go jack go ... !

i don't agree with jack very often; but on this ... yes.

Canada's Afghan role under fire; NDP leader demands House debate as troops struggle with challenges
Carly Weeks in Ottawa and Chris Wattie in Kandahar, CanWest News Service, Victoria Times Colonist, March 06, 2006

In the wake of two fatalities and fresh waves of attacks on Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan, NDP Leader Jack Layton demanded Sunday a parliamentary vote on Canada's role in the country.

"This is very disturbing to Canadians and it's vitally important that we have in the House of Commons a full debate on our mission, its terms, our goals, because that really has yet to happen," Layton told CTV's Question Period. ...

Layton said Canadians deserve more answers about the scope of the country's mission in Afghanistan, particularly now that Canada is playing a greater role in the Kandahar region and is facing an increasing number of enemy attacks.

Troops are involved in what is becoming a long, drawn-out conflict and Canadians should be told exactly how long the country's commitment will last, he said.

"We certainly don't want to become involved in a protracted war. The goal of Canadians being in Afghanistan was a more traditional role of peacekeeping, peacemaking that's extended into an ongoing war-like position. It's certainly something I think a lot of Canadians have concerns about and we share those concerns," he said.

However, Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay said the government can't afford to waver in its full support of the mission in Afghanistan and said Canada's involvement is not up for debate. ...