Newsgroup: it.politica.internazionale
Titolo: Layton says U.S. criticism may push Canada out of Afghan combat role

Murray Brewster, THE CANADIAN PRESS
The Canadian Press, 2008
OTTAWA - A top American official's criticism of NATO allies in
Afghanistan may be the tipping point that drives Canada out of the
war, says NDP Leader Jack Layton.
Layton, who opposes the Afghan conflict, predicted Thursday that the
hard feelings generated by U.S. Defence Secretary Robert Gates'
comments will be just enough to swing Parliament against the idea of
extending the mission beyond 2009.
Layton said the American attitude will irk Canadians, who have never
wholeheartedly endorsed the mission, and could alter fragile public
opinion.
"I think Canadians, just as they rose up and spoke around the war in
Iraq - ultimately provoking Mr. Chretien to do the right thing at the
last moment on the eve of the invasion - the Canadian people need to
speak out now," Layton said.
"We can change the direction of Canadian foreign policy."
In an interview with the Los Angeles Times this week, Gates suggested
Canadian, British and Dutch troops have been ineffective in
Afghanistan - an opinion that was echoed Thursday on the editorial
pages of the influential Washington Post newspaper.
Gates said that while U.S. forces in eastern Afghanistan are doing a
terrific job, he is concerned that NATO allies in the troubled south
are not well trained in counterinsurgency operations.
After the article appeared, the Pentagon chief telephoned Defence
Minister Peter MacKay to assure him that the comments were not meant
as a reflection on Canadian troops.
The Liberals, whose divided ranks allowed Prime Minister Stephen
Harper to extend the mission in 2006 by the narrowest of margins, said
Conservative hopes of a further extension have been dealt a setback
and no one should underestimate the impact of the seeming
indifference.
"I'm insulted almost as badly as when George Bush ignored Canada in
speech after 9/11 and I think most people feel that way too," said
Liberal defence critic Denis Coderre.
He demanded that the Conservative government seek a clear and direct
apology from the Bush administration.
Layton described the federal government's response as muted and also
insisted on a more forceful tone: "Peter MacKay has been acting like
Gates' executive assistant and apologist when he should have been
standing up for our troops."
However, Harper downplayed the controversy.
"Officials from the United States at all levels have always conveyed
their appreciation and confidence in Canadian forces and I've heard
that from both military and non-military sources," he said Thursday
during a visit to Saskatchewan.
"I believe Secretary Gates conveyed that to Minister MacKay yesterday
so there should be no misinterpretation of those comments vis-a-vis
Canada."
In a televised briefing Thursday, timed to air during aggrieved
European supper hour newscasts, Gates tried to smooth things over
further by giving qualified praise to NATO's effort in southern
Afghanistan.
He said Britain, Canada and the Netherlands have "stepped up to the
plate" in the Afghan conflict and are playing a "significant role" in
southern Afghanistan.
A Washington Post editorial Thursday suggested that the planned
dispatch of 3,200 U.S. Marines to southern Afghanistan is an
indication that the NATO mission is a failure, and defeating the
Taliban will be left up to American soldiers.
"If that means downgrading NATO's role or bruising the feelings of
some allied governments, so be it," the newspaper opined.
It's further proof, as far as Coderre is concerned, that Gates wasn't
being taken out of context.
The Conservative government has appointed a panel to recommend what
role Canada should play in Afghanistan after the current mission
expires in February 2009. The committee's report is expected to be
tabled in Parliament by the end of the month.
Harper has promised to let the House of Commons vote on whatever the
recommendation might be. The prime minister has made no secret that
he'd like to see Canada remain in Afghanistan for three years beyond
the current deadline.

 war, says NDP Leader Jack Layton.
ale ale ale, e la nato non c'è più....:D