Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
Toronto Star
February 11, 2009
By Allan Woods, Ottawa Bureau
OTTAWA – Admiral Mike Mullen commands the world's most dominant military force, but there is clearly still some terrain upon which he is loath to tread.
The chair of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff and his top commanders are travelling around the world trying to persuade governments to commit more forces to Afghanistan, and for longer periods of time.
But in a brief stop in Ottawa yesterday to meet Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his Canadian counterpart, Gen. Walt Natynczyk, Mullen did not address Canada's decision to quit the mission in 2011.
"Clearly combat forces who are there that make a difference are absolutely critical," he said when asked specifically about the Canadian withdrawal mandated by Parliament last year.
"I'm aware that 2011 is out there but I have literally not discussed that policy or the impacts of it."
Mullen's tap dance around the sensitive issue is in keeping with the new U.S. administration's effort to use diplomacy to improve the view of America internationally. At the same time, the political fault lines of Canada's minority Parliament are clearly fuelling hopes in the U.S. that discussion could be reopened on the 2011 end date.
"Certainly if it is the intent – as stated right now – for Canada to leave in 2011, we'll adjust, and adjust in a way that we'll be able to meet a very difficult and challenging insurgency," he told reporters at National Defence headquarters.
Changes to the Afghan mission – how, when and where to deploy up to 30,000 additional U.S. soldiers – is taking up all the air in Washington, at the Pentagon and within the NATO military alliance.
U.S. President Barack Obama yesterday ordered a strategic review that is expected to decide on the way ahead in the battle-scarred country in time for a summit of NATO leaders in April.
February 11, 2009
By Allan Woods, Ottawa Bureau
OTTAWA – Admiral Mike Mullen commands the world's most dominant military force, but there is clearly still some terrain upon which he is loath to tread.
The chair of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff and his top commanders are travelling around the world trying to persuade governments to commit more forces to Afghanistan, and for longer periods of time.
But in a brief stop in Ottawa yesterday to meet Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his Canadian counterpart, Gen. Walt Natynczyk, Mullen did not address Canada's decision to quit the mission in 2011.
"Clearly combat forces who are there that make a difference are absolutely critical," he said when asked specifically about the Canadian withdrawal mandated by Parliament last year.
"I'm aware that 2011 is out there but I have literally not discussed that policy or the impacts of it."
Mullen's tap dance around the sensitive issue is in keeping with the new U.S. administration's effort to use diplomacy to improve the view of America internationally. At the same time, the political fault lines of Canada's minority Parliament are clearly fuelling hopes in the U.S. that discussion could be reopened on the 2011 end date.
"Certainly if it is the intent – as stated right now – for Canada to leave in 2011, we'll adjust, and adjust in a way that we'll be able to meet a very difficult and challenging insurgency," he told reporters at National Defence headquarters.
Changes to the Afghan mission – how, when and where to deploy up to 30,000 additional U.S. soldiers – is taking up all the air in Washington, at the Pentagon and within the NATO military alliance.
U.S. President Barack Obama yesterday ordered a strategic review that is expected to decide on the way ahead in the battle-scarred country in time for a summit of NATO leaders in April.