Canada's top soldier doesn't believe the country's presence in Afghanistan makes it a target for attacks, but he warns Canadians should prepare for military casualties.

Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Rick Hillier says Canada would be a target whether its troops were in Afghanistan or not.

"These are detestable murderers and scumbags. I'll tell you that right up front," said Hillier.

Gen. Rick Hillier. (File photo)
Gen. Rick Hillier. (File photo)

In the days following last Thursday's bombings in London, Canadians are wondering if they are at risk of attack and whether Canada faces reprisals for having troops in Afghanistan.

But Hillier, who commanded NATO troops in Afghanistan before taking his posting in Ottawa, says this isn't an issue.

"It doesn't matter whether we are in Afghanistan or anywhere else in the world. They want to break our society. I actually believe that," he said.

If Canada is attacked, he says, it will be only because it is a free country.

"They detest our freedoms. They detest our society. They detest our liberties," he said.

By sending troops to Afghanistan, Canada is actually protecting itself, at least in the long run, he says. As many as 1,250 Canadian soldiers will be serving in the country by February 2006.

In time, Hillier said, Afghanistan will develop into a fully functioning country that's not a haven for people like al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden, the man believed to be responsible for the Sept. 11 attacks in the U.S.

For now, Hillier says Canadians should realize the mission the Canadian military is undertaking in Afghanistan is a dangerous one that could lead to casualties.

About 250 Canadian soldiers will be sent to the volatile Kandahar region in August 2005. American officials have warned of al-Qaeda attacks in the region.