Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Dion Undercut by Afghan Ambassador

If Stephane Dion thought he was able to have a private conversation with Afghan president Karzai in Kabul, Afghanistan's ambassador to Canada set him straight on that.

According to the Toronto Star, Ambassador Omar Samad reports that Karzai told Dion that "calls by the federal Liberals for a new, non-combat role for Canadian troops in Afghanistan could undo the gains made so far and mean the sacrifices made by slain soldiers have been in vain."

"This type of threat, in the form of terrorism and extremism, needs to be dealt with directly and head-on. That point had been made by the president."

After his meeting on Saturday, Dion said Karzai would "welcome" whatever role Canada plays in rebuilding his troubled country even if it's not a combat mission.

Samad didn't indicate when Karzai intends to sling his drug baron brother's ass in jail or, for that matter, any of the other drug lords Karzai is dependent upon, the very people whose opium industry funds the insurgency. Then there's the corruption and compromise that undermines the Afgan government and leaves Karzai, in effect, the mayor of Kabul. If Samad and Karzai want to find something that "needs to be dealt with directly and head-on" they can begin by taking a real close look at themselves.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

"If Stephane Dion thought he was able to have a private conversation with Afghan president Karzai in Kabul, Afghanistan's ambassador to Canada set him straight on that."

Dion wasn't there for a private conversation. He was there for a photo op and some political grandstanding.

Anonymous said...

I'm starting to realize that Dion is brighter than the people around him. He wanted an election so the Liberal party wouldnt have to abstain from every HOC vote and look leaderless...he was right. He knew he going to Afghanstan was a bad move and delayed it, why go on a fact finding mission when your mind is already made up? Going over there and being told face to face that a withdrawl of Canadian troops would not only put the Afghanastan people in danger but, what has been accomplished by NGO's and what will be accomplished will be put at risk, so, Mr Dion is now in it up to his ears...Afghanastan and the people of Afghanastan are worth fighting for, but, not by us! Some message.
Mr Dion should start leading with his heart...I think people would be impressed.