Mackay or the highway
Here is the story of the last few days that has most occupied me:
Lt.-Col. Gordon Corbould, the new battle group commander, and Sgt. Tim Seeley, a civilian-military co-operation officer for Canada’s Provincial Reconstruction Team, were quoted Thursday by The Globe and Mail as saying that channels were being opened to moderate the Taliban.
Other officials in Kandahar, who spoke privately, backed up the military’s assessment, calling it creative thinking.
But MacKay, who told the Canadian Press on Friday that those same officials don’t speak for the federal government, took pains Saturday to reiterate Ottawa’s position.
“We are not talking to the Taliban. We are not having direct discussions with terrorists. We won’t, will not, that will not change,” MacKay said. He went on to also say that only government determines policy – not the military.
Good for Peter.
“What we are doing obviously in reconstruction, and development and daily contacts that happen is encouraging people to move away from the Taliban’s influence, to renounce violence.”
The Afghan government has the lead responsibility to draw people away from the Taliban’s grip, an effort the Canadian military supports, MacKay said.
Nearly two years ago, the NDP suggested peace talks be initiated with combatants in Afghanistan, prompting federal Conservatives to call Layton Taliban Jack.
“Two years ago, the military was beginning those kinds of discussions, we supported that, said so very publicly,” Layton said.
“People started calling us names and all of a sudden the official government position was that there couldn’t ever be any discussions. We think that that’s wrong.”
So, where did this all start? The military chatting up the Taliban (interesting because many in the military used the “Taliban Jack” line repeatedly because they don’t like Layton don’t you know.
It is only natural that when the military, under Rick Hillier, determined Canada’s military role in Afghanistan on the watch of a sleepy, unfocussed, Paul Martin government, that others in the military would pick up on the culture of swagger. Sure, if we want to talk to the Taliban, or whomever, we will. If we want to pressure the government’s direction, we will. If we want to correct the government, we will.
The problem for the military now is, that door has been shut.
Stephen Harper, who has done a masterful job of keeping his Western wack-jobs in the party in check, recently, and privately, laid down the law with Rick Hillier too – keep your mouth shut.
No more outbursts, no more embarassing the civilian overlords.
This is the same Prme Minister that wanted Canada to partake in Iraq – and he was stupid enough to fight an election on it in 2004. But that isn’t the point.
Whether it is a more aggressive military policy, or the wimpy blue helmet days, that thing called “policy” is the democractic will and democratic determiniation of the people that the politician repersents – not the soldier.What can never be tolerated is undue military influence upon national direction or military policy.
Defense Minister Mackay’s assertiveness in the face of in-theatre Taliban politics is a strong sign that this government is not going to tolerate loose cannons in the military any longer.
For Hillier, this leash was too much.
The recent announced resignation by Hillier is surely related to this new culture: there’s a new Sheriff in town, and he’s civvie”. The “hey, look at me” Rick Hillier tour is over.
It is all too ironic that the man who most thinks that he defends democracy is, himself, the most contemptuous of it.
Nicknamed “the big cod”, by some sychophantic acolyte apologist, Rick Hillier forgot that in the world he is swimming in being a cod isn’t enough.
Stephen Harper is the shark.