Harper Choosing War Over Peace

Yes, it seems that our Prime Minister shares the same "I-Love-War complex" with George W. Bush, no wonder they get along so well; however, even if parliament is dissolved, and Dion perhaps takes the reigns, he needs to take more of an activist role. Of course, it is up to US canadians, to voice our choice of PEACE NOT WAR in order to get any of these "leaders" to take their damn blinders off, their corporate chains off, and their thirst for foreign blood and money! It has been a long winter, time to get marching and exercise all that extra winter weight off, even if it is just the weight of the world that is slowing you down.
Here are the "goods" so far:
CANADA'S CONSERVATIVES READY TO RISK ELECTION OVER AFGHANISTAN
by Michel Comte
Wed Feb 6, 2:17 PM ET
OTTAWA (AFP) - Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper is prepared to head to the polls if Canada's cleaved Parliament votes next month against prolonging its Afghanistan combat mission, officials said Wednesday.
"The government will introduce a motion in the House based on the Manley Report later this week," said Sandra Buckler, spokeswoman for the prime minister, citing a report on Canada's future role in Afghanistan.
"We expect debate to begin next week," she said.
Local media said the Conservative government is prepared to give notice Thursday of the motion to extend the troop deployment.
If the government were to lose, it would plunge the country into an election, Liberal leader Stephane Dion told reporters. Harper "made that very clear," he said.
The actual vote in Parliament would precede a ballot on the next federal budget, also expected in March, said Dion.
Tuesday evening, the prime minister met with Dion to try to hammer out a common front. Dion has said he would keep troops in Afghanistan, but not in a combat role.
"I suggested to him (Harper) if he was ready to contemplate a non-combat role for Canada, (I would support him). He was not ready for that. On that, we have a big difference," Dion said.
"So under the circumstances, I clearly explained to the prime minister that this mission would require Liberals to make a compromise with respect to our principles -- something that we cannot do."
The New Democrats and the Bloc Quebecois have said they want Canada's soldiers returned home at the end of their current mandate in February 2009.
Last month, a report by a committee led by former Liberal deputy prime minister John Manley urged Canada to keep its 2,500 troops in Afghanistan only if its NATO allies send at least 1,000 additional troops and equipment, including helicopters and drones, to bolster the Canadian force.
Heeding its findings, Harper has said he will bring Canada's troops home in February 2009 unless NATO allies step up their support for the mission.
He has informed US President George W. Bush, Britain's Prime Minister Gordon Brown, France's President Nicolas Sarkozy and NATO's secretary general of Canada's position.
Dion said he would like Canada to play a larger development role in Afghanistan, such as helping to rebuild the war-torn nation's infrastructure, training its military and police, and offering pointers on good government.
As well, he said Afghanistan still needs help to stem corruption, its illegal poppy trade and the alleged torture of detainees.
The Liberals will present amendments to the Conservatives' motion in these areas for the minority Parliament to consider, Dion said. "We'll do our best to convince other colleagues in the House to come to our position.
"You need to be prepared to fight, but a combat role is when you are proactively seeking engagement with the enemy," he commented.
According to the latest polls, the Conservatives and Liberals are tied in public opinion.
Canada has deployed 2,500 troops in Afghanistan's volatile southern Kandahar province as part of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) battling Taliban and Al-Qaeda fighters.
Since 2002, 78 Canadian soldiers and a senior diplomat have died in roadside bombings and in melees with the insurgents.