Double Tap
04-09-2004, 01:25 AM
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The United States has reportedly asked Canada to provide its crack special forces unit, Joint Task Force 2, as well as other military support if a war breaks out in Iraq.
A published report said Washington sent a diplomatic note asking whether Ottawa can contribute ships, light armoured vehicles and JTF-2 special forces to a possible military strike on Iraq.
The request was made in a letter from U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell and sent last Friday. It specifically expresses interest in Canada's Coyote light-armoured vehicles, which were used with great success in Afghanistan.
The American request of military support is just one of about 50 such requests made to its allies.
Prime Minister Jean Chretien has said that Canada is ready to lend military support to a U.S.-led coalition to disarm Iraq, but hopes diplomatic efforts can head off a second Gulf War.
"We are with them (the U.S.) in Afghanistan, we were with them in Kosovo, we are in Bosnia," said Chretien. "So we've always been in missions at the forefront.
"We'll see what we've got and what they need," said Chretien, noting that the question of military support is currently hypothetical. "We hope (Iraqi President) Saddam Hussein will comply (with UN resolutions) and there will be no war."
Chretien, however, reiterated Canada's previous position that the route to any possible conflict in Iraq must go through the United Nations.
"We have asked the United States right from the outset for there not to be any intervention in Iraq without the support of the United Nations," the prime minister said after a cabinet meeting.
"That has always been Canada's position. I stated that very clearly to President Bush who even recognized that we had been very direct on that point."
Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham said his department is discussing "with our American colleagues as to the type of things we could do."
"In the event the Security Council authorizes action against Iraq we'll have to look at exactly what we could contribute," said Graham.
"The defence minister, myself and the prime minister will be discussing that in the days ahead. We want to be as helpful as we possibly can."
Even if Canada were to join a coalition force, one expert said the biggest challenge would be getting equipment on the ground.
"The Americans will require their own strategic lift if there is a war so we'll probably have to go out on the market and rent a strategic lift plane, probably from the Ukraine or Russia, as we have in the past," said Alain Pellerin, the executive director of the Conference of Defence Associations.
The air force could likely send a small contingent of CF-18 fighters and the navy could offer up to three vessels currently patrolling the Persian Gulf as part of Canada's contribution to the war on terrorism.
There have also been repeated complaints about budget cuts.
"I think you'd be hard pressed to find anybody in the building that I work in that would suggest cash is not an issue. Of course it's an issue," said Michel Gauthier, the commander of Operation Apollo in Afghanistan.
Canada recently deployed 800 soldiers in Afghanistan for six months as part of the war on terrorism.
During the 1991 Gulf War, about 4,500 Canadian Forces personnel participated. A squadron of 26 CF-18 warplanes provided cover for allied shipping and carried out bombing raids on targets in Iraq during the 43-day war.
Canada's contribution also included 12 Hercules transport planes, two destroyers, a supply ship and a field hospital. There were no Canadian casualties.
The U.S. request for military assistance was made as United Nations arms inspectors arrived in Baghdad to resume the search for Iraqi weapons of mass destruction.
The U.S. said any material breach of the Security Council resolution calling on Iraq to disarm could lead to an attack.
U.S. President George Bush has said he's willing to abide by UN guidelines on Iraq for the time being but has not ruled out a unilateral American-led strike.
The United States has reportedly asked Canada to provide its crack special forces unit, Joint Task Force 2, as well as other military support if a war breaks out in Iraq.
A published report said Washington sent a diplomatic note asking whether Ottawa can contribute ships, light armoured vehicles and JTF-2 special forces to a possible military strike on Iraq.
The request was made in a letter from U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell and sent last Friday. It specifically expresses interest in Canada's Coyote light-armoured vehicles, which were used with great success in Afghanistan.
The American request of military support is just one of about 50 such requests made to its allies.
Prime Minister Jean Chretien has said that Canada is ready to lend military support to a U.S.-led coalition to disarm Iraq, but hopes diplomatic efforts can head off a second Gulf War.
"We are with them (the U.S.) in Afghanistan, we were with them in Kosovo, we are in Bosnia," said Chretien. "So we've always been in missions at the forefront.
"We'll see what we've got and what they need," said Chretien, noting that the question of military support is currently hypothetical. "We hope (Iraqi President) Saddam Hussein will comply (with UN resolutions) and there will be no war."
Chretien, however, reiterated Canada's previous position that the route to any possible conflict in Iraq must go through the United Nations.
"We have asked the United States right from the outset for there not to be any intervention in Iraq without the support of the United Nations," the prime minister said after a cabinet meeting.
"That has always been Canada's position. I stated that very clearly to President Bush who even recognized that we had been very direct on that point."
Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham said his department is discussing "with our American colleagues as to the type of things we could do."
"In the event the Security Council authorizes action against Iraq we'll have to look at exactly what we could contribute," said Graham.
"The defence minister, myself and the prime minister will be discussing that in the days ahead. We want to be as helpful as we possibly can."
Even if Canada were to join a coalition force, one expert said the biggest challenge would be getting equipment on the ground.
"The Americans will require their own strategic lift if there is a war so we'll probably have to go out on the market and rent a strategic lift plane, probably from the Ukraine or Russia, as we have in the past," said Alain Pellerin, the executive director of the Conference of Defence Associations.
The air force could likely send a small contingent of CF-18 fighters and the navy could offer up to three vessels currently patrolling the Persian Gulf as part of Canada's contribution to the war on terrorism.
There have also been repeated complaints about budget cuts.
"I think you'd be hard pressed to find anybody in the building that I work in that would suggest cash is not an issue. Of course it's an issue," said Michel Gauthier, the commander of Operation Apollo in Afghanistan.
Canada recently deployed 800 soldiers in Afghanistan for six months as part of the war on terrorism.
During the 1991 Gulf War, about 4,500 Canadian Forces personnel participated. A squadron of 26 CF-18 warplanes provided cover for allied shipping and carried out bombing raids on targets in Iraq during the 43-day war.
Canada's contribution also included 12 Hercules transport planes, two destroyers, a supply ship and a field hospital. There were no Canadian casualties.
The U.S. request for military assistance was made as United Nations arms inspectors arrived in Baghdad to resume the search for Iraqi weapons of mass destruction.
The U.S. said any material breach of the Security Council resolution calling on Iraq to disarm could lead to an attack.
U.S. President George Bush has said he's willing to abide by UN guidelines on Iraq for the time being but has not ruled out a unilateral American-led strike.