Afstan: A leading Democrat supports the Canadian mission

"Stay the course in Afghan war: Clinton [my emphasis - MC]". How odd that none of the major media seem to have picked up this story about what the former president, very popular in Canada, thinks. Given this selective news coverage ("accentuate the negative, eliminate the positive") no wonder Canadians are divided about the war (lead story on CBC Newsworld this morning).

Note that Mr Clinton wants US troop strength increased by 8,000. More fighting troops from somewhere (Europe, nudge, nudge; wink, wink) are certainly needed in the south.

Former U.S. president spoke in Kitchener to an audience of about 1,000 yesterday

JEFF OUTHIT

WATERLOO REGION (Nov 9, 2006)

Former U.S. president Bill Clinton urged Canada to keep its soldiers fighting in Afghanistan in a talk in Kitchener yesterday.

Pulling out of the country now could allow the repressive Taliban regime to take control again, he warned.

The Taliban would again offer protection to the terrorists who attacked the U.S. on Sept. 11, 2001 and who are now in hiding, he said.

"That would have direct implications for your security," Clinton said.

He spoke yesterday to almost 1,000 people at a hall at Bingemans. They spent $500 each to attend a fundraiser for the Catholic Family Counselling Centre, which is expanding its campaign against family violence.

He said NATO allies must stay in Afghanistan to support its democratic, pro-western government, and he said the U.S. should put up to 8,000 more troops there.

"If we lose in Afghanistan and the Taliban come back, it will not only be a nightmare for the Afghan people," Clinton said, "but it will create greater options of movement for the Al-Qaeda leadership, and increase the likelihood that they will be able to mount and conduct more global terrorist operations."

Clinton drew distinctions between the NATO-led war in Afghanistan and the American-led war in Iraq.

The U.S. made a "serious mistake" by invading Iraq when it was already fighting in Afghanistan, and by underestimating the challenges in each place, he said.

"Because Canada has been part of our NATO alliance in Afghanistan, you are paying the price of that," Clinton said...

At least CBCnews online carried its own version of the story--as did a Pakistani online paper ! (via Spotlight on Military News and International Affairs)

Update: All members of the Nova Scotia legislature back our Afstan mission, and a rally is held.

Upperdate: More on polls and the Canadian media from Flit.