"THE Afghan burden"/Keep on runnin'

Letter of mine in the Globe and Mail, Aug. 8 (their title):

Mark Collins

Your editorial After 2011, A Lighter Burden (Aug. 7) raises the possibility of a continuing Canadian non-combat presence in Kandahar with “teams focused on local development, and on the training of Afghan soldiers and police.” Perhaps Canada’s air force could play a continuing role. A Canadian air wing has now been established at Kandahar. It has Chinook (transport) and Griffon (escort) helicopters, and unmanned aerial vehicles for surveillance; it also supports supply flights by Hercules and C-17 transport aircraft. Why not keep the wing at Kandahar after 2011 to support our allies?

A related, earlier, letter in the Toronto Star is here. Meanwhile, further to this post,

No, no, Mr Rasmussen! Danes in Afstan noticed!

the government keeps on running but is finding it hard to hide:

Afghanistan will come up at meeting

Canada's role in Afghanistan will be on the menu when Prime Minister Stephen Harper visits the White House next month.

Officials in Ottawa and Washington announced yesterday that President Barack Obama will meet with Harper on Sept. 16. The trip will mark Harper's first trip to the U.S. capital since Obama was elected president.

While the schedule is still being discussed, officials in the prime minister's office say they expect the economy, international affairs, energy and the environment will be on the agenda. White House officials, however, gave a broader list of topics, including Canada's role in Afghanistan.