"Canada seeks U.S. protection in post-2011 Afghanistan"/Our Afghan Sphynx

Who else, eh?

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan — Canada is discussing with the United States the possibility that U.S. troops could protect about 100 Canadian civilians in Kandahar when Ottawa abandons its combat mission in the province next summer.

"We have had dialogue with the U.S. about supporting our needs as we go forward," said International Co-operation Minister Bev Oda, after a day hopscotching around Kandahar looking at Canadian aid projects and meeting with Canadian, American and Afghan officials.

"They have offered to support the ongoing efforts that we will be continuing in Kandahar. We will be talking to them as we go on."

However, other than to say that "the modalities still have to be worked out," Oda would not elaborate on what kind of security assistance the U.S. might provide to the civilians, who are mostly police [see: "Afstan and the government: Politically craven and immorally audacious"], diplomats and technical experts from various branches of government such as CIDA. These civilians are currently protected by a company of Canadian infantry [more here] slated to return to Canada next summer, as the Canadian military begins its withdrawal from Afghanistan in July 2011.

Some Americans in Kandahar have expressed frustration with Canada for refusing to clarify exactly what it intends to do on the development side at that point and how it intends to protect those who do this work. For U.S. planners, the issue is becoming critical because they want such decisions to be made 12 or more months in advance...

Then these gems relating to our Afghan Sphynx:

As for Prime Minister Stephen Harper's silence about what the government intends to do on the civilian side in Kandahar beyond next summer and how those who do such work will be protected, "I think Mr. Harper speaks when he has something to say," Oda said.

[Right--at end of this post:

...
One senses that Harper has formed his own steadily darkening view of Afghanistan's prospects.

We don't know how dark his view is. But it's a war, once considered vital to Canada's own national security interests, that he just doesn't want to be part of any more...]

"He has tasked each of his ministers with their responsibilities to come forward with recommendations and the necessary information. We are discussing (this) at cabinet at various times as information comes in . . . The ultimate decision as to what the next steps will be (will be) directed by the prime minister."..

Silly me who thought we had Cabinet government, not presidential.

Earlier:

Our vanishing Provincial Reconstruction Team at Kandahar?