Commons defence committee fact-finding in Afghanistan
Posted AT 12:27 PM EST ON 23/01/07
MURRAY BREWSTER
Canadian Press
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070123.wcanafgh0123/BNStory/International/home
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan ― Parliamentarians, wearing flak jackets and helmets, stepped off a military transport Tuesday looking as though they were ready for battle, but theirs will be the battle of the briefing room.
Eight members of the all-party Commons defence committee, charged with examining Canada's role in this war-torn country, are not expected to meet any local Afghan officials or set foot off Kandahar Airfield to view reconstruction projects.
Their assessment of the Conservative government's deepening involvement in this nasty guerrilla war, which could shape party positions in an anticipated spring election, will largely be based on a barrage of prearranged briefings and PowerPoint presentations from Canadian military and government officials.
They will, however, tour various facilities at the NATO base, including a recreational boardwalk, a cement factory, a newly installed banking machine and the hangout of soldiers ? dubbed Canada House.
NDP defence critic Dawn Black, left, talks to reporters at Kandahar Airfield on Tuesday as Liberal MP Carloyn Bennett looks on during a visit by members of the Commons defence committee to review Canada's role in the country. Murray Brewster/CP
NDP defence critic Dawn Black, left, talks to reporters at Kandahar Airfield on Tuesday as Liberal MP Carloyn Bennett looks on during a visit by members of the Commons defence committee to review Canada's role in the country. (Murray Brewster/CP)
“We're not going to see much, but maybe that will change,” New Democrat defence critic Dawn Black said of the itinerary.
Ms. Black, whose party has called for Canadian troops to be withdrawn from fighting militant Taliban forces, has asked to meet with Afghan officials.
“It's not on the itinerary, but we'll see,” she said as she wrestled to get out of her bulletproof vest. “I've got a number of questions to ask them.”
Among the questions she hopes to ask is whether Canadians are “truly making a difference for the lives of the men and women in Afghanistan” ? something her party has doubts about. In the Commons, the NDP have repeated accused the Conservative of being more interested in fighting a war than the humanitarian side of the mission.
Not allowing the committee outside the airfield was a decision of Defence Minister Gordon O'Connor, said Brig.-Gen Tim Grant, commander of Canadian troops in Afghanistan.
“The movements of the party, the limitations on where they can go, have been directed by the minister,” he said.
While not expected to travel in convoys along the sometimes treacherous highways of Kandahar, other visiting dignitaries have been shuttled to different locations by U.S. helicopter, but Gen. Grant said that, given the pace of operations, there isn't a lot of air transport to go around.
The military said it would try to find some helicopter time with the U.S., Dutch or British forces.
“If they could see the (reconstruction) projects, it would be an added bonus,” Gen. Grant said. “There's no doubt about that."
The general conceded that security was a concern, but he refused to elaborate on the arrangements, suggesting that reporters direct those questions to the minister's office.
The restrictions come at the same time as NATO commanders boast about the relative calm in Kandahar province following last fall's Canadian-led offensive to dislodge militant fighters from arid farmland west of Kandahar.
Liberal foreign affairs critic Ujjal Dossanjh accused Mr. O'Connor of trying to hamstring the committee.
"I believe it's highly improper for a minister of the Crown to interfere with the travel of the committee,” he said later in the day as MPs shook hands with soldiers and presented gift at the recreation centre.
“The minister has ordered the general not to let us go out of the wire because of safety reasons. I thought that was the kind of decision that one makes on an operational basis. The general makes that decision. What does the minister know about safety sitting in Ottawa?”
Mr. Dossanjh said he is also concerned that no meetings were scheduled with Afghan authorities.
“It would be important to talk to the Afghans, yes, absolutely,” he said.
Gen. Grant said he would try to accommodate the request to meet Afghan officials but cautioned that many of them were out of the area.
Even though the NDP has taken an unpopular stand among the military, Ms. Black said she is not anticipating a hostile reaction from soldiers, who have privately and on Internet message boards taken to calling her party leader Taliban Jack (Layton).
Conservative MP Cheryl Gallant, who is eager to meet Petawawa, Ont.-based troops, many of whom are her constituents, was asked whether Ms. Black's attendance was going to make things uncomfortable.
“She's on the committee,” Ms. Gallant said with a smile and a shrug.
Gen. Grant said military officials hope to show the committee that Canadian troops are doing a wonderful job in Afghanistan, trying to help the country get back on its feet.
“When they leave I hope they have a very clear idea of the contribution we are making,” he said.
Posted AT 12:27 PM EST ON 23/01/07
MURRAY BREWSTER
Canadian Press
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070123.wcanafgh0123/BNStory/International/home
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan ― Parliamentarians, wearing flak jackets and helmets, stepped off a military transport Tuesday looking as though they were ready for battle, but theirs will be the battle of the briefing room.
Eight members of the all-party Commons defence committee, charged with examining Canada's role in this war-torn country, are not expected to meet any local Afghan officials or set foot off Kandahar Airfield to view reconstruction projects.
Their assessment of the Conservative government's deepening involvement in this nasty guerrilla war, which could shape party positions in an anticipated spring election, will largely be based on a barrage of prearranged briefings and PowerPoint presentations from Canadian military and government officials.
They will, however, tour various facilities at the NATO base, including a recreational boardwalk, a cement factory, a newly installed banking machine and the hangout of soldiers ? dubbed Canada House.
NDP defence critic Dawn Black, left, talks to reporters at Kandahar Airfield on Tuesday as Liberal MP Carloyn Bennett looks on during a visit by members of the Commons defence committee to review Canada's role in the country. Murray Brewster/CP
NDP defence critic Dawn Black, left, talks to reporters at Kandahar Airfield on Tuesday as Liberal MP Carloyn Bennett looks on during a visit by members of the Commons defence committee to review Canada's role in the country. (Murray Brewster/CP)
“We're not going to see much, but maybe that will change,” New Democrat defence critic Dawn Black said of the itinerary.
Ms. Black, whose party has called for Canadian troops to be withdrawn from fighting militant Taliban forces, has asked to meet with Afghan officials.
“It's not on the itinerary, but we'll see,” she said as she wrestled to get out of her bulletproof vest. “I've got a number of questions to ask them.”
Among the questions she hopes to ask is whether Canadians are “truly making a difference for the lives of the men and women in Afghanistan” ? something her party has doubts about. In the Commons, the NDP have repeated accused the Conservative of being more interested in fighting a war than the humanitarian side of the mission.
Not allowing the committee outside the airfield was a decision of Defence Minister Gordon O'Connor, said Brig.-Gen Tim Grant, commander of Canadian troops in Afghanistan.
“The movements of the party, the limitations on where they can go, have been directed by the minister,” he said.
While not expected to travel in convoys along the sometimes treacherous highways of Kandahar, other visiting dignitaries have been shuttled to different locations by U.S. helicopter, but Gen. Grant said that, given the pace of operations, there isn't a lot of air transport to go around.
The military said it would try to find some helicopter time with the U.S., Dutch or British forces.
“If they could see the (reconstruction) projects, it would be an added bonus,” Gen. Grant said. “There's no doubt about that."
The general conceded that security was a concern, but he refused to elaborate on the arrangements, suggesting that reporters direct those questions to the minister's office.
The restrictions come at the same time as NATO commanders boast about the relative calm in Kandahar province following last fall's Canadian-led offensive to dislodge militant fighters from arid farmland west of Kandahar.
Liberal foreign affairs critic Ujjal Dossanjh accused Mr. O'Connor of trying to hamstring the committee.
"I believe it's highly improper for a minister of the Crown to interfere with the travel of the committee,” he said later in the day as MPs shook hands with soldiers and presented gift at the recreation centre.
“The minister has ordered the general not to let us go out of the wire because of safety reasons. I thought that was the kind of decision that one makes on an operational basis. The general makes that decision. What does the minister know about safety sitting in Ottawa?”
Mr. Dossanjh said he is also concerned that no meetings were scheduled with Afghan authorities.
“It would be important to talk to the Afghans, yes, absolutely,” he said.
Gen. Grant said he would try to accommodate the request to meet Afghan officials but cautioned that many of them were out of the area.
Even though the NDP has taken an unpopular stand among the military, Ms. Black said she is not anticipating a hostile reaction from soldiers, who have privately and on Internet message boards taken to calling her party leader Taliban Jack (Layton).
Conservative MP Cheryl Gallant, who is eager to meet Petawawa, Ont.-based troops, many of whom are her constituents, was asked whether Ms. Black's attendance was going to make things uncomfortable.
“She's on the committee,” Ms. Gallant said with a smile and a shrug.
Gen. Grant said military officials hope to show the committee that Canadian troops are doing a wonderful job in Afghanistan, trying to help the country get back on its feet.
“When they leave I hope they have a very clear idea of the contribution we are making,” he said.
