CBCnews

REPUBLISH | EMAIL | PRINT | Text Size: S M L XL | REPORT TYPO | SEND YOUR FEEDBACK | Bookmark and Share

'Regrettable' if Canada quits Afghanistan: Chertoff

Last Updated: Wednesday, September 16, 2009 | 7:45 AM ET

CBC News

A former head of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security calls it "regrettable" that Canada plans to withdraw from the conflict in Afghanistan.

Michael Chertoff, former head of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, speaks with journalists on Feb. 25, 2009, on the sidelines of the Bahrain Security Forum in Manama, Bahrain. (Hasan Jamali/Associated Press)Michael Chertoff, former head of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, speaks with journalists on Feb. 25, 2009, on the sidelines of the Bahrain Security Forum in Manama, Bahrain. (Hasan Jamali/Associated Press) "The consequences of failure in this part of the world will not be limited to the United States," said Michael Chertoff, who served from 2005 to 2009 in the administration of former president George W. Bush.

"They will be felt by everybody," Chertoff said in an interview broadcast Wednesday on The Current with Anna Maria Tremonti.

"Support by our NATO allies is a very, very important element of the strategy [in Afghanistan]."

Chertoff said he strongly supports President Barack Obama's buildup of U.S. troops in Afghanistan. If an "enduring infrastructure" is not established in that country, Chertoff believes extremists will regain control of large chunks of territory,

"That's exactly what put us into the situation we had prior to 9/11," he said. "The consequences of that will be felt not only in the United States but in Canada and around the world."

Chertoff believes the challenge of this century is "ungoverned space," where there is no government that can maintain order. Those areas of the world can give terrorists room to thrive, he said.

"It would be very short-sighted to stint on the investment now and face the consequences in five years," he said. "So I think President Obama is dead-right in what he is doing."

  •  
REPUBLISH | EMAIL | PRINT | Text Size: S M L XL | REPORT TYPO | SEND YOUR FEEDBACK | Bookmark and Share
 

Crossroads Afghanistan Headlines

Karzai wins as Afghan run-off cancelled Video
Afghan President Hamid Karzai was declared the victor of the war-torn country's presidential election as a run-off vote was cancelled after his opponent withdrew.
Afghan challenger drops out of election Video
Abdullah Abdullah has announced he won't participate in the Nov. 7 run-off presidential election against incumbent President Hamid Karzai.
Kandahar spy blimp raises privacy concerns
An unmanned spy blimp floating high above the city of Kandahar is being praised by military officials as a useful security tool, but criticized by Afghan locals who say it violates their privacy.
Afghanistan rejects UN advice on run-off vote
Afghan election officials said Thursday that there will be more voting centres for next week's presidential run-off than in the fraud-tainted first-round vote in August, rejecting UN recommendations to eliminate sites to prevent cheating.
Ottawa mulled pulling Afghan control from military: Hillier
The Harper government considered taking day-to-day control of the mission in Kandahar away from the military and giving it to Canada's ambassador in Kabul.

World Headlines

updated Syria massacre prompts UN Security Council meeting video
The UN Security Council is holding an emergency meeting Sunday to discuss the recent massacre in the Syrian town of Houla, in which more than 90 people died, many of them children under the age of 10.
updated Ryder wins! Hesjedal takes the Giro d'Italia
Ryder Hesjedal has made history. The Victoria, B.C. native became the first Canadian to win one of three Grand Tour events, on Sunday, wrapping up the 2012 Giro wth an excellent performance in the 21st and final stage at Milan.
new IMF chief blasted for chastising Greeks on taxes
International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde is backtracking from recent remarks that she has more sympathy for poor African children than Greeks suffering under the country's economic problems and austerity measures.
NATO airstrike kills 8 in family, Afghan official says
A NATO airstrike killed eight members of a family, including children, according to Afghan officials who claim that such attacks damage the civilian population's trust in international troops who have been fighting in the country for more than a decade.
new Iran planning 2 new nuclear plants
Iran's nuclear chief says his country is planning to build at least two new nuclear power plants next to an existing facility that became operational with Russia's help last year.