Editorial – Toronto Star

The Van Doos' sacrifice
Toronto Star Editorial, Friday, August 24/07

Quebecers have been shaken by Canada's latest casualties in Afghanistan. While the public was braced for losses, few expected the Royal 22nd Regiment, the famed Van Doos, would suffer so many so soon, driving Canada's military and diplomatic toll to 70.

After the death Sunday of Pte. Simon Longtin, one opinion poll reported that seven in 10 Quebecers favoured pulling out our troops before their mission in Kandahar ends in February 2009. Even more may feel so inclined now that Master Warrant Officer Mario Mercier and Master CpL Christian Duchesne have been killed. Mercier, Du-chesne and an Afghan interpreter were killed Wednesday by a roadside bomb that also injured another soldier and two journalists.

While it is understandable in the wake of the deaths that many Quebecers want Canada to leave Kandahar now, Parliament has given Canada's word that we would shoulder a combat role in Kandahar until 2009 to prevent the Taliban from staging a comeback.

That does not mean Canada aims to "win" a counter-insurgency war in Afghanistan. Afghans themselves must decide their future, and few would welcome foreign troops indefinitely.

But the Canadian Forces can and should help the country's democratically-elected government build up its army, promote political reconciliation, create safer conditions for development aid that will help millions build better lives and deny terror the safe haven it had in Afghanistan before 9/11.

In 2009, Canada can honourably hand off the Kandahar mission to the Afghans or to one of our allies, knowing that we have done more than our share.

But for now, our resolve must not waver. That would betray every Canadian who has fallen in this cause or been wounded, and the many thousands who have served in the field.

The Van Doos' regimental prayer asks that "our swords uphold only a just cause."

In Afghanistan, under a lawful United Nations mandate to sustain democracy, thwart terror and deliver aid, the cause is undeniably just.

As Liberal Leader Stephane Dion put it, the Van Doos bring "hope and stability" to a troubled region.