MP impressed with report from panel looking at Canada's role in Afghanistan
By Bill Rea

There is going to be a debate soon in the House of Commons on Canada's future role in Afghanistan.

But the report of the independent panel studying the matter is sure to add a new wrinkle to those discussions.

The panel, chaired by former Liberal cabinet minister John Manley, released its report last week.

Dufferin - Caledon MP David Tilson said he was impressed with the job that had been done.

"I think the government and I think it's a thoughtful report; a comprehensive report," he commented. "It's balanced."

The report suggested Canada should maintain responsibility for security in Kandahar beyond February 2009, when the country's current commitment is slate to expire. But it also stated Canadians should take more of a role in training the Afghan National Security Forces, while reducing their involvement in combat. As well, it called for the assignment of about 1,000 more soldiers from other countries to Kandahar, and more equipment being supplied to the Canadian contingent.

In the report, Manley agreed deciding Canada's future role in this operation is complicated.

"It is made more complex because we assumed responsibility for fighting an insurgency in a dangerous province of the country and we did so with little political debate and not much public engagement," he stated. "And the insurgency is far from defeated."

But he also added conditions have improved there, although the progress has been slow.

"With all that needs to be done, no end date makes sense at this point," Manley stated, although the report indicated the Canada's commitment should not be "open-ended nor faint-hearted."

"Afghanistan presents an opportunity for Canada," the report stated. "For the first time in many years, we have brought a level of commitment to an international problem that gives us real weight and credibility."

He also agreed the cost has been high, although he noted that Canadians historically don't need any lessons in sacrifice.

The report noted that Canada is one of 51 countries that committed to the 2006 Afghanistan compact, which was an international program of aid to help that country's security, governance and development.

As well, the report stated some countries, namely the United States, Britain and Canada, have carried more than their share of th warfighting duties.

Tilson stated that Prime Minister Stephen Harper had told Manley the government will accept the report and try to implement its recommendations.

He agreed with the idea of Canadians continuing the mission, but with other countries doing more to help secure Kandahar. "We need more troops," he remarked.

Tilson added NATO will be meeting in April, and he expects Harper will lead the diplomatic effort to secure those commitments.

"We need commitments from other countries," he declared. "We've gone above and beyond the call of duty, and it's time for some of the other NATO countries to pull their own weight."

He also said there will be a motion in Parliament in the spring, probably before the NATO meeting, seeking support for the report's recommendations.

"We will certainly have a debate in Parliament," Tilson observed. "I have no idea how that debate's going to go."

He also pointed out it was the former Liberal government that sent the troops in. Tilson said things are a little vague, but he thinks the Grits want them to stay there to keep the peace, but there's a problem with that.

"There's no peace to keep," he declared. "It's a war. There's a war going on."

Tilson said he's been hearing concerns expressed in the riding about the number of men and women in danger. "It's awful," he commented.

"We made a commitment to support NATO," he added. "We're there because we're part of NATO."