Canada is heavilly involved in the war in Iraq

martman · Jan 30th, 2007, 05:41 PM

	Quote:
	FromArab American News Other Views: Canada's strange position on Iraq By: Reuel S. Amdur QUEBEC -- While George W. Bush is scrambling to find a way out of his Iraq quagmire, the Canadian government has cleverly found a way to try to satisfy its citizens, who have been against involvement in the invasion from the beginning, and President Bush at the same time. Of an earlier prime minister, Mackenzie King, the Canadian poet and philosopher F.R. Scott wrote: "Do nothing by halves/ Which can be done by quarters." King was a master of obfuscation, a man who had mastered the ability to confuse. In this same spirit, former prime minister Jean Chrétien publicly declared that Canada would be staying out of Iraq. As he spoke, he was allowing Canadian troops to be inserted into U.S. and British contingents. According to Chris Wattie, writing in the "National Post" November 28, 2003, "...about 30 Canadian exchange officers participated in the invasion of Iraq." Shortly after, one was wounded by a grenade. "As well, Canadian warships in the Persian Gulf were escorting U.S. supply vessels carrying equipment and ammunition for the war." Wikipedia states that Canadian air force personnel took part in combat missions, and that 40 to 50 Canadian personnel took part in the invasion. Some 1,300 Canadians served on frigates in the Persian Gulf under Canadian Commodore Roger Girouard, to protect aircraft carriers and escort British and American ships bringing men and supplies to Kuwait for action in Iraq. When the matter of Canadian troops in Iraq was raised in Parliament April 4, 2003, Chrétien replied, no doubt with fingers crossed, that "It's possible, but they are not in combat roles." The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) interviewed Lieutenant Colonel Ronnie McCourt in Doha, who said pointedly that "they are in combat." More recently, the current Prime Minister Stephen Harper acknowledged in the Associated Press (March 26, 2006) that "an unspecified number of Canadians have been embedded with coalition forces since the beginning of the war." The most bizarre twist of this shell game came in 2004, when Canadian Major General Walt Natynczyk was made number two in command of forces in Iraq. On January 24, 2006, Governor General Michaëlle Jean awarded him the Meritorious Service Cross. She recognized Natynczyk "for his outstanding leadership and professionalism while deployed as Deputy Commanding General of the Multi-National Corps during Operation Iraqi Freedom "From January 2004 to January 2005, Major General Natynczyk led the Corps' 10 separate brigades, consisting of more than 35,000 soldiers stationed throughout the Iraq Theater of Operations. He also oversaw planning and execution of all Corps level combat support and combat service support operations. "His pivotal role in the development of numerous plans and operations resulted in a tremendous contribution by the Multi-National Corps to Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, and has brought great credit to the Canadian Forces and to Canada." Outgoing UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan called the Iraqi invasion illegal. That would make Canada an accomplice to a crime. One recalls the old saw about being a little bit pregnant. Yet, the Canadian media consistently refer to the fact that Canada has stayed out of the war, and Canadians generally are ignorant of Canada's involvement. When this commentator contacted the Defense Department and the office of Gordon O'Connor, the minister, as to the current number of Canadian troops in Iraq, these sources simply stonewalled. Originally published in "Middle East Times" and reproduced with permission

http://www.arabamericannews.com/news...articleid=7322

Reuel Amdur is a Jewish columnist at the Arab American news.

I am deeply disgusted that Canda's general is number two in Iraq while we pretend we are not involved.
Please contact your MP, the PM, and the Minister of Defense and tell them to end Canda's involvement in this conflict and to stop lying to the Canadian people.

An Old Soul · Jan 30th, 2007, 06:32 PM

Thanks for posting- I will write to my MP immediately.

Brainstrained · Jan 30th, 2007, 08:12 PM

This is old, old news. Almost everything is from Chris Wattie's 2003 story. The only thing newer, and only slightly newer as it is still two years old and covered at the time, is about Major General Natynczyk who was one of the Canadian embeds. In fact, it is in slight error as Natynczyk was never quite "number two in command of forces in Iraq," which suggests he was second overall, including 130,000 US troops, and 35,000 multi-national troops.

Rather than flogging this dead horse, surely there is something more recent Canadian policy on Iraq that we can get upset about?

Demosthenes X · Jan 30th, 2007, 09:15 PM

This is news? Individual Canadian soldiers can and have served in American and British units since the start of this war. While I think it's a bad call on their part, it is their decision and we should respect it.

The Canadian Army has no role in Iraq, however. This is an important distinction... it would be like saying "Canada heavily involved in Al Qeada" because two Canadians were found to be terrorists...

MannyP Design · Jan 30th, 2007, 09:32 PM

I seem to recall Canadian snipers serving in Iraq... I think there was an article in MacLean's about it or something. Some use .50 cal rifles to boot.

da_jonesy · Jan 30th, 2007, 09:55 PM

	Quote:			Originally Posted by MannyP Design
	I seem to recall Canadian snipers serving in Iraq... I think there was an article in MacLean's about it or something. Some use .50 cal rifles to boot.

That was in Afghanistan. Canadian Sniper teams were assigned to US units. One of our snipers got the distance record for a confirmed kill.

martman · Jan 31st, 2007, 04:15 AM

	Quote:			Originally Posted by Demosthenes X
	The Canadian Army has no role in Iraq, however. This is an important distinction... it would be like saying "Canada heavily involved in Al Qeada" because two Canadians were found to be terrorists...

This is just silly. The comparison is way off. Notice the General in cahrge of 35,000 troops? He's Canadian.

MannyP Design · Jan 31st, 2007, 08:21 AM

There's a difference between Canada sending troops to Iraq and Canadian troops choosing to serve in Iraq.

Demosthenes X · Jan 31st, 2007, 11:26 AM

	Quote:			Originally Posted by martman
	This is just silly. The comparison is way off. Notice the General in cahrge of 35,000 troops? He's Canadian.

All right, when they discover that bin Laden's right hand man is Canadian, I'm sure you'll be saying the exact same thing.

Canada - as a nation - is not involved in Iraq. If Canadians - as people - want to go over there and fight, that's their right.

SINC · Jan 31st, 2007, 02:40 PM

"In this same spirit, former prime minister Jean Chrétien publicly declared that Canada would be staying out of Iraq. As he spoke, he was allowing Canadian troops to be inserted into U.S. and British contingents."

Hmmm, wasn't he a Liberal?

Jan 30th, 2007, 06:32 PM	#2
An Old Soul Full Citizen Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Hamilton, ON Posts: 611	Thanks for posting- I will write to my MP immediately. __________________ 20" 2.4GHz iMac, 2.4GHz MacBook Pro, iPhone 3G

Jan 30th, 2007, 08:12 PM	#3
Brainstrained Honourable Citizen Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: North Bay, ON Posts: 1,038	This is old, old news. Almost everything is from Chris Wattie's 2003 story. The only thing newer, and only slightly newer as it is still two years old and covered at the time, is about Major General Natynczyk who was one of the Canadian embeds. In fact, it is in slight error as Natynczyk was never quite "number two in command of forces in Iraq," which suggests he was second overall, including 130,000 US troops, and 35,000 multi-national troops. Rather than flogging this dead horse, surely there is something more recent Canadian policy on Iraq that we can get upset about? __________________ "Ooohhh! My brain hurts!"

Jan 30th, 2007, 09:15 PM	#4
Demosthenes X Full Citizen Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Victoria/Kingston Posts: 781	This is news? Individual Canadian soldiers can and have served in American and British units since the start of this war. While I think it's a bad call on their part, it is their decision and we should respect it. The Canadian Army has no role in Iraq, however. This is an important distinction... it would be like saying "Canada heavily involved in Al Qeada" because two Canadians were found to be terrorists... __________________ Demosthenes [noun], dem-aws-thene-s 1) (384 BC – 322 BC) the greatest of the Ancient Greek orators 2) pseudonym used by Valentine Wiggin in Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game to alter the events of world history

Jan 30th, 2007, 09:32 PM	#5
MannyP Design Honourable Citizen Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: New Brunswick Posts: 6,392	I seem to recall Canadian snipers serving in Iraq... I think there was an article in MacLean's about it or something. Some use .50 cal rifles to boot. __________________ Manny \| Graphic Designer Vote for Manny and Laura in the Sony Bloggie Video Facebook Contest!

Jan 31st, 2007, 08:21 AM	#8
MannyP Design Honourable Citizen Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: New Brunswick Posts: 6,392	There's a difference between Canada sending troops to Iraq and Canadian troops choosing to serve in Iraq. __________________ Manny \| Graphic Designer Vote for Manny and Laura in the Sony Bloggie Video Facebook Contest!

Jan 31st, 2007, 02:40 PM	#10
SINC Resident Curmudgeon Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Central Alberta Posts: 39,939	"In this same spirit, former prime minister Jean Chrétien publicly declared that Canada would be staying out of Iraq. As he spoke, he was allowing Canadian troops to be inserted into U.S. and British contingents." Hmmm, wasn't he a Liberal? __________________ Visit my website: St. Albert's Place "When the chips are down, the buffalo is empty." Never squat with your spurs on.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Canada is facing an environmental and energy crisis	MACSPECTRUM	Everything Else, eh!	14	Apr 13th, 2006 11:18 AM
More Rumblings from Iraq...	IronMac	Everything Else, eh!	2	Mar 3rd, 2005 12:30 PM
AI dishing dirt on iTMS Canada	mycatsnameis	iPod & iTunes, iPhone & Apple TV	6	Apr 22nd, 2004 05:03 PM
Warmonger explains war to peacenik	PosterBoy	Everything Else, eh!	54	Mar 28th, 2003 10:50 PM
Wired Article: Canada Wrestles with E-Waste Fix	Capucine	Anything Mac	0	Mar 11th, 2003 08:37 AM