Canada's place in the world and the military's role
One hopes these two columnists have it right.
John Ibbitison in the Globe (full text not online):
...
Stephen Harper...seeks to promote the role of the federal government within its own areas of exclusive jurisdiction, the three most important of which are justice, defence and foreign affairs. His government will...rebuild the military and defend Canadian sovereignty in the North; and it will give this country a stronger voice in the global conversation.
For half a century, now, Canadians have seen themselves as a nation of peacekeepers. But the age of peacekeeping is past. Today's geopolitical hot spots are found in lawless lands and dysfunctional states that breed anarchy and harbour terrorists. Canada has a role to play in these places by helping to protect civilian populations while nurturing institutions that can enforce the social contract.
This is dangerous work that can lead to guerrilla warfare with higher casualties than Canadians are used to. Nonetheless, although a Liberal government authorized the Kandahar deployment, Mr. Harper has embraced it. He wants Canadians to be proud of what their troops are doing in Afghanistan, and willing to accept these necessary sacrifices as part of Canada's new and more aggressive role in the war on terror.
And he despises critics who say this is not Canada's fight, that we should quit the place.
Lorrie Goldstein in the Toronto Sun:
...
Harper's decision to make his first foreign trip as PM a surprise, morale-boosting visit to our troops in Kandahar is a bold statement of how he intends to redefine Canada's place in the world, post-9/11.
No longer will our military be viewed at home or abroad simply as "peacekeepers." Instead, they will be peacemakers, fighting and killing those who threaten Canadian security, values and interests abroad, while carrying out the tough job of "nation-building."
This is the difficult balancing act our soldiers are attempting in Kandahar -- meeting Taliban insurgents with deadly force while trying to win the trust of the civilian population by establishing the secure conditions under which humanitarian aid ("reconstruction") can begin.
Harper stated this vision in his speech to our soldiers when he told them Canada "can't lead from the bleachers." He believes Canada will not be taken seriously internationally, especially by the U.S., if it continues the practice of previous Liberal regimes of jeering at the Americans, mainly from the sidelines. He sees the way to gain international credibility as being able to put "boots on the ground" in the world's hotspots, backed by a Canadian public which understands and accepts that these soldiers will kill, if necessary, to defend Canadian security and values, and that some, sadly, will be killed.
Harper's view of our military is the one most Canadians had up to the end of World War II, when we thought of our soldiers primarily as warriors and liberators...
Harper's different. Not only does he want an expanded role for our military, he may be the first PM in decades who's serious about paying for it by pouring billions of dollars into the armed forces. Harper believes this will pay dividends domestically (we'll finally have a well-equipped military) and internationally, earning Canada bargaining chips when it comes to security issues and trade disputes, particularly with the U.S.
Harper's view enrages the left -- many of whom dismiss him as a George Bush clone. The Liberals, however, know they can't criticize Harper too strongly because it was their decision to send our troops to Kandahar...
One wonders if Messrs Ibbitson and Goldstein received the same PMO briefing.
Update: Mr Goldstein has said in an e-mail to the authour that the two columns were completely independent of each other.
John Ibbitison in the Globe (full text not online):
...
Stephen Harper...seeks to promote the role of the federal government within its own areas of exclusive jurisdiction, the three most important of which are justice, defence and foreign affairs. His government will...rebuild the military and defend Canadian sovereignty in the North; and it will give this country a stronger voice in the global conversation.
For half a century, now, Canadians have seen themselves as a nation of peacekeepers. But the age of peacekeeping is past. Today's geopolitical hot spots are found in lawless lands and dysfunctional states that breed anarchy and harbour terrorists. Canada has a role to play in these places by helping to protect civilian populations while nurturing institutions that can enforce the social contract.
This is dangerous work that can lead to guerrilla warfare with higher casualties than Canadians are used to. Nonetheless, although a Liberal government authorized the Kandahar deployment, Mr. Harper has embraced it. He wants Canadians to be proud of what their troops are doing in Afghanistan, and willing to accept these necessary sacrifices as part of Canada's new and more aggressive role in the war on terror.
And he despises critics who say this is not Canada's fight, that we should quit the place.
Lorrie Goldstein in the Toronto Sun:
...
Harper's decision to make his first foreign trip as PM a surprise, morale-boosting visit to our troops in Kandahar is a bold statement of how he intends to redefine Canada's place in the world, post-9/11.
No longer will our military be viewed at home or abroad simply as "peacekeepers." Instead, they will be peacemakers, fighting and killing those who threaten Canadian security, values and interests abroad, while carrying out the tough job of "nation-building."
This is the difficult balancing act our soldiers are attempting in Kandahar -- meeting Taliban insurgents with deadly force while trying to win the trust of the civilian population by establishing the secure conditions under which humanitarian aid ("reconstruction") can begin.
Harper stated this vision in his speech to our soldiers when he told them Canada "can't lead from the bleachers." He believes Canada will not be taken seriously internationally, especially by the U.S., if it continues the practice of previous Liberal regimes of jeering at the Americans, mainly from the sidelines. He sees the way to gain international credibility as being able to put "boots on the ground" in the world's hotspots, backed by a Canadian public which understands and accepts that these soldiers will kill, if necessary, to defend Canadian security and values, and that some, sadly, will be killed.
Harper's view of our military is the one most Canadians had up to the end of World War II, when we thought of our soldiers primarily as warriors and liberators...
Harper's different. Not only does he want an expanded role for our military, he may be the first PM in decades who's serious about paying for it by pouring billions of dollars into the armed forces. Harper believes this will pay dividends domestically (we'll finally have a well-equipped military) and internationally, earning Canada bargaining chips when it comes to security issues and trade disputes, particularly with the U.S.
Harper's view enrages the left -- many of whom dismiss him as a George Bush clone. The Liberals, however, know they can't criticize Harper too strongly because it was their decision to send our troops to Kandahar...
One wonders if Messrs Ibbitson and Goldstein received the same PMO briefing.
Update: Mr Goldstein has said in an e-mail to the authour that the two columns were completely independent of each other.
posted by Mark, Ottawa at 8:34 a.m.
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