Hello, Iggy?
NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, busily travelling to key NATO countries to discuss "momentum" anticipated in the Afghanistan conflict resulting from the United States and other NATO country additional troop build-ups, has just passed through Canada for discussions with Prime Minister Stephen Harper. There was an unavoidable delay in their meeting, since the Prime Minister was busy with a response to the Haitian earthquake.
Among issues not particularly under discussion was the end-date of Canadian military involvement in Afghanistan, when Canada will withdraw its 2,400 military personnel in 2011. Mr. Rasmussen iterated and reiterated the solid fact that NATO troops will remain in Afghanistan "as long as it takes" to establish that country's ability to control its own security. That sounds ominous in a sense, as though predictions could extend to forever.
"It's a Canadian decision. But I can tell you that whatever Canada decides, NATO and ISAF (NATO military forces) will stay in Afghanistan as long as it takes to finish our job. It will end when the Afghans are capable to take responsibility for their security themselves and run the country themselves", he explained. Well, of course some element of the population, basically the Pashtun who form the core of the Taliban do as it happens, feel ready....
Oh, and another few things he said in an interview with Canwest News Service, respecting whether Canadians need be concerned about the potential for torture of detainees transferred to Afghan authority by Canadian Forces: "Obviously, it is a very important topic. But I don't think Canadians in general should be concerned about it because there are very clear rules regarding the handover of detainees."
Mr. Rasmussen patiently explained that the rules governing detainee transfers from NATO forces to Afghan authorities has an additional provision whereby the Red Cross is informed. "I'm also aware of the fact that the Canadian government has agreed to a memorandum of understanding with the Afghan government, according to which there are established monitoring mechanisms."
NATO's Secretary-General has no qualms or fears about the possibility that Canadian- or NATO-captured combatants or Afghans will face undue stress, extending to torture, when they're held by Afghanistan's police. "So I think, all in all, we have the right legal and practical frame work for that." How very reassuring to hear this kind of message from one of his stature. If he doesn't know, then who does?
Well, perhaps Michael Ignatieff. Sitting in his office on Parliament Hill, Mr. Ignatieff is obviously privy, courtesy of a former Foreign Affairs political officer stationed in Afghanistan that the Government of Canada has bloody hands in its lack of concern for Afghan prisoners. And one can only wonder whether it's in the nature of an urban legend that during his one-day stay in Ottawa Mr. Rasmussen met with Mr. Ignatieff.
It seems the conversation went something like this: "While I'm at it, Mr. Ignatieff - I always meant to ask you; is Iggy short for Ignoramus?"
Among issues not particularly under discussion was the end-date of Canadian military involvement in Afghanistan, when Canada will withdraw its 2,400 military personnel in 2011. Mr. Rasmussen iterated and reiterated the solid fact that NATO troops will remain in Afghanistan "as long as it takes" to establish that country's ability to control its own security. That sounds ominous in a sense, as though predictions could extend to forever.
"It's a Canadian decision. But I can tell you that whatever Canada decides, NATO and ISAF (NATO military forces) will stay in Afghanistan as long as it takes to finish our job. It will end when the Afghans are capable to take responsibility for their security themselves and run the country themselves", he explained. Well, of course some element of the population, basically the Pashtun who form the core of the Taliban do as it happens, feel ready....
Oh, and another few things he said in an interview with Canwest News Service, respecting whether Canadians need be concerned about the potential for torture of detainees transferred to Afghan authority by Canadian Forces: "Obviously, it is a very important topic. But I don't think Canadians in general should be concerned about it because there are very clear rules regarding the handover of detainees."
Mr. Rasmussen patiently explained that the rules governing detainee transfers from NATO forces to Afghan authorities has an additional provision whereby the Red Cross is informed. "I'm also aware of the fact that the Canadian government has agreed to a memorandum of understanding with the Afghan government, according to which there are established monitoring mechanisms."
NATO's Secretary-General has no qualms or fears about the possibility that Canadian- or NATO-captured combatants or Afghans will face undue stress, extending to torture, when they're held by Afghanistan's police. "So I think, all in all, we have the right legal and practical frame work for that." How very reassuring to hear this kind of message from one of his stature. If he doesn't know, then who does?
Well, perhaps Michael Ignatieff. Sitting in his office on Parliament Hill, Mr. Ignatieff is obviously privy, courtesy of a former Foreign Affairs political officer stationed in Afghanistan that the Government of Canada has bloody hands in its lack of concern for Afghan prisoners. And one can only wonder whether it's in the nature of an urban legend that during his one-day stay in Ottawa Mr. Rasmussen met with Mr. Ignatieff.
It seems the conversation went something like this: "While I'm at it, Mr. Ignatieff - I always meant to ask you; is Iggy short for Ignoramus?"
Labels: Crisis Politics, Government of Canada
posted by Pieface | 7:12 PM
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