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Fighting Islamic extremism the ‘greatest struggle of our generation,’ John Baird tells Commons committee | National Post
OTTAWA — Battling Islamic extremism represents the “greatest struggle of our generation,” Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird told a joint House of Commons committee Tuesday as the government revealed some Canadian troops are already inside Iraq.
Mr. Baird and Defence Minister Rob Nicholson appeared before a parliamentary committee to explain the government’s decision to send dozens of military advisers to Iraq, announced last week by Prime Minister Stephen Harper. The appearance was billed as an attempt to ensure transparency and openness.
Mr. Nicholson told MPs the Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham (ISIS) poses “a real and growing threat to civilization itself.”
“What we are facing here is one of the most barbaric terrorist groups the world has ever known,” Mr. Baird said. “Their world view is a direct challenge to the values of Western civilization.”
Canada and its allies cannot afford to ignore ISIS, the ministers added, which is why the government is providing humanitarian aid, helping transport military supplies and now deploying military advisers to help fight the militants.
“I ask that as we consider whether or how to act, we also consider what happens if we don’t act,” Mr. Baird said. “It might seem convenient to brush options off as leading to mission creep in the future. But the hard reality is that inaction is not an option.”
Much will depend on U.S. President Barack Obama’s long-awaited strategy for combating ISIS, which will reportedly be to systematically wear down the terrorist group’s capabilities and shrink the territory they’ve captured.
Mr. Obama will outline his strategy in a speech Wednesday night. The White House said Tuesday the President has told congressional leaders he has the authority he needs to take action.
In Ottawa, the ministers would not provide specific details about what Canadian forces will be doing in Iraq. That includes exactly how many Canadian troops will be on the ground in Iraq, when they will arrive and, perhaps most importantly, the exact goal of the mission and how far the government is willing to go to fight Islamic militants there.
OTTAWA — Battling Islamic extremism represents the “greatest struggle of our generation,” Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird told a joint House of Commons committee Tuesday as the government revealed some Canadian troops are already inside Iraq.
Mr. Baird and Defence Minister Rob Nicholson appeared before a parliamentary committee to explain the government’s decision to send dozens of military advisers to Iraq, announced last week by Prime Minister Stephen Harper. The appearance was billed as an attempt to ensure transparency and openness.
Mr. Nicholson told MPs the Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham (ISIS) poses “a real and growing threat to civilization itself.”
“What we are facing here is one of the most barbaric terrorist groups the world has ever known,” Mr. Baird said. “Their world view is a direct challenge to the values of Western civilization.”
Canada and its allies cannot afford to ignore ISIS, the ministers added, which is why the government is providing humanitarian aid, helping transport military supplies and now deploying military advisers to help fight the militants.
“I ask that as we consider whether or how to act, we also consider what happens if we don’t act,” Mr. Baird said. “It might seem convenient to brush options off as leading to mission creep in the future. But the hard reality is that inaction is not an option.”
Much will depend on U.S. President Barack Obama’s long-awaited strategy for combating ISIS, which will reportedly be to systematically wear down the terrorist group’s capabilities and shrink the territory they’ve captured.
Mr. Obama will outline his strategy in a speech Wednesday night. The White House said Tuesday the President has told congressional leaders he has the authority he needs to take action.
In Ottawa, the ministers would not provide specific details about what Canadian forces will be doing in Iraq. That includes exactly how many Canadian troops will be on the ground in Iraq, when they will arrive and, perhaps most importantly, the exact goal of the mission and how far the government is willing to go to fight Islamic militants there.
