Karzai urges Canada not to withdraw troops in 2009

[PMedMoe]

Article Link

From CTV News

Afghan President Hamid Karzai has called on Canada to maintain its military presence in Afghanistan after 2009, saying his country will fall into the hands of terrorists without Canada's help.

Karzai spoke to members of the Canadian media in Kabul, the Afghan capital, on Tuesday.

"He was talking about what would happen if Canadian troops were to pull out in February of 2009," said CTV's Steve Chao.

"He said that unequivocally it would mean that Afghanistan would fall back into anarchy -- that it would bring back the safe havens to terrorists and terrorists would be able to strike once again into the United States and Canada."

*Edited to change article link to CTV vs. MSN.  Some interesting comments after the story.

 

[HItorMiss]

It's intresting  that it seems everyone is speaking out clearly and openly about the need for Canada's continued combat role in southern Afghanistan and Harper himself has not made it clear to his own country why it so very badly needed. I would hope that with Hamid Karzai coming out and holding such a conversation with the MSM That perhaps our own sitting government would do the same.

 

[GAP]

Sometimes it pays to let others speak, rather than give them ammunition. Todate Harper has done nothing but express support for the mission, but it is the opposition that is making themselves look foolish trying to out do each other in the anti-Afghanistan campaign.

 

[HItorMiss]

That's an intresting postion but I counter that the sitting government has though been openly supportive has not been vocal enough in countering the anti-mission rhetoric from the opposition. When there is not other voice to be heard the one that is loudest is often the one the masses follow.

 

[GAP]

That's an intresting postion but I counter that the sitting government has though been openly supportive has not been vocal enough in countering the anti-mission rhetoric from the opposition. When there is not other voice to be heard the one that is loudest is often the one the masses follow.

Your comments mirror my sentiments, but step back and take a look at what is happening. The opposition is whining, but who actually is answering? 

In the last little while there has been
    1. The support on the Hero's Highway
    2. More positive coverage in the MSM of the security role
    3. Karzai pushing for the Canadians to stay
    4. Especially since Ruxted's article about the accomplishments of PRT and other NGO's, more comprehensive stories.

There's others, but I can't think of specific ones right now. It is the  trend I am looking at, not the individual arguments

 

[HItorMiss]

   

In the last little while there has been
1. The support on the Hero's Highway

Provincial mandate

2. More positive coverage in the MSM of the security role

I believe that exists simply because no one has died this week.

   3. Karzai pushing for the Canadians to stay

And no word from sitting government other then letting it play, and political pundits are already saying how his input is not welcome in our politics (Was on CTV Newnet)

4. Especially since Ruxted's article about the accomplishments of PRT and other NGO's, more comprehensive stories

I can't argue this as I haven't really seen it with my won eyes

I do see your point that there has been good press on the mission as of late but I do not personally see it coming from the one place it should be and that is PM Harper's office.

 

[GAP]

I would love to see some more from Harper's office, but sometimes you need to husband your arguments until later, if what you have at present is setting the stage. Expend your ammunition too early, and what have you got at crunch time?

Meh, we're just arguing which side of the pinhead the angels sit on.  ;D

 

[GAP]

CBC NewsWorld National has a segment on the Afghanistan mission sales pitch (according to their headlines)

 

[HItorMiss]

CBC National is now on the Afghan segment. I believe that it will sooon go to the "Inside the Mission" segment soon.

EDIT: After the current comercial the next segment on Inside the Mission begins.

 

[HItorMiss]

After having watched this segment I am left wondering how it is that with all that horse power behind the message I personaly find the message not getting out to the publc?

I don't think I am the only one who feels that way as well.

 

[The Bread Guy]

After having watched this segment I am left wondering how it is that with all that horse power behind the message I personaly find the message not getting out to the publc?  I don't think I am the only one who feels that way as well.

Well, at one level, the "main" media are picking it up - just posted to GAP's Sandbox News thread
http://forums.army.ca/forums/threads/65824/post-616634.html#msg616634

What I'm kinda disappointed about based on the first wave of pieces is that Reuters (UK) and AFP (FRA) wire services didn't appear to have reporters at Karzai's event - both are picking/choosing tidbits from the Globe & Mail's coverage.

This helps the message get out, but those who say our PM should have been front and centre a lot sooner, and a lot more often, are correct - most minority gov'ts tend to be defensive about messaging, and this one is no different than any other party would be in the same situation. 

That said, we'll see how the MSM follow-up - reporters may not be biased, per se, but it'll be interesting to see what editorial decisions are made in the next news cycle re:  "who else do we talk to about what this means?"

 

[Blindspot]

Well, I just watched Linda McQuaig of the Star on Michael Coren today. She had three members of the Afghan community sitting across the table from her state undeniably that Canadian Troops should and need to stay to provide security. The only thing she could come up with to justify troop withdrawl was:

1. Negotiate with the Taliban
2. Canada is the lapdog of the US
3. Canadian troops = Soviet invaders to Afghans

 

[The Bread Guy]

Well, I'll give credit where it's due - this, from Canadian Press, with the usual disclaimer....

Fathers of dead soldiers laud Karzai plea
Canadian Press, from Globe & Mail online, 19 Sept 07
Article link

The fathers of two Canadian soldiers killed in Afghanistan are lauding Afghan President Hamid Karzai for urging Canadians to stay in his country, despite controversy over the war.

Dr. Tim Goddard, whose daughter, Captain Nichola Goddard, died in a Taliban ambush in the Panjwai district, said Mr. Karzai's message is something that Canadians needed to hear.

Dr. Goddard told CTV's Canada AM that the work Canadian soldiers are trying to do is important, and that it is important to everybody in Afghanistan.

Jim Davis, whose son, Corporal Paul Davis, died in the Kandahar area, said he too supports Mr. Karzai's appeal.

Mr. Davis said ordinary Canadians need to know more about the Afghan mission.

He said that calling the situation in Afghanistan a quagmire and then to insisting that the Canadian public is asking for a change in the mission is unfair, because Canadians cannot make that decision without information.