In an interview with CBC Radio's The House, Ambassador Bruce Heyman told Evan Solomon that the message from the United States to all of its coalition partners, including Canada, is "we're going to need more at this point to defeat ISIL."
The Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) goes by several names, including the Islamic State and ISIL. All names refer to the militants who have taken over large swaths of land in Syria and Iraq.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper revealed in New York City this week that Canada has been asked and is considering whether to contribute more support to the U.S.-led coalition.
Canada will 'do our part'
On Friday in Ottawa, Harper would not go into details about what is being considered, but he said "We do not stand on the sidelines and watch. We do our part."
Members of the anti-ISIS coalition
"That's always how this country has handled its international responsibilities, and as long as I'm prime minister that's what we will continue to do," he said.
CBC News has learned that cabinet next week is going to discuss sending CF-18s to join in the U.S.-led campaign in Iraq and Syria.
Canada has sent 69 special forces personnel who will serve as military advisers to Iraqi and Kurdish forces. That 30-day mission will be reassessed by Oct. 5.
The government has also given $28 million in humanitarian aid in the fight against ISIS.
Military support for U.S.-led coalition
Belgium, Britain and Denmark all signed on to join the military coalition against ISIS on Friday, committing fighter jets and other military support only to the Iraq part of the military campaign. The operation in Syria is being left at this point to the United States and the five Arab nations that began conducting airstrikes this week.
But according to Heyman, more military support is just one viable option.
"We'd like as much more (support) as Canada is willing to contribute. Whether it's through humanitarian aid, whether it's militarily, at every level," he said.
The Americans have been running a full court press this week, trying to build support around their mission to destroy and degrade ISIS.
This week at the United Nations U.S. President Barack Obama reached out to the world.
Cracking down on foreign fighters
"Promises on paper cannot keep us safe. Lofty rhetoric and good intentions will not stop a single terrorist attack. The words spoken here today must be matched and translated into action," Obama told the UN Security Council after it passed a binding resolution aimed at cracking down on foreign fighters. The resolution will require member nations to enact laws to prevent citizens from travelling to foreign countries to join terrorist organizations.
Heyman reiterated Obama's urgency. "This is something we have to deal with now. If we don't deal with it now, it will be a greater problem and will be much more difficult for us to contain later....the reality is we have no choice, we have to go now."
Original Article
Source: CBC
Author: Kristen Everson
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