Ottawa Maps Out Post-Combat Role in Afghanistan, The Globe and Mail, 24 August 2010
EXCERPT: "The Canadian government has mapped out plans for a non-combat mission in Afghanistan after 2011 that would spend close to $600-million over three years to prevent the country from becoming a 'haven for terrorists,' declassified documents show. A spring 2010 PowerPoint presentation, stamped 'Secret, Canadian Eyes Only,' offers further evidence of how solidly committed Ottawa is to ending the military mission in Afghanistan despite pressure from allies to keep a combat force there. The presentation, obtained under an access to information request for records from Chief of Defence Staff General Walt Natynczyk’s office, quotes Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s January, 2010, pledge that Afghanistan 'will become a strictly civilian mission after 2011.' It lays out a plan for the post-military phase of Canada’s involvement in Afghanistan that concentrates on development and diplomacy, envisioning a 'modest engagement focused out of Kabul,' the capital. The document proposes 'total mission expenditures' in Afghanistan of $549-million between 2012 and 2014, adding there would be new funding required for security at Canada’s embassy in Kabul."
Read the full story.
Related articles:
Canada spurned Afghan reinforcement plea, The Canadian Press / Yahoo! News, 22 August 2010
Canadian, Dutch Commanders exchange lessons on troops' withdrawal from Afghanistan, Bernama, 21 August 2010
Canada names new top civilian in Afghanistan, CBC News, 9 August 2010
Related resource:
Canada's Engagement in Afghanistan 2011-2014, The Globe and Mail (via Scribd), 24 August 2010
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