If so, it looks like our new PM is bound and determined to get us involved in the Iraqmire whether we want to or not.
Canada’s elite JTF-2 special forces played a role in helping to rescue three western aid workers, including two Canadians, held captive in Baghdad.
The Defence Department refused Thursday to confirm Canadian military involvement, but a source said the elite squad was ”instrumental” in the operation.
Pentagon and British military officials also said that Canadian and British special forces took the reins of the ground operation.
So did Harper authorize the deployment of Canadian soldiers to Iraq? The opposition parties need to demand an answer from the Minister of Defence on this.
Update: Two lines of thought come up with this revelation. The first is that Canada’s involvement in this amounted to little more than routine sharing of intel and the propaganda arm of the Conservative party are using the cloak of secrecy in order to make it appear as though the Harper government had significant involvement. This would play into the image Harper’s propagandists have been busy crafting for the new PM.
The second is that Harper deployed soldiers to Iraq in the first step toward dragging us into that quagmire. Either way, Canadians need to know the truth.
Update II: Evidence is mounting that theory #2 is the right one.
Pentagon sources have told CBC News that Canadian special forces were involved, but it’s not clear who took part or what their role may have been.
There have been reports that Canada’s top secret commandos, Joint Task Force 2, had been working in Iraq. It’s believed they worked in tandem with Britain’s elite Special Air Service (SAS).
And Harper has already begun spinning why it’s acceptable for him to have deployed Canadian soldiers to Iraq without Parliament’s approval.
Harper refused to say whether JTF2 is operating in Iraq, citing national security. He did say, however, that it should be no surprise that Canadians are in Iraq.
“There have been a small number of Canadian military personnel embedded in American and allied units. That’s been the case since the beginning of the war. Nothing has changed on that front,” he said.
Right, because having a few previously embedded soldiers operating under the flag of another nation end up in Iraq is exactly the same as authorizing a deployment of Canadian soldiers to the country. It’s becoming clear that Harper intends to get Canada involved in the Iraq war and whats worse, is that he has no qualms about doing it secretly.
Update III: In the comments Jim from Progressive Right points out this CTV article that says CP is claiming the soldiers were sent to Iraq by Paul Martin.
CP reported that then-prime minister Paul Martin’s Liberal government approved Canada’s participation in the mission in the middle of the election campaign.
Ottawa dispatched a team of Canadian soldiers to Baghdad in early December that included a team of diplomats, Mounties, and CSIS intelligence officers.
Given CP’s recent lickspittle behaviour, I’m not willing to accept their claim as fact without confirmation from a second source. But if it’s true, then it looks like Harper may have had nothing to do with this. As for Martin secretly sending troops to Iraq, while it’s no more excusable than if Harper had done it, there’s simply no point in flogging the politically dead.
Anyway, this is all the more reason for the truth to come out. Canadians need to know what shenanigans our government is getting up to behind closed doors and claiming the truth can’t be revealed for national security reasons simply won’t do. We need to know who authorized this deployment and that information won’t, with the exception of a political career or two, compromise anything.
Note: the related issue has been moved to a separate post.
Can’t imagine why he would bother to waste resources liberating some christian nutjobs that give comfort to terrorists, but I guess progressive thinkers are citizens to.
“…that give comfort to terrorists…”
How did they so this? Give them pillows? Pleas explain. With facts, no rhetoric from SDA please.
NEVER!!!!!
If so, it looks like our new PM is bound and determined to get us involved in the Iraqmire whether we want to or not.
The reality is, James Loney and Harmeet Sooden were the two people directly responsible for Canada’s involvment in the rescue operation at issue.
Of course, no one will argue with me…
[…] DID HARPER SEND CANADIAN SOLDIERS TO IRAQ? […]
Yea, of course he did!!!
During the 2004 Federal election.
REMEMBER!?!?!?
“NEVER!!!!!”
No seriously. Your reasoning seems to be the party line for this issue and I have never gotten a straight answer as to what they actually mean. Help me Derrell. Please.
Because you never make sense.
I’m assuming you’ve seen the CP story that says it was Paul Martin and / or the Liberals that approved the mission and sent soldiers to Iraq.
Elite Canadian soldiers helped free hostages: CTV
“Loose lips” notwithstanding. Have to see if the CP and / or the Liberals refute the story.
Sorry Peter D it was a long time ago that I seen something to the effect that certain “peace” groups were sending aid and supplies to “freedom fighters” and I can’t remember where or when i saw it and can’t be arsed to look it up now or probably ever, so just take my word on it. I would never just spout the party line, honestly.
“Sorry Peter D it was a long time ago that I seen something to the effect that certain “peace” groups were sending aid and supplies to “freedom fighters”….”
Was it the peace group that these 4 hostages were apart of?
“…and I can’t remember where or when i saw it and can’t be arsed to look it up now or probably ever, so just take my word on it.”
No, I won’t take your word on it. Taking someone’s word on the internet without a source/s is just plain dumb. I just can’t believe that you based your whole opinion on these people on some piece you saw written some place. Was it from a journalist? Or maybe Kate? Because we all know how impartial and truthful she is. Ridiculous. I can’t believe that you would base an opinion on this credible piece of information.
Come on Peter D have I ever led you astray yet? Just trust me on this one.
You’re avoiding the issue Derrell.
Yes I am, I have no backup, research or facts to back my assumptions so I’m making things up and avoiding the issue.
Pretty neat trick eh, I’m sure everyones fooled.
Paladiea Says:
“you never make sense.”
If James Loney and Harmeet Sooden had never decided to become poorly-informed lobbists for the far-left, Canada’s would not have been militarily involved in the operation, in the first place.
How does that not make sense?
“…that give comfort to terrorists…”
How did they so this? Give them pillows?
Despite the kidnapping trauma that began Nov. 26, Ed Loney said there was no point in focusing on the horror of a situation that included the murder of American hostage Tom Fox.
“If you start getting all wound up about how tragic it is and he should never have done that, then it’s all wasted,” Loney said. “All this grief all these four months is all wasted time.” Ed Loney said the past four months have been a “huge ordeal” for him and his family. Still, he said, the end result has made it all worthwhile. “It’s probably done more good than Jim could ever have imagined,” Ed Loney said.
Yea, the terrorists were just nice kind caring individuals, according to the CBC…
JTF2 operates autonomously from the Prime Minister’s office.
Note: They were sent in in 2003 when Paul Martin was still in rule.