memphiz
06-12-2004, 03:56 PM
Jim Farrell
The Edmonton Journal
June 12, 2004
EDMONTON - The Liberal party has released a TV attack ad that begins "Stephen Harper would have sent our troops to Iraq." The implication is that under the Liberal government, no Canadian soldiers fought in Iraq.
Q: Is that true?
A: Probably not. Approximately 90 members of the Canadian army, navy and air force were serving with Americans units on an exchange basis in the spring of 2003. That number included seven or eight fighter pilots from CFB Cold Lake. Another 50 Canadians were serving with the British forces on an exchange basis.
Q: Does that mean that when the American or British military units in which Canadians were serving went to Iraq, they had to go, too?
A: No. The Canadians had to apply to Ottawa to accompany their American and British units into Iraq. Approval was granted on a case-by-case basis.
Q: Did any apply?
A: Yes, but that number was never released.
Q: How many were turned down?
A: A month prior to the start of the war, none.
Q: Were any Canadians involved in planning the Iraq war?
A: Yes. Any Canadians posted to the U.S. Central Command headquarters in Tampa, Florida, were involved from the beginning, and there were Canadians posted to Centcom.
The Edmonton Journal
June 12, 2004
EDMONTON - The Liberal party has released a TV attack ad that begins "Stephen Harper would have sent our troops to Iraq." The implication is that under the Liberal government, no Canadian soldiers fought in Iraq.
Q: Is that true?
A: Probably not. Approximately 90 members of the Canadian army, navy and air force were serving with Americans units on an exchange basis in the spring of 2003. That number included seven or eight fighter pilots from CFB Cold Lake. Another 50 Canadians were serving with the British forces on an exchange basis.
Q: Does that mean that when the American or British military units in which Canadians were serving went to Iraq, they had to go, too?
A: No. The Canadians had to apply to Ottawa to accompany their American and British units into Iraq. Approval was granted on a case-by-case basis.
Q: Did any apply?
A: Yes, but that number was never released.
Q: How many were turned down?
A: A month prior to the start of the war, none.
Q: Were any Canadians involved in planning the Iraq war?
A: Yes. Any Canadians posted to the U.S. Central Command headquarters in Tampa, Florida, were involved from the beginning, and there were Canadians posted to Centcom.