http://ca.news.yahoo.com/011119/6/ehb2.html
OTTAWA (CP) - Threats of heavy fighting may cause Canada to abort a plan to send ground troops to protect aid operations in Afghanistan, Prime Minister Jean Chretien hinted Monday.
Although Canada has earmarked 1,000 ground troops to support relief work in the Central Asian country, Chretien told the Commons there has been no final decision on sending the troops, who are on 48 hours notice to leave. The prime minister said he doesn't want the Canadians embroiled in heavy fighting.
"The principal role that we hope they will have if, whenever and if they go there - because there is no final conclusion - will be to make sure that (aid gets) to the people who need it," he said. "And the troops will be there to help pave the way.
"We don't want to have a big fight there."
Canadian Alliance Leader Stockwell Day snapped a sarcastic reply. "I don't know if the prime minister is watching news, but there is a big fight there."
Defence Minister Art Eggleton said the troops will be capable of defending themselves, "but they're not going over there for front-line activity in an offensive manner.
"If they suddenly face that kind of situation without the proper equipment, without the proper preparation, it would only be appropriate to pull them back."
The troops designated to go are mainly from the 3rd battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry. This is a light battalion, without the armoured personnel carriers and other heavy equipment assigned to mechanized infantry battalions.
The whole allied ground operation appears to be in limbo as heavy fighting continues in parts of Afghanistan and with political uncertainty clouding the situation.
A military reconnaissance party, which was to scout operating areas for Canadian troops in Afghanistan, hasn't left for the region and remains on standby.
A Defence Department spokesman said Monday that things are on hold as members of the U.S.-led coalition keep an eye on a confused military and political situation in Afghanistan.
"Everything's on standby," he said.
The plan had been to send the reconnaissance party this week to join U.S. and British troops in scouting locations where various countries might operate.
Given the turmoil in Afghanistan as various factions jockey for power in the post-Taliban era, the western armies are being cautious.
The Canadian troops are supposed to secure airfields, open roads for aid convoys and help with post-war mine clearance.
They can't leave before the reconnaissance is complete because without that, they would have no destination and no intelligence on what to expect on the ground.
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/011119/6/ehb2.html
OTTAWA (CP) - Threats of heavy fighting may cause Canada to abort a plan to send ground troops to protect aid operations in Afghanistan, Prime Minister Jean Chretien hinted Monday.
Although Canada has earmarked 1,000 ground troops to support relief work in the Central Asian country, Chretien told the Commons there has been no final decision on sending the troops, who are on 48 hours notice to leave. The prime minister said he doesn't want the Canadians embroiled in heavy fighting.
"The principal role that we hope they will have if, whenever and if they go there - because there is no final conclusion - will be to make sure that (aid gets) to the people who need it," he said. "And the troops will be there to help pave the way.
"We don't want to have a big fight there."
Canadian Alliance Leader Stockwell Day snapped a sarcastic reply. "I don't know if the prime minister is watching news, but there is a big fight there."
Defence Minister Art Eggleton said the troops will be capable of defending themselves, "but they're not going over there for front-line activity in an offensive manner.
"If they suddenly face that kind of situation without the proper equipment, without the proper preparation, it would only be appropriate to pull them back."
The troops designated to go are mainly from the 3rd battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry. This is a light battalion, without the armoured personnel carriers and other heavy equipment assigned to mechanized infantry battalions.
The whole allied ground operation appears to be in limbo as heavy fighting continues in parts of Afghanistan and with political uncertainty clouding the situation.
A military reconnaissance party, which was to scout operating areas for Canadian troops in Afghanistan, hasn't left for the region and remains on standby.
A Defence Department spokesman said Monday that things are on hold as members of the U.S.-led coalition keep an eye on a confused military and political situation in Afghanistan.
"Everything's on standby," he said.
The plan had been to send the reconnaissance party this week to join U.S. and British troops in scouting locations where various countries might operate.
Given the turmoil in Afghanistan as various factions jockey for power in the post-Taliban era, the western armies are being cautious.
The Canadian troops are supposed to secure airfields, open roads for aid convoys and help with post-war mine clearance.
They can't leave before the reconnaissance is complete because without that, they would have no destination and no intelligence on what to expect on the ground.
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/011119/6/ehb2.html
