Harper says 2011 'end date' for Afghanistan mission

[Praxius]

A decade at war is enough, Conservative Leader Stephen Harper said on Wednesday.

'The mission, as we've known it, we intend to end,' PM tells reporters
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canadavotes/story/2008/09/10/harper-afghanistan.html

Canada will withdraw the bulk of its military forces in Afghanistan as scheduled in 2011, Conservative Leader Stephen Harper pledged on Wednesday, saying the Afghan government "at some point has to be able to be primarily responsible" for the country's security.

Speaking to reporters at a breakfast briefing in Toronto, Harper said the Canadian public has no appetite to keep soldiers in the war-torn country any longer than the pullout date agreed on by Parliament.

"You have to put an end date on these things," Harper said.

He added that while Canada's military leaders have not acknowledged it publicly, a decade of war is enough.

"By 2011, we will have been in Kandahar, which is probably the toughest province in the country, for six years," Harper said.

"Not only have we done our bit at that point, I think our goal has to be after six years to see the government of Afghanistan able to carry the lion's share of responsibility for its own security."

"At that point, the mission, as we've known it, we intend to end."
Troops would stay 'in some technical capacities'

The Tory government, supported by the Liberals, extended the military mission in Kandahar province to 2011 earlier this year, with a shift to emphasize the mission's priorities to reconstruction and development in the region.

Which never really happened

Harper has made past statements in support of a shift in Canada's priorities in Afghanistan, but the prime minister's latest comments appear to show for the first time his acceptance of a troop pullout by the date.

"It's fair to say he was clearer and perhaps more forceful than before on what is going to happen in 2011," the CBC's Paul Hunter reported from the Harper campaign.

While there may be a few Canadian soldiers who stay on after 2011 as advisers, the bulk of the troops will be home by then, Harper said.

"I don't want to say we won't have a single troop there, because obviously we would aid in some technical capacities," he said.

The prime minister's assurances come as the death toll for Canadians in Afghanistan since troops deployed there in 2002 approaches 100. One Canadian diplomat has also died in the mission.

Taliban insurgents have stepped up their attacks in Afghanistan in the last month, in what they claim is an attempt to influence Canada's federal election.

Well it's not going to influence anything..... so tought titties Taliban.

But it's good to hear someone is finalizing this whole thing. We did our part.... hardly anybody else bothered to help us, so I agree.... we're done in 2011.

 

[darkbeaver]

Yes but Mr Harper and his cultish party are without doubt, and this has been proven conclusivly by the announced election, theee most complete collection of lying thieving psycopathic neocon dirtbags in it's class. So I'd question Adolphs announcement. His hairdo says it all.

 

[Praxius]

Yes but Mr Harper and his cultish party are without doubt, and this has been proven conclusivly by the announced election, theee most complete collection of lying thieving psycopathic neocon dirtbags in it's class. So I'd question Adolphs announcement. His hairdo says it all.

That might be true, but I sure won't be forgetting these quotes, and if he changes his tone, shat will fly.

 

[darkbeaver]

I'm not inspired by this man Praxius not one bit, in fact just the sight of him frightens the blueberries out of me. He's up to no good and I don't trust the crowd he hangs with.

 

[givpeaceachance]

I really do want to believe him. For some reason, I just don't.

 

[Praxius]

I'm not inspired by this man Praxius not one bit, in fact just the sight of him frightens the blueberries out of me. He's up to no good and I don't trust the crowd he hangs with.

Well I don't trust many of the people in the Government, Liberals & Conservatives included..... but all the parties are agreeing on the 2011 date... and they all admit the public isn't interested in staying beyond that.... so it'll be a tough sell for any party to try and extend the date.

If they do, then I can see a big backlash from the country to whoever does try this.

They narrowly got this extension, I highly doubt they could get a second.

 

[Socrates the Greek]

By then we would lose men and women unnecessarily in addition to the already 93 dead and Harper will be long gone, leaving behind a legacy of a dork………….

 

[Colpy]

By then we would lose men and women unnecessarily in addition to the already 93 dead and Harper will be long gone, leaving behind a legacy of a dork………….

First of all, it is 97 dead.....if you care so much, you should at least know the number.:roll:

 

[Socrates the Greek]

First of all, it is 97 dead.....if you care so much, you should at least know the number.:roll:

Good day Colpy you too easy on the friendly fire, thank you for the correction..........:smile:

 

[Scott Free]

When a politician promises something during an election it only tells us what they think we want to hear it doesn't indicate even slightly what they might actually do if they win.

 

[Socrates the Greek]

When a politician promises something during an election it only tells us what they think we want to hear it doesn't indicate even slightly what they might actually do if they win.

That is the truth of all political thruths....

 

[Risus]

By then we would lose men and women unnecessarily in addition to the already 93 dead and Harper will be long gone, leaving behind a legacy of a dork………….

You will never be satisfied, one track....

 

[Socrates the Greek]

You will never be satisfied, one track....

I am an easy fellow to please……..all I want to do is keep the Conservatives away from my vote and pocket………………..I can’t stomach a person walking around pretending their sh!t don’t smell……………HARPER IS A FRAUD………….NOT SINCERE AT ALL……….
I like you Risus, even though you come on with friendly fire from time to time................:smile:

 

[Risus]

Look at your posts. You say repeatedly that Harper is a fraud, without proof. You say you want the Conservatives away from your pocket. Well I guess you turn a blind eye to the recent history of tax cuts and proposed cuts....

Hmmmm and I think all sh!t smells....

 

[Socrates the Greek]

Look at your posts. You say repeatedly that Harper is a fraud, without proof. You say you want the Conservatives away from your pocket. Well I guess you turn a blind eye to the recent history of tax cuts and proposed cuts....

Hmmmm and I think all sh!t smells....

Me calling Harper a fraud begins from, the $530.000 in unreported donations to elections Canada, and after they got caught they quietly corrected the fraud………

$1.8 million over spending on the 2006 election while secretly asking none Conservative voters to foot the bill………….

The Newfoundland Premier Danny Williams he personally explained that Harper went against set rules on equalization payments to Newfoundland. That is a fraud………

Heritage Minister Bev Oda racked-up almost $6,000 in limousine expenses over four days in Halifax in 2006 to attend the Juno Awards. It’s been reported that Oda had arrived a couple of days before the awards ceremony, during which time she had an assortment of limos escorting her around – or on standby. Oda refused a minivan which was rented for her, opting for a limo instead. Embarrassed by even her own excess, Oda was forced to pay some of the cost.


Cost to ordinary taxpayers: $5,475 ​

That is a fraud…………………………….

The Conservatives were elected on a promise to end pork-barrel politics. But in November 2006, Heritage Minister Bev Oda was forced to cancel a $250 a plate political fundraiser after it was learned that it was being organized by Charlotte Bell -- the head of regulatory affairs for CanWest media – who was passing the hat among the very same media companies that Oda regulates as minister. The back-pedaling Conservatives hastly announced that the cheques from donors would be returned. But only months ago, Oda's riding association declared them in their official fundraising report to Elections Canada for 2006. ​

That is fraud……………………………

Conservatives claim that they use the government’s fleet of Challenger aircraft less than the high-flying Liberals did. Now we know why. Transport Minister Lawrence Cannon has made regular use of a secret fleet of government executive jets and not disclosing his trips as requited by cabinet rules. The NDP uncovered his use of the planes,including six trips aboard a sleek Citation C-550 executive jet. The Department of NationalDefense estimates the useof such planes at $9,000 an hour. If it’s appropriate, why are they hiding it?


Cost to ordinary taxpayers: $9,000 an hour ​

That is fraud as well………………………Danny Williams was correct…..the Conservatives are fraud…………………..

 

[Risus]

Soc, you should look at the liberal history....

 

[givpeaceachance]

Exactly!

A couple of things -

1 - Harper is deep in Bushs' pocket. [READ : Canada is deep in the U.S.s pocket] We know it and apparently so do the international foreign ministers. Some of them said so, not in those words, at the last G8 summit.

Hasn't it always been obvious that he wants to get in with the 'in' crowd? The first thing Harper did as Prime Minister of Canada was go to Washington to get a pat on the head from Bush.

It's like, Bush promised Harper that if Steve-o did things the 'right' way, he'll get an invite to one of those Bohemian Grove parties. You TOTALLY know Harper wants to go! HaHa! < Sorry, I regress.

2 - Harper and Bushs' Canada/U.S. Martial Law Agreement
Canadians STILL don't know anything about that agreement. You ask anyone you know about it and I guarantee a) they don't know about it and b) won't like it after they hear it. The whole thing is suspect.

Knowing a little about that agreement, which by the way, isn't even clear to most of parliament and they have asked for clarification but, as far as I know, hasn't gotten any, and knowing about the looming NAU, it starts to paint you a little picture.

What with terrorist attacks and all. All it would it would take is just one in Canada.

You know that these things are as scripted and orchestrated as broadway plays. The script is already on the table and Harper has already been memorizing his lines. Bush and co will take care of the rest. All he has to do is win this election.

So I guess the question is this. What would you rather tolerate? A carbon tax or the disolving of our national borders?

I could be wrong but that's kinda how I see things going down.

 

[givpeaceachance]

When a politician promises something during an election it only tells us what they think we want to hear it doesn't indicate even slightly what they might actually do if they win.

I was quoting Scott Free in my above post but I messed it up.

This is what I was replying to.

 

[Socrates the Greek]

Soc, you should look at the liberal history....

Looking at the Liberal HISTORY will not change the fact that Harper in on the path of submurging Canada into an ocean of red ink..

 

[Tonington]

Risus,

Pointing out that other parties are also frauds doesn't excuse any other party for being frauds themselves.