Rethink strategy in Afghanistan

To the Editor:

Greg Pyrcz's discussion of the recent Liberal motion on Afghanistan is unfair to the NDP. Contrary to his assertion in the May 1, 2007 edition of The Advertiser, the Liberal motion, defeated by the Conservatives with NDP support, actually calls only for the redeployment of Canadian troops from the Khandahar area by February 2009, and not necessarily their withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Michael Ignatieff, the deputy Liberal leader, confirmed this interpretation on the CTV Question Period of April 29. So the NDP had good reason to mistrust this motion, which could have the effect of perpetuating Canada's military involvement in Afghanistan. Nevertheless, I believe the NDP ought to have supported the Liberal motion. The motion at least provides a challenge for the Canadian public, and also for Canada's UN and NATO partners, to rethink the present strategy for rebuilding Afghanistan.

Hopefully such a review would include belated recognition of the futility of attempts to defeat the Taliban militarily and acknowledgement of the urgency of pursuing a political settlement of the Afghan conflict.

A realistic settlement must surely include the Taliban, which derives its support from the Pashtun half of the population of Afghanistan.

Yours sincerely,

Scott Burbidge

Port Williams, N.S.