There were five small Canadian “peace-support” missions under way, under UN auspices, in October 2015 - in the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, Haiti, Cyprus and Israel/Lebanon. Where to begin? A briefing book provided to Foreign Affairs minister Stephane Dion following his appointment to cabinet, obtained by Postmedia’s David Akin via access to information, outlined the status quo ante - peacekeeping at the close of the Harper era. That The Star saw fit to print this is amazing, even in a time when newspaper editorial writers are called upon to dash off their offerings in minutes, like performance art. To call the foregoing nonsense understates it some. With millions of innocent civilians at imminent risk of brutalization and death in war zones around the world, Canada has a humanitarian duty to take meaningful action in easing the threat.” “The Liberal government is going a considerable way in correcting Harper’s neglect. However, the Star’s writer concludes with evident joy, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberals have set the stars back on their proper course. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Favouring isolation over UN activism, he allowed a celebrated tradition of Canadian peacekeeping to wither.” Terrible! Having unburdened herself or himself of this revelatory gem, the Star’s editorial writer gets bullet-chewing tough - on the former federal government, the one not currently sending any Canadian soldiers anywhere. “It’s wise to re-engage carefully, especially given Canada’s record of relative inaction in peace operations under former prime minister Stephen Harper. Canadian regular forces to train troops in Niger as Liberals seek to take part in more UN peace operations.Matthew Fisher: Why an African mission could be more dangerous than Afghanistan.Forces in conflict are rarely composed of well-disciplined armies instead peacekeepers often find themselves dealing with a chaotic mix of tribal militias, terrorist groups, broken states and unprincipled governments.” Related Stories But, could trouble be afoot? “Peacekeeping is more complicated now,” the editorial continues, with a world-weary droop to its rhetorical shoulders, “requiring a combination of military, political, humanitarian and development skills.
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