. But they worry an early pullout would allow the country to slide back towards the abyss, as happened when the international community left them to fend for themselves after the Soviet withdrawal.
"They know what happens when that void is created again," he said.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/cpress/2006...MpvaA8F;_ylu=X3oDMTA5aHJvMDdwBHNlYwN5bmNhdA--
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"My embassy just called me this morning and said that some of the demonstrators were saying that Afghanistan was better off under the Taliban," Omar Samad said Monday. "For God's sake, these people have no clue whatsoever about what they are talking about, so let's sit down and discuss this."
The comparison apparently came during weekend demonstrations marking the third anniversary of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.
Canadian protesters took the opportunity to push for Canada to withdraw its 2,300 troops from Afghanistan and equated Canada's role there with that of American forces in Iraq.
Samad, speaking to a meeting hosted by the Fraser Institute, said the comments reflect a profound lack of understanding of Afghanistan's recent history.
Two generations of Afghans have been devastated by coups, the Soviet invasion, followed by years of insurgency and culminating in five years of tyranny under the brutal, theocratic Taliban.
There is no comparison between the invasion and occupation of Iraq and the mutilateral effort to stabilize and rebuild Afghanistan, said Samad, who fled into exile in the United States after the 1979 Soviet invasion.
"Obviously these groups have their own views and they're entitled to it," he said.
"I have contacted some of these groups. They're sort of reluctant to discuss the issues."
Samad suggested it was hypocritical of opponents to Canada's involvement in Afghanistan to protest now when they remained silent in the 1990s while the Taliban oppressed women and denied children a modern education.
"Where were you when the women of Afghanistan were imprisoned?" he asked. "Where were you when the children of Afghanistan were denied schooling? Where were these demonstrations for human rights and dignity and honour?"
Samad said he is not afraid of a healthy debate about Canada's role in Afghanistan.
"My job is to tell anyone who is opposed or supportive that there are very strong reasons for Canada to be part of this large international contingent, this multilateral effort in Afghanistan," he said.
Recent polls showed a wild swing in public opinion on whether Canada should be in Afghanistan, at first opposed and then in favour.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper spent two days in the country visiting troops in the Taliban hotbed of Kandahar and reaffirmed Canada's commitment to the country.
But opposition parties have suggested the continuing role merits a debate in Parliament, if not a vote.
Liberal defence critic Ujjal Dosanjh backed the debate idea last month but foreign affairs critic Stephane Dion said on Sunday the party opposes a vote because the mission falls under the government's executive authority, which Parliament shouldn't second-guess.
Samad shared the podium Monday with David Sproule, Canada's ambassador to Afghanistan.
"Our presence there is to provide security but also to take away the means for the continuation of the conflict," said Sproule.
International forces under NATO command are involved in the collection and eventual destruction of weapons and the dismantling of warlord armies. Canada is helping with security, as well as the rebuilding of national institutions and addressing the poverty that makes Afghanistan the fifth poorest country in the world.
Sproule noted 60 per cent of Afghanistan's economy depends on illegal narcotics and the country supplies 90 per cent of the world's heroin. Efforts to wean farmers off the poppy and replace it with fruit as a cash crop are making progress, he said.
"I think over time the security situation will become better as economic development continues," said Sproule.
Afghans do not want foreign troops to stay indefinitely, Samad said. But they worry an early pullout would allow the country to slide back towards the abyss, as happened when the international community left them to fend for themselves after the Soviet withdrawal.
"They know what happens when that void is created again," he said.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/cpress/2006...MpvaA8F;_ylu=X3oDMTA5aHJvMDdwBHNlYwN5bmNhdA--