Canada's military should remain in Afghanistan beyond February 2009, but its presence should be contingent on more support in terms of troops and equipment, according to a panel led by former Liberal cabinet minister John Manley.
The five-member panel was not specific about how long Canada's mission in the embattled country should last, saying only the government should extend it beyond the current February 2009 end date.
The panel said Canada should remain in Afghanistan provided two conditions are met:
That a new battle group is deployed by the UN's International Security Assistance Force to Kandahar province, enabling Canadian forces to accelerate training of the Afghan National Army.
That the government secure new, medium-lift helicopters and high-performance unmanned aerial vehicles by February 2009.
The findings aren't binding, but will carry weight in the discussions about Canada's future role in Afghanistan given that Prime Minister Stephen Harper has also promised to allow MPs to vote on the issue in Parliament.
Harper appointed the panel amid a political debate over what Canada should do when the mandate of its current Afghan commitment runs out in February 2009. The Conservatives are leaning toward a continuation of Canadian troops working in the region, while other parties are demanding that the troops come home.
Seventy-seven Canadian soldiers and one diplomat have been killed since the beginning of Canada's mission in Afghanistan in 2002.
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Does the report reflect your thinking on what Canada's role should be in Afghanistan? Does it contain enough for all political parties to live with?
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The five-member panel was not specific about how long Canada's mission in the embattled country should last, saying only the government should extend it beyond the current February 2009 end date.
The panel said Canada should remain in Afghanistan provided two conditions are met:
That a new battle group is deployed by the UN's International Security Assistance Force to Kandahar province, enabling Canadian forces to accelerate training of the Afghan National Army.
That the government secure new, medium-lift helicopters and high-performance unmanned aerial vehicles by February 2009.
The findings aren't binding, but will carry weight in the discussions about Canada's future role in Afghanistan given that Prime Minister Stephen Harper has also promised to allow MPs to vote on the issue in Parliament.
Harper appointed the panel amid a political debate over what Canada should do when the mandate of its current Afghan commitment runs out in February 2009. The Conservatives are leaning toward a continuation of Canadian troops working in the region, while other parties are demanding that the troops come home.
Seventy-seven Canadian soldiers and one diplomat have been killed since the beginning of Canada's mission in Afghanistan in 2002.
Full story
Does the report reflect your thinking on what Canada's role should be in Afghanistan? Does it contain enough for all political parties to live with?
More...