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C B C . C A N e w s - F u l l S t o r y :
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Army chief wants Canada‘s troops out of Bosnia
Last Updated Thu Dec 5 05:14:08 2002
OTTAWA-- The commander of Canada‘s army says the Canadian Forces should pull out of Bosnia and temporarily halt all overseas deployments.
Lt.-Gen. Mike Jeffrey testified before the House of Commons defence committee on Wednesday and said Canada should pull its nearly 1,300 peacekeepers out of Bosnia.
"I believe that our ability and our talent could be used better elsewhere," said Jeffrey.
Military analysts, members of Parliament and a recent Senate committee report all say the same thing: Canada‘s military is stretched too thin.
FROM NOV. 12, 2002: Call the troops home – Senate committee
Jeffrey said his ideas would address that problem.
Pulling out of Bosnia, he said, would free up resources and give Canada‘s solider from a posting that offers few challenges.
"Bosnia has become a routine mission. It‘s almost a garrison type environment. The kind of troops we have are better used elsewhere," said Jeffrey.
Canadian troops have been in Bosnia on peacekeeping duties since the mid-1990s.
Jeffrey also said Canada‘s ground forces would benefit from a break from all overseas missions, although not for two years as the Senate committee report recommended.
"Would I like to have some more time to regenerate and give the soldiers a break, given all that we‘ve gone through? Yes," he said.
"I‘d like a respite," Jeffrey added.
Jeffrey said Canada‘s army continues to perform well, despite shortages in equipment and personnel.
He said the Canadian military needs about $500 million more every year to address those problems.
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Army chief wants Canada‘s troops out of Bosnia
Last Updated Thu Dec 5 05:14:08 2002
OTTAWA-- The commander of Canada‘s army says the Canadian Forces should pull out of Bosnia and temporarily halt all overseas deployments.
Lt.-Gen. Mike Jeffrey testified before the House of Commons defence committee on Wednesday and said Canada should pull its nearly 1,300 peacekeepers out of Bosnia.
"I believe that our ability and our talent could be used better elsewhere," said Jeffrey.
Military analysts, members of Parliament and a recent Senate committee report all say the same thing: Canada‘s military is stretched too thin.
FROM NOV. 12, 2002: Call the troops home – Senate committee
Jeffrey said his ideas would address that problem.
Pulling out of Bosnia, he said, would free up resources and give Canada‘s solider from a posting that offers few challenges.
"Bosnia has become a routine mission. It‘s almost a garrison type environment. The kind of troops we have are better used elsewhere," said Jeffrey.
Canadian troops have been in Bosnia on peacekeeping duties since the mid-1990s.
Jeffrey also said Canada‘s ground forces would benefit from a break from all overseas missions, although not for two years as the Senate committee report recommended.
"Would I like to have some more time to regenerate and give the soldiers a break, given all that we‘ve gone through? Yes," he said.
"I‘d like a respite," Jeffrey added.
Jeffrey said Canada‘s army continues to perform well, despite shortages in equipment and personnel.
He said the Canadian military needs about $500 million more every year to address those problems.
