Harper retreats on Afghan mission risks

Prime Minister Stephen Harper has backed away from the risk assessment he offered last fall of the Canadian military's new mission in Afghanistan, in the wake of a soldier's death there on Saturday.

Speaking to reporters in Perth, Australia, after the conclusion of a summit of Commonwealth leaders, Harper said the Canadian Forces' current role training the Afghan National Army "involves significant risks."

"Any presence in Afghanistan, as I know from my own travel there, is fraught with risk," the prime minister said Sunday. "So there will remain risk to our defence personnel."

That assessment differs from what he said when the Conservative government announced last November that 950 troops would remain in Afghanistan to help with training and aid.

"I think if we can continue a smaller mission that involves just training, I think frankly that presents minimal risks to Canada," Harper said at the time.

Originally, the prime minister didn't want to leave any sizable troop deployment in Afghanistan at all, saying in January 2010 that "we will not be undertaking any activities that require any kind of military presence, other than the odd guard guarding an embassy."

But Canada's allies leaned on the government to keep a contingent in Afghanistan after the Canadian Forces combat mission ended over the summer, and the Conservatives obliged, agreeing to post troops mainly to the Kabul area.

Kabul dangers

One of those personnel, Master Cpl. Byron Greff from the Edmonton-based 3rd Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, was killed Saturday by a suicide car bombing on the outskirts of the Afghan capital. Sixteen others, including four other NATO troops, eight civilian contractors for the NATO mission and four Afghans, also died.

The death was the first for the Canadian Forces since their combat operations ended in July. It highlighted the perilous situation in Kabul, which has become an increasing focus for spectacular attacks by Taliban fighters opposed to the Afghan government.

Greff's demise came as he was travelling in a convoy of NATO personnel between bases in and around the city. The suicide bomber managed to slam his vehicle containing 700 kilograms of explosives into a heavily armoured bus.

Harper insisted Sunday his position on the mission's risks hasn't changed.

"I think, actually to the contrary, I've always been clear: There are still risks involved in this mission," he said.

The prime minister leaves Australia on Sunday to return home for a couple days before heading to France for a summit of G20 leaders in Cannes.

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Source: CBC