In a conference call with journalists, Chretien described Canada’s military contribution of CF-18 fighter jets as “marginal” and “expensive.”
Last week, he penned an op-ed in the Globe and Mail in which he said Canada should be putting its emphasis on humanitarian assistance for the refugees in the region. He reiterated that message Monday, warning that western nations should not be “massively” involved in a combat exercise to defeat ISIL. Instead, he argued, it is better for Middle East countries to do the job themselves.
He said the current crisis in Iraq stems largely from the war launched in that country in 2003 by then-U.S. president George W. Bush. At the time, Chrétien refused to bring Canada into the war, despite pressure from many quarters, including the U.S., then-opposition leader Stephen Harper, and some Liberals.
“The fact is that the situation in Iraq has been caused very much by the intervention of 2003 that I refused to participate in,” said Chrétien.
“You know, when there is milk on the floor, somebody has to go and pick that up,” he said, referring to how the U.S. has now been asked by the Iraqi government for help to defeat ISIL, also called ISIS.
“But I think that we should not go massively from the West there. I think that they should try to induce the other countries who have the problem for themselves of ISIS there to be participants in the military activities.”
Chrétien said there’s a long history of western intervention backfiring in the region. “You know, we left some scars there since 1919 that are still remembered by a lot of people. I mean France and Great Britain.”
Earlier this month, the Conservative government committed Canada to a combat exercise of up to six months. About 600 Canadian military personnel are deployed for a mission involving 10 planes, including six CF-18s. The New Democrats and Liberals oppose the mission, saying it lacks a coherent purpose and there isn’t enough emphasis on humanitarian efforts.
Liberal leader Justin Trudeau has been criticized for not taking a suitably clear or high-profile presence on the issue.
Chrétien’s op-ed sparked questions about whether he was trying to help Trudeau out of political trouble. But Chrétien said he was just responding to media requests to outline his views, which he said are reflective of the position advanced by Trudeau.
Chrétien said Canada should be helping the hundreds of thousands of refugees affected by the Syrian civil war and facing the danger of massacres by ISIL. He proposes that Canada accept 50,000 refugees and help others who remain in the region.
“The Canadian contribution to the military will be … very expensive and marginal so we should be probably better off to use the money to welcome immigrants, refugees, to Canada. And give money for feeding the people this winter.”
Ultimately, he added, the coalition’s aerial bombardment of ISIL will not be successful.
“Sooner or later, some guys will have to have boots on the ground. Just using planes will not resolve the problem. They’re dealing with guys who are on motorcycles. A guy on a motorcycle with a jet flying a thousand miles an hour, it’s complicated to hit.”
Chrétien rejected Harper’s argument that Canada is obliged to join others in the military campaign if it wants to keep its international voice. “He is wrong on that,” said Chrétien, adding that Canada in the past has only taken this sort of military action under the umbrella of the United Nations or NATO.
“Tomorrow a country can call us who is friendly to us. We’re not obliged to go if it is just because somebody is calling.”
Original Article
Source: canada.com/
Author: BY MARK KENNEDY
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