Inside Politics

Is Canada a second-tier ally?

by Janyce McGregor Posted: November 30, 2009 2:57 PM Last Updated: November 30, 2009 4:09 PM

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(Sean Kilpatrick/Canadian Press)

President Barack Obama issued new orders for the American military in Afghanistan on Sunday, and his administration has begun briefing the United States' allies and other key players on these plans.

The official public announcement comes tomorrow (Tuesday) evening at 8 p.m. ET, when Obama delivers a speech at the United States Military Academy at West Point.

Our colleague Susan Bonner in Washington is reporting that although Obama is speaking personally with leaders from Germany, France, Britain, Italy, Denmark, China, India, Russia, Afghanistan and Pakistan... he will not be making a personal call to Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

Vice-President Joe Biden will be phoning Canada's prime minister.

Altogether the CBC has been told some 30-40 calls will be made by not only Obama and Biden, but also Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Secretary of Defence Robert Gates, and National Security Advisor Jim Jones.

For what it's worth, Canada has the highest per-capita death rate among foreign armies in Afghanistan.  However, Canada has pledged to withdraw all its troops in 2011.