Renfrew Nipissing Pembroke NDP
Media Release
There is considerable misinformation (and outright lies) about the NDP resolution adopted at our convention in Quebec City this past weekend. I was there and would like to set the record about the official NDP position on our support for Canada's armed forces.
The resolution that we passed overwhelmingly SUPPORTS OUR TROOPS. Contrary to various suppositions, the resolution had nothing but praise for our armed forces. But, unlike the Conservatives, the NDP proposes to take concrete measures to protect them.
The resolution that was endorsed by delegates called on Prime Minister Harper to begin “the safe and immediate withdrawal of Canadian troops from Afghanistan” and to “support the continuation of development assistance to Afghanistan and democratic peace building”.Canada's military forces have been world leaders in peace keeping and peace-making for nearly five decades. They have led United Nations and NATO missions. Paul Martin, and now Stephen Harper, subverted and undermined that role in order to appease the USA. The only reason for abandoning our historic role — that of peacekeeping — is the Conservative need to win the approval of George W. Bush and the American Government.
As a consequence, Canadian troops have been thrown into battle without clear goals, without knowing what the enemy looks like, without knowing what victory will look like, and without any exit strategy. Our women and men are doing a stellar job under these appalling circumstances.
We know that Canadian soldiers' lives are being endangered for no reason. As NDP leader Jack Layton said this past Sunday, the NDP is pledged to support and protect our soldiers by ending their military mission in Afghanistan and returning them to their long-time mission of international peace-keeping. It is the Harper Conservatives, like Cheryl Gallant, who want to expose our men and women in uniform to needless death and injury in a war that benefits no-one, especially not Afghani women and children.
The world has always had terrorists: the IRA, ETA, Basque Separatists, PLO to name a few. The only strategy that worked was to dry up the flow of money and arms, and then provide a voice through diplomacy and the political process. As someone who lived through the reign of terror of the IRA in England, I can tell you that sending in the army made things worse and British soldiers became regular targets for the mob. It is easy for politicians to order troops into war; it took only 4 hours of debate in the House of Commons to put our troops into war. The motion passed by 4 votes 149 – 145. I think our serving men and women deserve better.
I have been devastated to hear of each of the 33 Canadian deaths. As a Canadian and a New Democrat, I support our troops. As a Canadian and a New Democrat, I will work to bring them home.
Sue McSheffrey
613 432-7208
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