O'Connor hopes Bush's Iraq plan won't drain Afghanistan force
Last Updated: Friday, January 12, 2007 | 3:28 PM ET
The Canadian Press
Canada's defence minister says he hopes the United States won't pull any of its troops out of Afghanistan to boost its war in Iraq.
Gordon O'Connor said Friday he doesn't object to U.S. President George W. Bush's plan to send 21,500 more troops to Iraq, provided it doesn't mean the Americans "draw any troops from Afghanistan to reinforce Iraq."
Defence Minister Gordon O'Connor has no objection to a plan to beef up U.S. forces in Iraq, unless it means pulling Americans out of Afghanistan.
(CBC)
He said that's the only aspect of the U.S. decision he's thought about.
O'Connor also said he's not aware of any U.S. resources leaving Afghanistan to participate in Iraq.
The defence minister made the statement Friday following a speech to the Halifax Chamber of Commerce, in which he urged continued civilian support for Canada's mission in Afghanistan.
In the speech, he argued that the presence of Canadian troops in Afghanistan is part of a war against insurgents and that it is succeeding in part due to construction of roads and other humanitarian efforts.
