Afghanistan Mission Extended
Parliament voted today to officially support a two year extension of the Canadian mission to Afghanistan. This will see Canadian troops in Afghanistan until at least early 2009. Ultimately this is good news for Canadian interests and the world at large. While in an ideal world Canada would be able to stick to, what Jack Layton calls its traditional role of peacekeeping, the world is not perfect. Sometimes the peace can't be kept, and states need to be rebuilt from the ground up. Afghanistan is such a state that, if only for humanitarian reasons, needs the assistance of the world at large to re-establish itself as a viable state, with the ability to offer its citizens a safe, and enjoyable life.
The world can't leave Afghanistan now. Not only would it be a disaster for millions of Afghanis who could very well fall again under the rule, official or not, of the oppressive Taliban, but it would also be detrimental for global security. The argument made by people like Cindy Sheehan and her supporters that Canada is effectively supporting the US war in Iraq by having our troops in Afghanistan is misleading and falacious. This poor logic would prohibit Canada from participating in any overseas security mission that the United States is also participating in. It is short-sighted, and certainly not in the best interests of Canada or the world at large.
It was not long ago that people were asking the world to pay attention to the lives of Afghanis oppressed under the Taliban. September 11th brought the world's attention quickly, and we shouldn't let that attention fade until the situation in Afghanistan is improved. It's for the good of Afghanistan, and the good of the world.
http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2006/05/17/afghandebate05172006.html