KABUL — Who is David Pratt? Ask Canadian soldiers in Kabul that question, and you will get a lot of different answers.

"I don't know, a hockey player,'' guessed Sgt.-Maj. Bob Greenwood at Camp Julien, the largest Canadian Forces base in Afghanistan. "Does he sing?'' asked another soldier.

Pratt is Canada's new defence minister, named Friday by Prime Minister Paul Martin.

Kept busy in their roles as peacekeepers half a world away from home, it's understandable that most of the nearly 2,000 Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan didn't notice Pratt's appointment, or even the fact that Canada has a new prime minister.

However, it's likely they will soon get to know the views of the Ottawa-area member of Parliament as they become more familiar with their new political master.

"I'm sure he'll do the best he can,'' said Warrant Officer Al Organ as he went about his daily routine at the base near Kabul.

As chairman of the Commons Defence Committee, Pratt advocated spending billions of dollars more on the military. Many soldiers told of that view Saturday took an immediate liking to their new boss.

"We need money, for sure,'' said one soldier who didn't want to be identified.

"I just see the German army here (in Kabul), they've got weapons on their trucks, we don't.''

As an ordinary MP, Pratt was also critical of the Chretien government's decision to stay out of the war in Iraq.

Some soldiers have quietly lamented not participating with the U.S. in toppling the Saddam Hussein regime and still believe Canada should be shoulder-to-shoulder with Americans in Baghdad.

"It doesn't look good on Canada to be standing off on the sidelines,'' said Cpl. Mark Conrad of Bridgewater, N.S.

"I think we need a defence minister who supports that.''

Now that he's been sworn in, Pratt isn't saying much about Iraq, preferring to look forward to the challenges of his new role, rather than peering into the past.

"I'm focused more now on the future,'' said Pratt Friday in Ottawa.

One contentious topic the new minister will face is missile defence.

Canada is discussing possible participation in an American missile defence plan _ something Pratt has supported. A decision on whether Canada should take part in the program will likely come to cabinet early in the new year.

"I expect you're going to be hearing more of that in the not-too-distant future,'' Pratt said.

Another big issue is the decade-old question of replacing Canada's aging fleet of Sea King helicopters.

Pratt said he wants to discuss the helicopter purchase with Public Works Minister Stephen Owen in the next couple of days and move the issue "just as fast as we possibly can.''

Martin, too, has said he wants to speed up the process of buying new helicopters.

Pratt will also play an important role in deciding whether the Canadian Forces will continue participation in the International Security Assistance Force, or ISAF, in Afghanistan.

Defence department officials have warned that Canada cannot maintain the force it has in Kabul at its current size, beyond August next year. At the same time, NATO has asked several countries, including Canada, to create provincial reconstruction teams that would move beyond Kabul, to help secure and rebuild areas outside the Afghan capital.