PM makes surprise Afghan visit

Karzai offers helping hand for Harper as trip designed to show commitment

By Alexander Panetta

KABUL (CP) — Prime Minister Stephen Harper made a dramatic 10,400-kilometre trip to respond to criticism that his government has been incompetent in handling the controversy over the treatment of Afghan detainees.

Harper left Ottawa on Sunday and surfaced on the other side of the globe Tuesday after completing an unannounced journey to Afghanistan under a veil of secrecy.

After two flights on an airliner and one bumpy ride on a military cargo plane, Harper was standing beside Afghan President Hamid Karzai in the lush gardens of the gated presidential compound in Kabul.

Karzai eagerly tossed Harper a lifeline on the detainees issue that has given the Conservative government an almost-daily pounding from the opposition in Ottawa.

Karzai said he has followed the reports about detainees and takes exception to their premise: that prisoners have been beaten by Afghan authorities after being handed over by their Canadian captors.

“I’m aware of the news and the consequent controversy in Canada,” Karzai said, with Harper beside him. “I made personal calls to the people concerned in Kandahar ... We do not have any such case of torture.”

He said it wasn’t clear whether the more than two dozen torture victims mentioned in a Canadian newspaper report were even prisoners held by the Afghan government. Karzai offered no guarantee that torture never occurs in Afghanistan, but he said reports to the contrary were “probably“ not true.

He declared his job is to stamp out human-rights abuses in Afghanistan, which he said has suffered a string of atrocities under the communists in the 1980s, warlords in the 1990s and the Taliban until 2001.

“The suffering of the Afghan people is rooted in that misbehaviour,” Karzai said.“My objective in life is to bring to the Afghan people the certainty of safety and security and life within the rule of law.”

“It’s a commitment the Afghan people would want me to make to them — and the rest of the world. I will assure the Canadian people that if there is any such incident, Afghans will be the first to take me to task on it.”

Harper’s opponents have not just hammered his government over the prisoner transfers and alleged abuse, which they say places Canada in violation of the Geneva conventions. They have also ridiculed the Conservatives for a series of flip-flops on how the government monitors detainees and their treatment.

Harper’s trip was apparently designed to steer public attention away from the Afghan detainees and toward a hopeful message that the long-suffering country is improving.

Unlike his first visit to Afghanistan in 2006 — his first foreign trip as prime minister — Harper is not spending this one just with Canadian troops in the country.

He began the current visit at the Aschiana school for underprivileged children, and also spent time with Canadian diplomats and aid workers at the Canadian Embassy in Kabul.

The prime minister handed the students pencil cases and dropped in on painting, acting, woodworking and music classes in the tightly guarded compound.

“Giving out pencil cases to Afghan children makes for great optics,” Liberal defence critic Denis Coderre commented in a news release from Ottawa. “This attempt to change the channel is not fooling anyone.”

Coderre said the government spent “nearly $1.2 billion to purchase 100 new tanks — more than the total funding committed to the reconstruction effort. Total spending by this government on the military aspects of this mission has been nearly 10 times greater than on the humanitarian side.”

“I’m not here because of the polls,” Harper said when asked what his visit was designed to achieve. “I’m here because it’s the right thing to do.”

Few members of Harper’s own government were aware of his surprise two-day trip to Afghanistan.

Journalists accompanying him received a cryptic message Friday to pack clothes for an unspecified warm destination. They were told to show up at an Ottawa military hangar on Sunday and not to breathe a word to anyone.

Security officials warned them during the 30-hour journey that if they published details during a layover they could be arrested and prosecuted under the National Defence Act.

At the Kabul school, Harper reluctantly grabbed a paintbrush when a young girl offered it to him and invited him to contribute to the canvas she was working on. “I don’t want to spoil it,” Harper said before taking the brush. “OK, tell me what to do here ... I have no talent for this.”

The national network of Aschiana schools provides education to more than 10,000 Afghan children and received $39,500 in funding from the Canadian government this year.

Karzai said that with international assistance, 10,000 jobs have been created in Kandahar; 300,000 people have had access to micro-credit loans; and 40,000 more infants have survived childbirth thanks to improvements in the health system.

Harper extolled the benefits of Canada’s presence. “As Canadians we know that Afghanistan’s future will not be secured through military means alone,” he said. “We know it depends on creating the economic, social and governmental infrastructure that ensures lasting peace and prosperity.”

Fifty-four Canadian soldiers and a diplomat have been killed in Afghanistan since 2002. Skeptics have questioned whether the sacrifice and the multibillion-dollar commitment has been worth the result. The Liberals want Canada’s 2,500 troops in Kandahar pulled out once its current commitment expires in 2009. The NDP wants an immediate withdrawal. Karzai described the Afghan struggle as a two-fold mission that is already half won.

He said the international community has already achieved first goal — wiping out terrorist camps to provide training for destructive acts against the West before the attacks on the United States on Sept. 11, 2001. The second goal is creating a stable nation that will never see another regime like the Taliban, who harboured terrorists. “Let us complete that job,” Karzai said. “If we leave half the way, (the Taliban) will re-emerge and haunt you back home whenever they want to.”

Harper offered one small surprise before leaving for Kandahar, where he will visit Canadian soldiers. He gave Karzai a pint-sized Ottawa Senators sweatshirt for his newborn son. “These are not members of our upper house. These are admired hockey players,” Harper said of the Senators, who are bound for the Stanley Cup finals. Karzai responded that he’d like his son to “play hockey — as soon as he can walk on his feet.”

Harper in Afghanistan on visit meant to stress mission's humanitarian side

By Alexander Panetta - KABUL, Afghanistan (CP) - Prime Minister Stephen Harper has responded to criticism of his government's handling of the mission in Afghanistan by making an unannounced visit to the war-ravaged country.

The surprise two-day trip comes after weeks of opposition attacks on his government's allegedly incompetent handling of the Afghan detainee controversy.

Harper arrived on a military flight Tuesday in the Afghan capital, where he visited a school for underprivileged children and met with President Hamid Karzai.

This is Harper's second visit to the war-torn country. Barely one month after taking office last year, Harper made Afghanistan his destination for his first foreign trip as prime minister.

Unlike that last trip, this one is designed to emphasize Canada's non-military contribution to rebuilding of the country.

The prime minister handed out pencil cases to students at a local school for underprivileged children. He dropped in on painting, acting, woodworking, and music classes at the Aschiana School in a tightly guarded compound in the capital's downtown core.

The school received $39,500 in annual funding from the Canadian government and provides education to more than 10,000 Afghan children. He also visited diplomats at the Canadian Embassy for a briefing on progress made in that country since the ouster of the Taliban in 2001.

In 2006, Harper spent almost the entirety of his three days in Afghanistan visiting military installations and camping out with soldiers. His current trip comes with public opinion polls suggesting support for his government has fallen amid opposition attacks of the last few weeks.

The Conservatives lost a commanding lead in public opinion polls as their opponents clobbered them over inconsistencies and flip flops regarding the Afghan detainee abuse controversy. There have been concerns that suspected militants arrested by Canadians and handed over to local authorities are not being treated in accordance with the Geneva Conventions and have suffered torture at the hands of Afghan police.

Harper's office spared no effort to keep the trip under wraps. A call went out Friday afternoon telling journalists to pack for a warm climate and to show up at a military hangar on Sunday if they wanted to join Harper on a trip to an unspecified foreign location.

They were told not to breathe a word about the trip. Journalists were later warned that they could be arrested if they divulged details of the prime minister's travel plans.

PM's Afghan visit is a message of hope

KABUL (May 23, 2007)

Prime Minister Stephen Harper tried to put the focus on rebuilding Afghanistan yesterday as he arrived on a surprise two-day visit.

Harper's trip was apparently designed to steer public attention away from the military mission and reported abuse of Afghan detainees and toward a hopeful message that the long- suffering country is improving.

He began at a school for underprivileged children, giving out pencil cases and dropping in on painting, acting, woodworking and music classes in the tightly guarded compound.

He also spent time with Canadian diplomats and aid workers at the Canadian Embassy in Kabul.

Later, Afghan President Hamid Karzai eagerly tossed Harper a lifeline on the detainees issue that has resulted in an almost-daily pounding from the opposition in Ottawa.

Karzai said he has followed the reports about detainees and takes exception to the premise that prisoners have been beaten by Afghan authorities after being handed over by their Canadian captors.

"I made personal calls to the people concerned in Kandahar ... We do not have any such case of torture."

He said it wasn't clear whether the torture victims mentioned in a Canadian newspaper report were even prisoners held by the Afghan government.

Karzai offered no guarantee that torture never occurs in Afghanistan, but he said reports to the contrary were "probably" not true.

"If there is any such incident, Afghans will be the first to take me to task on it." Harper was scheduled to visit Canadian troops today.

Work in Afghanistan not done: Harper

May 23, 2007 Bruce Campion-Smith Ottawa Bureau

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan – Canadian troops are making a difference in Afghanistan but “your work is not complete,” Prime Minister Stephen Harper told them in a morale-boosting speech here this morning.

The progress made so far in Afghanistan wouldn’t be possible “unless people like you put yourselves on the line,” said Harper on his second day of a surprise visit to Afghanistan.

Harper lauded the troops as “unsung heroes” and took a dig at opposition parties back in Ottawa that have been pressing the Conservatives to set a firm deadline to bring them home.

“You know that our work is not complete. You know that we cannot just put down our arms and hope for peace,” Harper said.

“You know that we can’t get set arbitrary deadlines and simply wish for the best,” he said.

Some 300 soldiers assembled under the hot sun on the hockey rink to hear Harper speak, many of them clutching Tim Hortons coffee cups from the nearby outlet. Behind him, soldiers perched on a few of the armoured vehicles they routinely use to patrol Kandahar province.

Harper, speaking on what’s an easy political topic for him, praised the troops as the “greatest of your generation,” echoing a line used by Afghan President Hamid Karzai.

“Your country – as much as this country – owes you a debt of gratitude and its unwavering support,” Harper said.

The work of Canadian troops has meant democratic elections, expansion of human rights and freedoms for women, new schools and health-care facilities and infrastructure, he said.

At the end of the speech, Harper presented the troops with some hockey gear – and couldn’t resist taking yet another dig at the media.

“We kicked a few reporters off the plane and brought over some new hockey sticks that you’ll appreciate,” said Harper, who then mingled with the soldiers in their tan-coloured uniforms, posing for photographs.

Defence Minister Gordon O’Connor introduced Harper, saying no other prime minister in the last 50 years has done more for the military.

“You may have noticed that the equipment is starting to flow into the armed forces . . . and the manpower is increasing,” O’Connor said. “He is totally committed to rebuilding the armed forces.”

Harper later visited with the head of the provincial reconstruction team.

Harper’s visit – his second trip to Afghanistan – was cheered by many of the 2,500 Canadian troops based here.

“It’s good for the morale and the appreciation for what we are doing,” said Capt. Corneliu Chisu of Toronto. “He’s bringing the soul of Canada here. It’s not only the prime minister here, but he is Canada.”

Gunner Benjamin Van Eck, of London, Ont., called Harper’s speech “inspirational” and said the high-profile visits bring a welcome spotlight to the work of Canadian troops in the field.

“Speaking with some of the locals, a lot do feel that we are making a difference and they appreciate it,” Van Eck said.

Harper began the day having breakfast with a small number of soldiers in a section of the mess tent screened off from the rest of the diners.

Harper tours front line in Afghanistan

PAUL KORING AND MURRAY CAMPBELL Globe and Mail Update May 23, 2007 at 4:37 AM EDT

KANDAHAR, AFGHANISTAN — Prime Minister Stephen Harper flew to within a few kilometres of Taliban territory Wednesday, visiting a Canadian forward operating base at Ma'Sum Ghar.

"No serving prime minister, in my opinion, has been closer to combat operations than this prime minister today," said Col. Mike Cessford, the deputy commander of the Canadian contingent in Kandahar.

But Brig.-Gen. Tim Grant, the overall Canadian commander in Afghanistan, who accompanied Mr. Harper to Ma'Sum Ghar, waved his arm towards a swath of territory visible from the base and said; "This is Taliban-free.'' Neither the general, nor the Prime Minister wore helmets during the visit.

Although far quieter than last fall, when Canadian troops fought pitched battles with hundreds of Taliban in the vineyards of Panjwayi, there are periodic firefights in the area and a rocket attack killed an Afghan translator inside Ma'Sum Ghar last week.

Officials travelling with Mr. Harper said he had insisted on getting as close to the "front" as possible, although no clear lines demarcate the shifting control and sporadic fighting that characterizes the vicious counter-insurgency war waged by Canadian troops in Kandahar province, heartland of the Taliban.

Officials in the Prime Minister's office turfed the Canadian Press reporter out of the small media pool allowed on board the pair of Black Hawk helicopters that flew Mr. Harper to the forward operating base, southwest of Kandahar.

That turned the visit into a photo opportunity, with only a TV cameraman and two still photographers accompanying Mr. Harper.

The Prime Minister made a short tour of the operating base, which is close enough to see the riverbank where dozens of Canadians were injured last year when a U.S. A-10 Warthog mistakenly fired a burst of cannon fire at them. More than 30,000 people have returned to the area since the heavy combat of Operation Medusa routed the Taliban in a rare "stand-and-fight" battle last year.

The Prime Minister had lunch with an infantry company, talked to Afghan army commanders working alongside the 150 Canadians at Ma'Sum Ghar and then made the short 20-minute flight back to Kandahar air base.

Earlier, Mr. Harper told hundreds of Canadian soldiers gathered Wednesday morning on a concrete ball hockey rink beneath a searing Afghan sun that they "were the finest men and women in uniform in the world.'' On the second day of a whirlwind Afghan trip launched in tight secrecy and security, Mr. Harper told the soldiers "their country owes you a debt of gratitude and its unwavering support.'' While support for the troops remains strong across Canada, backing for the military focus of the mission has dwindled. Mr. Harper made it clear Wednesday that his government remained committed.

He also offered a clear hint that Canadian combat forces will be fighting in Afghanistan long beyond the current February, 2009, expiry date for the military mission.

We "can't set arbitrary deadlines and hope for the best," he said. "You known that we can't just put down our weapons and hope for peace.'' "Terrorism will come home if we don't confront it," in Afghanistan, he said.

While the military has long planned for a mission lasting a decade or more and most analysts believe defeating a stubborn Taliban insurgency in southern Afghanistan will take at least that long.

"Clearly from a military standpoint, we have looked at plans, we have looked at contingencies that go beyond that time frame," Brig.-Gen. Grant said after Mr. Harper's speech.

"The work will not be done here in February, 09, … it would be irresponsible for us not to plan past that point for the good of the country," he said.

Mr. Harper has never made any commitment beyond February, 2009, but during this trip — both in Kabul where he met Afghan President Hamid Karzai and in Kandahar where the 2,000-plus Canadian troops are fighting a tough counter-insurgency campaign in rugged and difficult terrain — he has repeatedly said his government's commitment would be long-lasting.

"When Canada makes a commitment, Canada follows through," he said.

Critics at home lampooned the Prime Minister's trip.

"The Prime Minister is on a smoke and mirrors tour," said NDP defence critic Dawn Black. "He knows full well we spend millions more on search and destroy missions than we do on building schools. The Prime Minister has travelled halfway across the world to con Canadians. His tricks won't work."

Liberal defence critic Ujjal Dosanjh said: "Harper and his government have long neglected and downplayed the reconstruction and development aspects of the mission by highlighting the combat aspect. The reality and the perception of the mission have been distorted by this government's handling of it — so much so that he now has to visit Afghanistan just to rebalance it in Canadians' eyes." On the sprawling air base — home to more than 10,000 troops from a more than a dozen nations — calibrating the right balance between combat operations and reconstruction seems a faraway and largely academic debate.

Helicopters clatter overhead, combat jets are refuelled and rearmed for the next air strikes, a steady stream of huge cargo planes hauls in everything from eggs to artillery shells and heavily-armed convoys fan out to remote operating bases.

The sprawling southern province of Kandahar — heartland of the Taliban — is a war zone, albeit a relatively low-intensity, sporadic insurgency but combat not reconstruction is the focus.

More than 40 Canadians have been killed here — and hundreds of Taliban fighters — since Mr. Harper last visited 14 months ago.

The Prime Minister insisted that progress was being made — not just winning the war but in slowly rebuilding Afghanistan's shattered society.

"None of it could have been achieved if you had not put yourselves on the line," he told the assembled soldiers to scattered and polite applause.

After his speech, the Prime Minister mingled among and chatted to dozens of soldiers, some of whom wanted their pictures taken with Mr. Harper.

Prime Minister sees Canada at its best in Afghanistan

May 22, 2007

Prime Minister Stephen Harper arrived in the Afghan capital of Kabul today, to meet with frontline Canadian workers helping the country to build a democratic, economically viable future of lasting peace and prosperity.

Culminating a day of site visits and briefings related to Canada’s ongoing reconstruction and development efforts in the war-torn country, the Prime Minister met with President Hamid Karzai to reaffirm Canada’s ongoing commitment to help Afghanistan emerge from years of oppression under Taliban rule.

“It is precisely because we treasure the advantages that make our own country great – that we have extended our hand to Afghanistan,” the Prime Minister said.

The Prime Minister met with President Karzai following a visit with students at Aschiana School, where Canada is partnering with Afghanistan to assist a vulnerable group of children who, because of war and chaos, were left out of the school system.

Canadian aid and development workers on the ground in Afghanistan also met with the Prime Minister to discuss the details of a number of reconstruction and development projects currently under way, including the development of critical water and sanitation, power supply, irrigation and health facilities.

“This is Canada at its best, and Canadian people are proud to stand with Afghanistan,” said the Prime Minister. “As Canadians, we know that Afghanistan’s future will not be secured through military means alone.”

“We know it depends on creating the economic, social and governmental infrastructure that ensures a lasting peace and prosperity.”

Canadian PM stresses commitment to Afghanistan

May 22, 2007 - KABUL (AFP) - Prime Minister Stephen Harper on Tuesday defended Canada's mission in Afghanistan amid faltering support back home, as President Hamid Karzai urged the world not to abandon his country.

Harper spoke at the start of his surprise two-day visit to Afghanistan, during which he is expected to meet some of the 2,500 Canadian soldiers here, most of them fighting the Taliban in insurgency-hit Kandahar province.

Asked at a media briefing with Karzai about growing concern in Canada over the mission, Harper said that the international community and Afghanistan "want us here."

The "Canadian men and women in uniform and who work for the various government agencies believe in their mission," he said. Harper added that his visit to Afghanistan was not because of polls suggesting flagging support for the mission. "I'm here because it's the right thing to do," he said.

Afghanistan is struggling to put down an insurgency by the extremist Taliban movement that was removed from power in 2001. Karzai said it would be dangerous for international troops to leave Afghanistan before the militants were defeated properly.

"There are still remnants of the terrorism that if we leave half-the-way will re-emerge and will haunt you back home whenever they want to," Karzai told reporters. "Let us complete that job, hard as it may look at times. It's a necessary price that we've to pay," he said.

Canada is one of 37 foreign countries in the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force that is working alongside the Afghan security forces and a US-led coalition to bring the lawless country under government control.

Despite their efforts, the insurgency has grown steadily over the past six years, with the violence more intense than ever this year, especially in the south where Canadians work with soldiers from a handful of other nations.

The violence has already claimed more than 1,500 lives in 2007, with most of the dead militants, according to an AFP tally.

Fifty-four Canadian soldiers and one of the country's diplomats have been killed in Afghanistan since Canada joined the international mission in 2002. Six were killed in a roadside bomb early April.

Afghan future depends on infrastructure: Harper

Updated Tue. May. 22 2007 - CTV.ca News Staff

Canadians know that Afghanistan's future will not be secured through military means alone, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said in Kabul on Tuesday, after arriving in the war-ravaged country.

The surprise two-day trip follows on the heels of weeks of opposition attacks on the Harper government's handling of the Afghan detainee controversy.

"The two leaders discussed the situation in terms of the military situation in Afghanistan, but also a lot of the aid work that Canada has been doing," said CTV's Ottawa Bureau Chief Robert Fife, who is travelling with the prime minister in Afghanistan.

Harper arrived in the Afghan capital on a military flight.

His visit to Afghanistan, his second so far, appears designed to stress Canada's non-military role in rebuilding the country.

Canadians know that Afghanistan's future "depends on creating the economic, social and governmental infrastructure that ensures lasting peace and prosperity," Harper said.

"Canada and Afghanistan have together made significant progress in the last 14 months -- progress that was unthinkable only a few years ago,'' the prime minister added.

"Yes, there remain challenges, but our determination is strong. We are not daunted by shadows because we carry the light that defines them -- the light of freedom of human rights and the rule of law.''

Harper met with Afghan President Hamid Karzai at the start of his visit.

Karzai said the Afghan mission's objectives are to make sure the country no longer poses a threat, and to stabilize it so that terror-support regimes don't seize control.

The Afghan leader said the first mandate has been reached and urged Canada to follow through on supporting the second objective.

"Has the job been completely done? Have we accomplished all we are seeking? No -- if we leave half the way (Islamic militants) will re-emerge and haunt you back home whenever they want to. Let us complete it and not abandon it half the way.''

Karzai outlined the benefits that his country has seen as a result of Canada's efforts: 10,000 jobs have been created in Kandahar; 30,000 people, mostly women, have had access to microcredit loans; and 40,000 more infants have survived childbirth

In one of his stops in Kabul, Harper met with students at a local school for underprivileged children and dropped in on their painting, acting, woodworking and music classes.

The Aschiana School, located in a tightly guarded compound in the capital's downtown core, received $39,500 in annual funding from the Canadian government. More than 10,000 Afghan children attend the school.

"The prime minister is making the point and certainly president Karzai made the point today -- that they need Canadian and NATO troops in here to stabilize this country," Fife told CTV Newsnet.

"They all point out that although some of the military situation has not been good there has been a lot of significant progress made throughout Afghanistan in terms of trying to make the lives of the people better."

Harper also visited diplomats at the Canadian Embassy for a briefing on progress since the Taliban was ousted in 2001.

This is Harper's second trip to Afghanistan. He made the war-torn country his destination for his first foreign trip as prime minister, barely one month after taking office last year.

On that three-day trip, most of Harper's time was dedicated to visiting military installations and soldiers.

This one, however, comes after weeks of opposition attacks targeting the Harper government's handling of the Afghan detainee controversy.

There have been concerns that suspected militants arrested by Canadians and handed over to local authorities have suffered torture at the hands of Afghan police.

A recent poll conducted by The Strategic Counsel found about one-third of Canadians are outraged by the Afghan detainee controversy and feel that Canada's reputation has been hurt.

The pollster also found that 56 per cent said Canada shouldn't be held responsible for what happens to prisoners held in Afghan-controlled detention centres.

At the news conference, Karzai said he has personally spoken with the director of the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission in Kandahar and has been assured the torture charges have no basis.

Karzai vowed the days of human rights abuses are over in his country.

"My objective in life is to bring to the Afghan people the certainty of safety and security and life within the rule of law and bring a guarantee that no Afghan regardless of his status _ innocent or criminal _ will be tortured,'' Karzai said.

"It's a personal concern that I have. And it's a commitment the Afghan people would want me to make to the rest of the world. I will assure the Canadian people that if there is any such incident Afghans will be the first to take me to task on it ... Take my guarantee to the Canadian people on that.''

Harper lightened the mood by presenting Karzai with a tiny Ottawa Senators jersey for his infant son to wear.

"These are not members of our upper house. These are admired hockey players,'' Harper said. Karzai responded that he'd like his son to "play hockey as soon as he can walk on his feet.''

Harper's trip to Afghanistan was kept a tightly guarded secret.

His office made a call to journalists on Friday afternoon, telling them to pack for a warm climate, and to show up at a military hangar on Sunday if they wanted to accompany the prime minister to an unspecified foreign location.

Media were also warned they could be arrested if they leaked details of Harper's travel plans.

CTV's South Asia Bureau Chief Steve Chao, who is in Kandahar, reported that only the military's upper chain of command were informed of the prime minister's visit.

"Most troops on the ground right now still don't even know their prime minister is in the country," Chao told Newsnet. "So it is another example once again of how closely guarded his visit is. The main reason, of course, is security."

With files from The Canadian Press

As Canadian PM visits, Afghanistan's Karzai asks world to 'complete the job'

The Associated Press: May 22, 2007

KABUL, Afghanistan: President Hamid Karzai said during a visit by Candada's prime minister on Tuesday that Afghanistan needs the international community to "complete the job" — defeat the country's insurgency and stabilize the government.

Karzai's message was likely intended for constituents of Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Polls show that a majority of Canadians want their 2,500 troops pulled out of Afghanistan once their current commitment is up in 2009.

Canadians have become increasingly concerned about the mounting numbers of Canadian troops dying alongside Afghan, U.S. and British forces in the most violent areas in the south.

Fifty-four Canadian soldiers and one diplomat have been killed so far in Afghanistan.

"Let us complete the job, as hard as it may look at times," Karzai said alongside Harper at a news conference at the presidential palace.

"It is a necessary price that we have to pay," he said. "The Afghans are paying that price, the rest of the world is paying that price together with us, for which the Afghan people are extremely grateful. But the objective for all of us is to complete it, and not abandon it half the way."

Harper's conservative government opposes a firm exit date for its troops.

"This is Canada's most important foreign policy endeavor, both in terms of our military engagement and in terms of our humanitarian aid," he said. "Afghanistan is the biggest recipient of both."

Harper, on his second trip to Afghanistan, also visited a school for children who work in the streets.

Karzai thanked Harper for Canada's assistance to Afghanistan, saying the Canadian mission helps a country in need and fights terrorism for the safety and security of Canada and the rest of the world.

"The Canadian mission in Afghanistan is part of an international effort to fight terrorism after the tragic incidents of Sept. 11," said Karzai, referring to the 2001 attacks in the United States.

May 23, 2007
KANDAHAR, AFGHANISTAN

PLEASE CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY

Thank you very much.

Thank you, Minister O'Connor, thank you, General Grant, and first of all, thanks to all of you.

Thank you for your warm welcome. And thank you for your unwavering service here in Afghanistan.

Thank you for proving to Canadians and to people around the world that when Canada makes a commitment, Canada follows through.

And when we all work together--Canada, NATO and Afghanistan--we achieve real results. Perhaps no one appreciates that more than those who appreciate you most. Just over a week ago, I had the pleasure of joining many of your family and friends and loved ones at CFB Petawawa for one of the Red Friday rallies. It was my second Red Friday rally.

And I have to tell you, standing on that stage, I saw men and women, boys and girls, civilians and military personnel, all united in their love for our country, their belief in this mission, and their appreciation for you. The finest men and women in uniform in the world.

I saw thousands of people come together to say with one united voice that Canada is proud of you, and we are behind you.

And it is a timely affirmation for the many unsung heroes here, in Afghanistan. Not just Canadians but all the NATO and allied soldiers who are here with the United Nations, helping the Afghan people reclaim and rebuild their war-ravaged country.

I don't have to tell you the story, the link between Afghanistan and the attacks of 9/11, the oppression and brutality endured under the Taliban and the risk that terrorism will come home if we don't confront it here.

You also know the progress we have made since the beginning of the mission over five years ago.

This progress hasn't all been achieved by men and women in uniform. But none of it could have been achieved unless you had put yourselves on the line.

Because of you, the people of Afghanistan have seen the institution of democratic elections, the stirring of human rights and freedoms for women, the construction of schools, healthcare facilities and the basic infrastructure of a functional economy.

Still, you know that your work is not complete. You know that we cannot just put down our arms and hope for peace. You know that we can't set arbitrary deadlines and simply wish for the best. And you must also know that your hard work is making a real difference to real people and their families.

Consider a letter recently sent from a young girl in Canada to your comrades with the Royal Canada Dragoons patrolling the Pakistan border about 100 kilometres southeast of here. Decorated with coloured hearts, this letter from a youngster born in Kabul tells the story of a family who fled to Pakistan after being chased from this country by the Taliban. She writes:

"My mom wanted a country that was safe and where I would be able to learn so we came to Canada. Thank you so much for staying to make my country a better place and tell your soldier friends that I said thank you."

Friends, you are helping the Afghan people make a better life for themselves and their children.

I saw it yesterday morning at the Aschiana School in Kabul, where Canada is partnering to ensure that children who, because of war, tragedy and chaos, were left out of the school system, are now getting an education. I learned of it through discussions in Kabul with Canadians who are assisting with vaccination programs, reaching nearly 200,000 children and women in this country.

Canadians who are working with Afghans on over 27,000 reconstruction projects now underway, including clean water, sanitation and electrical power.

Such achievements come only through the secure environment you are building here. Now, friends, I know your mission has been at times very difficult. And the nature of your tasks and the sheer brutality of your foe mark inherent dangers along the road to a lasting peace and reconstruction in Afghanistan.

But there is gratitude, here and in Canada. I heard it yesterday again in the voice of President Karzai, when he thanked Canada for what it is doing for his country. It reminded me of a sentiment he expressed on behalf of all Afghans to Canada's Parliament last year.

President Karzai said, and I quote: "If the greatness of a life is measured in deeds done for others, then Canada's sons and daughters who have made the ultimate sacrifice in Afghanistan stand among the greatest of their generation."

Each of you stands among the greatest of your generation. You're Canada's sons and daughters and your country, as much as this country, owes you a debt of gratitude and its unwavering support.

As Canadians, we have tremendous pride in our great country and its values. But we truly show our belief in our values only when we put them on the line – only when we are prepared to share them with those less fortunate than ourselves.

Every day, you personify these values and virtues here, in Afghanistan. You are the diligent neighbours and the compassionate workers. You are the courageous warriors and the loyal friends. You're the very best our country has to offer.

I am proud of you. Canadians are proud of you. And I'm here to tell you that we are behind you. Your government will continue steadfastly supporting the men and women of the Canadian Forces as the most professional, disciplined and effective soldiers in the world.

We will let no one diminish all that you have achieved here for Canada.

I thank you for all that you are doing.

God bless you in the work that lies ahead.

God bless your loved ones at home.

And God bless Canada.

Harper may well miss Afghanistan

John Ivison, National Post Thursday, May 24, 2007

OTTAWA - Stephen Harper might hanker after the relative tranquility of Afghanistan when parliament resumes next week. Since the threat of an spring election passed, an emboldened opposition has drawn battle lines, not only in the chamber of the House of Commons but also in committee rooms, where traditionally MPs have operated in a less partisan environment. The government has responded by trying to drive through its agenda in the face of a concerted opposition.

Committees now resemble the theatre of the absurd that is Question Period -- last week House committees on Official Languages and International Trade were disrupted by filibustering, walk-outs and bickering.

Looking ahead, the Prime Minister can expect another week of parliamentary chaos.

The Liberals have invited the premiers of Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia and Saskatchewan to appear as witnesses at the Finance committee as it discusses the equalization proposals in the budget implementation bill.

It is understood that Premier Lorne Calvert of Saskatchewan has accepted, while Premier Rodney MacDonald of Nova Scotia has declined. Danny Williams, the outspoken Newfoundland and Labrador premier, is unable to attend but is sending his Finance Minister, Tom Marshall.

Mr. Calvert said yesterday the committee meeting on Monday will offer a good opportunity to explain why Saskatchewan is being treated unfairly.

He argues that the Conservatives broke a pre-election promise on equalization in this year's budget when they introduced a new cap that claws back much of the province's resource revenues. He said he is coming prepared for a Conservative filibuster.

"If one of their tactics is to put me in a holding tank, I'll bring a snack." he said.

The Conservatives are unlikely to look kindly on the appearance of what they will regard as hostile witnesses.

They have already attempted to move directly from the testimony of Finance Minister Jim Flaherty straight to a clause by clause study of the bill, leaving no time for further witnesses. The move was defeated by the combined votes of opposition members, who form a majority on all committees.

The government is keen to pass the budget bill as soon as possible and then adjourn or prorogue the parliamentary session in early June.

The atmosphere in Ottawa has deteriorated now that the prospect of a general election has passed and the opposition parties have been able to work together without the threat of going to the polls.

There is another reason why the Conservatives want to cut short this session -- Liberal MP Pablo Rodriguez' private members' bill on the implementation of the Kyoto Accord, which is on the verge of being passed by the Senate.

Last week, the Conservatives attempted to delay passage of the bill, which would force the government to publish a plan to meet Canada's Kyoto targets within two months of its enactment (it would also compel the government to introduce legislation to meet those targets within six months).

Senator Gerald Comeau, the Conservative whip, tabled a stack of press releases and read them out, one after the other, until it was time for the daily Question Period.

The move prevented the Kyoto bill from being read a third time and approved.

The Conservatives claimed the strategy was justified because the Liberals had rushed the bill through a Senate committee when no Tory senators were present.

The race is now on: can the Conservatives pass the budget bill in the Commons before the Liberals in the Senate push through the Kyoto bill? If they can, they will have the option of proroguing the House -- a move that would effectively kill the Rodriguez bill.

However, since the Senate traditionally sits for one week longer than the House, in order to pass a backlog of legislation, Conservative senators are going to have to be creative to delay its passage for up to three weeks. The 23 member caucus can each speak for 15 minutes and the government could introduce any number of frivolous motions to eat up the clock. But it would be an unedifying spectacle.

The Conservative response to Liberal manoeuvres in both the House and the Senate is sure to lead to more accusations of a bullying executive trying to browbeat the legislative branch of government.

The result will be a further erosion of the Conservatives' reputation for principle and competency -- a standing that is slowly being replaced with a tag for political expediency and coercion.

As these parliamentary games become ever more poisonous, Canadians could be forgiven if they hark back to the last prime minister who seemed prepared to do or say anything -- even put a glamourous, floor-crossing Conservative in Cabinet --just to stay in power.

Still work to be done, PM tells soldiers

Mike Blanchfield CanWest News Service Thursday, May 24, 2007 CREDIT: Chris Wattie, Reuters

'Each of you stands among the greatest of your generation'
Prime Minister Stephen Harper tours the forward operating base Ma'Sum Ghar in Afghanistan yesterday. Harper also addressed troops at a ball hockey rink at Kandahar air field.

KANDAHAR - Prime Minister Stephen Harper lauded young Canadian soldiers here as the finest of their generation as he urged them to stand tall against the "sheer brutality" of their Taliban enemy.

"Each of you stands among the greatest of your generation," Mr. Harper told about 300 troops assembled to hear his speech. "You are Canada's sons and daughters. And your country -- as much as this country -- owes you a debt of gratitude and its unwavering support."

Mr. Harper addressed the troops from a podium in the centre of a ball hockey rink in a large boardwalk that serves as the social hub of this sprawling air field, the base for Canada's 2,500 troops and some 8,000 NATO and western allies in southern Afghanistan.

He told the troops their sacrifice was making a difference in the lives of ordinary Afghans, helping them hold democratic elections, build schools, hospitals and the "infrastructure of a functional economy."

"None of it could have been achieved unless you had put yourselves on the line," the Prime Minister said.

"Still you know that the work is not complete. You know that we cannot just put down our arms and hope for peace," he said, a dig at the Liberals, who have pressed for an end to the mission in 2009, and the NDP, who want an immediate pullout.

Mr. Harper acknowledged the continuing difficulty of the mission. In all, 54 Canadian soldiers and one diplomat have been killed in Afghanistan since 2002.

"Thank you for proving to Canadians -- and to people around the world -- that when Canada makes a commitment, Canada follows through," he said.

Mr. Harper ended his visit by taking a Black Hawk helicopter to Canada's Forward Operating Base at Ma 'Sum Ghar in the Panjwaii district.

The area was the scene of some of the fiercest clashes between the Taliban and Canadian- led NATO forces during last year's Operation Medusa.

Though the military touted the visit as one of the most daring by a sitting Canadian prime minister, Mr. Harper's office would not allow reporters to accompany him to the area.

It did allow two wire photographers and a television cameraman to accompany him.

Troops prepare to extend mission beyond 2009

Mike Blanchfield CanWest News Service Thursday, May 24, 2007 CREDIT: Chris Wattie, Reuters

Prime Minister Stephen Harper tours the forward operating base Ma'Sum Ghar in Afghanistan yesterday. Harper also addressed troops at a ball hockey rink at Kandahar air field.

KANDAHAR - The Canadian Forces are making plans to stay in Afghanistan beyond the February 2009 deadline approved by parliament, the military's senior commander on the ground here said yesterday.

"Our plan right now is based on a mandate that goes till February '09. But clearly, from the military standpoint, we have looked at plans, we have looked at contingencies that go beyond that timeframe," said Brigadier-General Tim Grant, commander of Canada's 2,500 troops in Kandahar.

The Prime Minister and his senior Cabinet ministers have promised to revisit the future of the mission at a later date, but Stephen Harper has made it clear that Canada will not leave Afghanistan before its job as a NATO member is done.

On his first visit to Afghanistan 14 months ago, Mr. Harper told troops that Canada would not "cut and run" from its responsibilities in Afghanistan as long as he is prime minister.

Yesterday, on the second and final day of a surprise visit to Afghanistan, he said: "You know that your work is not complete. You know that we cannot just put down our arms and hope for peace. You know that we can't set arbitrary deadlines and hope for the best."

After the Prime Minister's speech, Brig.-Gen. Grant told reporters the Forces have no choice but to plan beyond the timeframe laid out by the politicians.

"The work will not be done here in February '09," he said.

Mr. Harper's refusal to submit to arbitrary deadlines for withdrawal was a clear reference to calls by the NDP and Liberal opposition to scale back the military component in favour of more development work. The NDP has called for an immediate withdrawal of troops, while the Liberals want Canada to notify its NATO allies that it intends to leave Kandahar -- where the current Taliban insurgency is strongest --as scheduled in 2009.

Polls show Canadians are divided on the merits of a mission that has claimed the lives of 54 military personnel and one diplomat since 2002. Brig.-Gen. Grant, however, said he was "out of touch" with the debate in Canada. "All I know is there's a lot of work left to be done."

In his speech, Mr. Harper lauded the Canadian soldiers for their sacrifices in Afghanistan and relayed the thanks of President Hamid Karzai, whom he met in Kabul a day earlier.

"Each of you stands among the greatest of your generation," Mr. Harper said. "You are Canada's sons and daughters and your country -- as much as this country -- owes you a debt of gratitude and its unwavering support.

"We will let no one diminish all that you have achieved here for Canada."

Harper visits the front line

TheStar.com May 24, 2007 Bruce Campion-Smith Ottawa Bureau

KANDAHAR–The rocky outpost at Ma'sum Ghar offers a bird's eye view of the terrain where Canadians have fought and died.

But yesterday, Prime Minister Stephen Harper paid a visit to the sparse Canadian camp there – literally the front lines – to showcase the "guarded optimism" diplomats and military commanders now express about Canada's Afghan mission.

Harper's ride in a U.S. Blackhawk chopper and two-hour visit at the forward operating base, where insurgent attacks remain a weekly occurrence, weren't without risks, a fact made clear yesterday.

"No serving prime minister has been closer to combat," said Col. Mike Cessford, deputy commander of the Canadian operation here. "It's a happening place. It's a forward operating base in every sense of the word."

But if Harper's visit was an historic one, his aides didn't want reporters around to record it.

Only photographers were allowed to accompany Harper, turning his trip into a carefully scripted photo op. A plan to have reporters travel by land to meet Harper there was abruptly cancelled the previous night, though his aides denied any involvement in that decision.

Within sight of Ma'sum Ghar, 25 kilometres west of Kandahar in the Panjwaii district, Canadian soldiers have been killed in tangles with insurgents. Within the last few weeks, a rocket attack on the camp killed an Afghan interpreter.

Harper spent two hours at the camp, viewing LAV III armoured vehicles and Leopard tanks and lunching with members of the artillery company.

The fact that the Prime Minister was able to make the trip at all speaks volumes about the progress Canadian troops are making in Kandahar province, commanders and diplomats say.

While firefights still occur, the combat is a "pale shadow" compared with a few months ago, Cessford said.

The area around the base, virtually abandoned by Afghans last September during the Canadian-led offensive to clear insurgents, is coming back to life. About 30,000 people have returned since combat operations ceased, he said.

"We have seen a significant transition," said Cessford. "This is not to say that all is sweetness and light. We have significant work to do."

In a speech earlier yesterday, Harper told troops they are making a difference in Afghanistan while cautioning "your work is not complete."

Lauding the troops as "unsung heroes," he conveyed one of his strongest signals yet that the Canadian military will remain active in the country past the February 2009 date now set for withdrawal from Kandahar.

"You know that our work is not complete. You know that we cannot just put down our arms and hope for peace," Harper said. "You know that we can't set arbitrary deadlines and simply wish for the best."

At home, the opposition has pressured the Conservatives on setting a date for the withdrawal of troops. The Liberals want troops out when this mission expires in 2009 and the NDP wants an immediate pullout.

In Ottawa yesterday, Liberal defence critic Denis Coderre issued a statement saying he was "deeply troubled that Mr. Harper continues to support an open-ended counter-insurgency mission in Kandahar."

He complained that in the House of Commons the Prime Minister and Defence Minister Gordon O'Connor "keep repeating the stock line that Canada is only committed until 2009."

"Outside of the House, Mr. Harper and Mr. O'Connor keep hinting that our soldiers will stay longer. ..."

About 300 soldiers assembled under the hot sun to hear Harper speak.

Harper told them the progress made so far in Afghanistan wouldn't be possible "unless people like you put yourselves on the line. I don't have to tell you ... the risk that terrorism will come home if we don't confront it here."

Canadian troops' work has meant democratic elections, expansion of human rights and freedoms for women, new schools and health-care facilities and infrastructure, he said.

"Your country – as much as this country – owes you a debt of gratitude and its unwavering support," said Harper, who is due back in Ottawa today after his surprise visit to Afghanistan.

Brig.-Gen. Tim Grant, head of the Canadian operation, said the military has drawn up plans to remain in Afghanistan after the current commitment expires.

"You have to. The work will not be done in February '09. ... It would be irresponsible for us not to plan past that point for the good of country," Grant said.

At the end of his morning speech, Harper presented the troops with some hockey gear – and couldn't resist taking a shot at the media. "We kicked a few reporters off the plane and brought over some new hockey sticks," he said.

He then mingled with the soldiers in their tan-coloured uniforms, posing for photographs.

With files from Canadian Press

Prime Minister avoids contact with reporters on trip

TheStar.com May 24, 2007 Bruce Campion-Smith ttawa Bureau

KANDAHAR–As Prime Minister Stephen Harper prepared to arrive in war-torn Afghanistan, the orders from his security detail to reporters were clear – don't get between the Prime Minister and his team of bodyguards.

In other words, don't get inside the bubble.

When Harper goes on the road these days, that's never a problem – reporters are rarely allowed inside the bubble.

Harper, who has steered clear of holding Ottawa news conferences, has taken that style on the road, preferring carefully staged photo ops and speeches over real interactions with reporters who fork out thousands of dollars to accompany him.

During his four-day trip to Afghanistan that wraps up today, Harper took just three questions from reporters – at a news conference organized by Afghan President Hamid Karzai. Of course, that's three questions more than he took during his April trip to France to mark the 90th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge.

It's not as if he didn't have his chances this week to chat with the 18 media representatives. There were two refuelling stops in Germany, a Sunday night layover in Southwest Asia, a stop in Kabul, a night in Kandahar and almost 30 hours of flying in the military Airbus.

Nor was there a shortage of topics – a paralyzed minority Parliament, public divisions on the Afghanistan war, even his reason for making this potentially risky trip to the frontlines.

Questions for another day, it seems. Halfway home last night, Harper was staying comfortably out of reach in the personal cabin of the Airbus.

PM trying to rewrite the Afghan narrative

TheStar.com May 24, 2007 James Travers

Who can argue when Stephen Harper says Canada is doing a lot for Afghanistan? A mission now costing a fortune in blood and money is making that country marginally safer, more stable and modern.

That's not only as it should be, it's the least to expect. When foreigners topple a local government they assume the burden of cleaning up the mess.

Measured today, the price of that effort is 55 Canadian lives and more than $6 billion. So the Prime Minister has a sizable stake in the progress telegraphed home this week.

Those messages are important to Harper.

Afghanistan hasn't been good to Conservatives lately and the Prime Minister needs the sweet smell of a success to wash away the bad taste left by careless controls over the treatment of prisoners.

To that end, history will footnote Harper's second Afghanistan trip as markedly different from the first.

Gone is jarring U.S. jingoism, replaced by a typically more modest and soothing Ottawa narrative about "helping the country to build a democratic, economically viable future of lasting peace and prosperity."

Up to a point, the Prime Minister has a point.

Given the inherent advantages enjoyed by insurgents everywhere, the military is doing well in countering the Taliban while even the much-maligned Canadian International Development Agency is playing a useful role in, among other things, providing the micro-financing that makes poverty a little less grinding.

But the overarching question for this government, and ultimately this country, is where do these bits and pieces fit in the complex puzzle of a fissured and, in many ways, still feudal state? As clearly as it is in Harper's political interest to boast that the export of Canadian values is booming, Afghanistan remains trapped by opium economics, regional politics and a culture steeped in violence.

The distance between our values and their reality is enormous. To bridge it will require resources and compromises that will test Canadian patience as well as generosity.

It's those demands – along with the pressing need to re-energize a flagging party – that took Harper to Afghanistan this week. Wisely or not, this Prime Minister chose to make a Liberal mission his own and now is stuck with convincing an ambivalent nation to stay what promises to be a long and torturous course.

What makes that so difficult is what made it so easy to "sell" the first operation to a country reeling from 9/11. Bringing down the Taliban made obvious sense to Canadians who then knew even less about Afghanistan than they do today.

True, a minority still cling to the lingering war-to-end-all-wars fantasy of a clear-cut military victory. But many more now grasp that factors beyond Canadian, NATO and even U.S. control will decide Afghanistan's future.

Two stand in particular relief. One is Pakistan, the other, poppies.

There can be no lasting or even temporary peace without the blessing of Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf or his successors. And there will be no meaningful development as long as warlords, a corrupt central government and peasant farmers profit most from an economy high on narcotics.

Demonizing the Taliban and torching cash crops are feel-good Western reflexes that only exacerbate the problem.

So, too, are opposition proposals to fix a withdrawal date and to skew the three Ds of defence, diplomacy and development to the latter rather than the former.

Much more innovative political and economic remedies are needed if Afghanistan is to accelerate away from its dark past. Canada's part in that process is to improve the security that is both a chip in the inevitable power-sharing negotiations and a precursor to the long-term development that civilian agencies deliver so much more capably than armies.

Politicians dislike plunging voters into those layers of perplexing nuance as much as admitting that some events are beyond their influence. They prefer, instead, to speak in bromides while advancing anecdotal shards in the hope they will be mistaken for the whole story.

In reinforcing that pattern this week, Harper skimmed lightly over the hardest truths for his government and for Afghanistan. A ruling party that now "owns" the mission has no alternative than to point to modest successes and shout loudly about creating a model state from chaos.

Canadians have done a lot for Afghanistan and the Prime Minister is right to recognize the human sacrifice and good works.

But that's a far cry from having the political permission to stay as long as necessary to do what may not be possible