[Fresh Ink] Canadian Peace Alliance statement on Harper's comments on the war

[Richard Menec]

Canadian Peace Alliance statement on Harper's comments on the war

Not in 2009, not in 2011
End the war in Afghanistan, NOW!

Stephen Harper said today that Canadian soldiers will be withdrawn from
Afghanistan by 2011. This contradicts previous statements by the Harper
government that have alluded to another possible extension past 2011. Harper
claims that Canadians will have lost the appetite for war in three years
from now. The reality is that Canadians lost the appetite for war a long
time ago. Just weeks after Harper last extended Canada's mission on March
13, 2008, an Angus Reid poll showed that 58 per cent of Canadians believed
it was the wrong decision.

That sentiment is still growing. A clear majority of Canadians want the war
to end, now - not in three years. At current rates, thousands more Afghan
civilians will be killed, and many more will be detained and tortured.
Nearly 100 Canadian soldiers have been killed in combat so far. That number
could more than double if we wait three more years to leave Afghanistan.

How many more Afghan detainees will be transferred to torture? How many more
massacres - like the recent air strike at Azizabad - must Afghan civilians
suffer? And how many more Canadian families will bury their sons and
daughters before Stephen Harper stops playing politics with other people's
lives?

Harper's claim to withdraw troops in 2011 is an attempt to stifle debate
about the war during the election campaign. The Conservatives and the
Liberals are worried about the growing death toll of Canadian troops in
Afghanistan, and the growing anger among Canadians. Neither party wants to
take responsibility for sending troops into harm's way, in a war that we
cannot win.

Stephen Harper promised a "fixed date" for federal elections - then
abandoned this commitment at his convenience. How can Canadians believe his
promise of a fixed date to bring our troops home. Harper has now twice
extended the Canadian mission in Afghanistan past so-called "fixed dates".
He has committed to spend a $490 billion on the military budget over the
next 20 years - a huge financial burden Canadian taxpayers will shoulder
long after Harpers "guaranteed" withdrawal date.

On October 14, cast your ballot for candidates that will end the war in
Afghanistan, and bring the troops home now - not in another three years. And
on October 18, join us in the streets to send the same message to whichever
party forms the government.

We can't afford another three years of war. Tell that to Stephen Harper: end
the war in Afghanistan, and bring the troops home now!

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