Bernier optimistic NATO will provide more troops

Maxime Bernier says Canada will consider it a "failure" if Ottawa does not get the 1,000 additional troops that it's seeking for the NATO mission in southern Afghanistan.

But the foreign affairs minister says he's optimistic that NATO will come up with more troops, although he's not sure if the commitment will be made at the meeting of NATO allies in Bucharest this week.

"I hope we will have our troops -- maybe at this meeting or maybe later," he told CTV's Canada AM on Monday.

"If we don't succeed (in getting) these 1,000 troops in the south, in Kandahar, it will be a failure for us, it will be a failure for the NATO mission because we cannot succeed in Afghanistan if we don't succeed in the south."

Bernier said he's hoping to "have good news" in the next couple of weeks. His cautious optimism follows on the heels of the Prime Minister Stephen Harper's statement last week that he is not positive that all of Canada's demands will be met at the NATO meeting in Romania, which is set to begin on April 2.

"I don't think we will necessarily finish that process at Bucharest but we will finish it in the very near future," Harper said.

The House of Commons recently voted to extend Canada's military mission in the war-torn region, as long as NATO provided 1,000 more troops and the Defence Department came up with battlefield helicopters and unmanned surveillance planes.

Over the weekend, reports indicated that Poland was ready to step up with more helicopters for the mission. Sources said the Poles may provide up to four more helicopters, as long as Canada pays the bill for their use.

Canada's demands for more troops will have to compete with other issues at the summit. U.S. President George Bush has indicated that he wants to expand NATO. The U.S. is hoping to bring Albania, Croatia, and Macedonia into the alliance. There is also word that Bush wants to put Georgia and the Ukraine on track for membership into the security alliance, but there is resistance from European powers such as Russia and Germany.

Russia has suggested that if Georgia and the Ukraine are taken off the table it may offer more cooperation when it comes to NATO's Afghan mission.

Comments are now closed for this story

Wes
said

Regardless of politics there is a lesson here. Canada needs to be self sufficient. We need a robust deployable force that is large enough and well enough equiped to accomplish what we ask of it. As the worlds second largest country, a member of the G-7, with a population of 33 million and a coming dispute over the north west passage we shouldn't rely on other countries. We should have a decent heavy and medium lift capacity for both fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft. We should have our own unmanned aireial drones, we should have modern tanks, enough vehicles for our regular and reserve force as well as training centres and the list goes on. The mission could be to any place, but as a country that can provide the highest quality equipment to our voluteer military we should.

Chris
said

In one respect, I think we should withdrawl our forces from Afghanistan, it is not our place to impose our ways on them, but on the other hand, we already invaded, captured, and taken over their country, it should be up to us to ensure their country can stand on its own two legs

Garry
said

First of all, Afghanistan cannot be compared to Vietnam. In Vietnam, the Viet Cong were supplied by two independent and sovereign states - North Vietnam and the People's Republic of China. The Taliban in Afghanistan do not enjoy such support. Second, I agree that we must take a very serious look at our membership in NATO. It is a neutered organization if all the members do not contribute equally (i.e., Germany). Whether-or-not we stay pass 2011 will depend on the wishes of Parliament.

Dan
said

It's Funny how everybody knows what's best. No one ask the soldier if they want to be there or if we are doing good and helping. I'll tell you i know lots of people who have been to A-stan and are going on more tours. We are doing good there and try asking a Soldier, you know the ones that are going there not you, and they will tell you they want to go!! Thank you Mr. Harper for keepings us there and extending our mission!

Allan Eizinas
said

The 1000 troops would replace the killed and injured since the start of this Canadian mistake. Those on the ground agree that at least 10,000 more fighting troops are needed to make any headway.

Much ado about nothing!

John
said

This is an American war, started by Bush as a War on Terror. Only after U.S. invaded Afghan did the U.S. twist NATO's arm at the U.N. to enter the war - on a very suspicious re-interpretation of the NATO Charter. No surprise that Euro nations are spitting mad at getting dragged into this thru the back door by Bush. Don't expect a lot of co-operation with the U.S. and its toady - Harper's Canada. We need to get out, now.

Ted
said

N.A.T.O.
No Action Talk Only

And this was supposed to be a NATO commitment! They hide in the corner, while 4 countries do the work. Time to quit NATO.

Erik
said

NATO is a joke. Afghanistan has shown the world that NATO cannot operate outside its own backyard.

I'm proud of our contribution to the mission. Our relatively small force is doing great things, but they need help. And it's sad to see your so-called "alliance members" not answering the call.

All for one and one for all! The entire alliance voted for this mission, so either step up or get out of the alliance!

Doug
said

When these troops were originally requested by Canada,I thought the PM had asked for help from someone other than the USA.I took that to mean that some "other" NATO allies had to step up and do their fair share.
In the absence of other allies,the USA is going to supply the help,in spite of the fact that they are already carrying more than their fair share.
"Chuk" is right to ask "where are our allies?" It looks like some NATO members are only members because they feel they might need help for themselves some day.I thought that membership also meant you were also obligated to help other members.This is a real "free lunch" for some NATO countries.
I've heard foreign media talking about the withdrawl of Canadian troops being the beginning of the end for this mission,and possibly NATO itself.
Put aside the political spin and partisanship,and what's left is a very serious international situation that goes way beyond Afghanistan.

Dean
said

It seems rather apparent that NATO has run it's course. Perhaps it's more of a country club than a deterrent to those who choose war. How is it that with so many "member" nations, no one can come up with some manpower? It's become a world class joke!

A. Girard
said

Once again Nato is a colossal waste of time. I support the soldiers but to continue to put our soldiers on second and third tours is downright cruel. How many more canadian soldiers have to be killed, or should I say sacrificed before the Harper/Mackay tag team wake up and smell the coffee?

Ron
said

This game the Conservatives are playing with this ridiculous number of troops we need to succeed in the south is a joke. We are on our way to another Vietnam. This time, it'll be for all of NATO to share.

Richard D
said

"The U.S. is hoping to bring Albania, Croatia, and Macedonia into the alliance."

That just may be how we get the extra 1000 troops we need. All the US has to say to Albania, Croatia, or Macedonia is "You want to join NATO? No problem. Pony up 1000 troops for Afghanistan, and we'll fast-track your application to NATO."

Chuk
said

If Canada gets the 1000 NATO troops are they staying to 2011 or longer?
Or if they dont get 1000 more troops are they leaving before 2011?
Helicopters from Poland, if Canada pays the bill, what a load of crap. Is that the best you can do NATO? Where's our allies?

Michele
said

Bernier is optimistic
because the US has already committed to suppling the troops if other countries do not. It was probably already planned when Harper made it a 'condition' to stay. These conditions are just more government propaganda; acting tough against the US or I mean NATO.