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Grits tie hands of our peacekeepers: study
By STEPHANIE RUBEC, SUN OTTAWA BUREAU
OTTAWA -- Government and public ignorance about Canadian Forces is compromising peacekeeping missions, warns a new study by a national think-tank.
The Institute for Research on Public Policy found the federal Liberals' requirements that Canadian Forces be seen as "clean" and "politically correct" to make up for past scandals such as Somalia, in which soldiers beat a local to death, is hurting the military.
Author Ann Fitz-Gerald criticized the federal government for failing to understand the needs of the military.
"Thus, for the sake of satisfying a public and government back home that seem ill-informed about current operational requirements, the reputation of the Canadian land forces as credible security providers has been compromised," Fitz-Gerald said.
Fitz-Gerald said her studies of Canadian peacekeeping missions found that locals feel the soldiers aren't in control and don't have the freedom to deal with tense situations.
"When people described the Canadians' approach to patrolling and escorting, they remarked that they did not appear to be in control as much as the Pakistani troops," Fitz-Gerald said about the Haiti mission.
Retired major-general Lewis MacKenzie agreed Canadian peacekeepers' hands are tied by political instructions to avoid risk at all cost.
"I think there has to be much more capabilities and freedom of action in the field," MacKenzie said.
MacKenzie disputed the author's conclusion that all politicians and Canadians are ill-informed about the Forces, laying the blame on Prime Minister Jean Chretien and his advisors for the resource shortages faced by the military.
Conference of Defence Association spokesman Peter Forsberg agreed that Chretien's lack of enthusiasm when it comes to equipping and arming Canadian soldiers is to blame for their limited capabilities.
"Certainly, there's a threat to their reputation," Forsberg said. "There is without a doubt equipment limitations."
By STEPHANIE RUBEC, SUN OTTAWA BUREAU
OTTAWA -- Government and public ignorance about Canadian Forces is compromising peacekeeping missions, warns a new study by a national think-tank.
The Institute for Research on Public Policy found the federal Liberals' requirements that Canadian Forces be seen as "clean" and "politically correct" to make up for past scandals such as Somalia, in which soldiers beat a local to death, is hurting the military.
Author Ann Fitz-Gerald criticized the federal government for failing to understand the needs of the military.
"Thus, for the sake of satisfying a public and government back home that seem ill-informed about current operational requirements, the reputation of the Canadian land forces as credible security providers has been compromised," Fitz-Gerald said.
Fitz-Gerald said her studies of Canadian peacekeeping missions found that locals feel the soldiers aren't in control and don't have the freedom to deal with tense situations.
"When people described the Canadians' approach to patrolling and escorting, they remarked that they did not appear to be in control as much as the Pakistani troops," Fitz-Gerald said about the Haiti mission.
Retired major-general Lewis MacKenzie agreed Canadian peacekeepers' hands are tied by political instructions to avoid risk at all cost.
"I think there has to be much more capabilities and freedom of action in the field," MacKenzie said.
MacKenzie disputed the author's conclusion that all politicians and Canadians are ill-informed about the Forces, laying the blame on Prime Minister Jean Chretien and his advisors for the resource shortages faced by the military.
Conference of Defence Association spokesman Peter Forsberg agreed that Chretien's lack of enthusiasm when it comes to equipping and arming Canadian soldiers is to blame for their limited capabilities.
"Certainly, there's a threat to their reputation," Forsberg said. "There is without a doubt equipment limitations."
