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OTTAWA, Oct 8: Canada, digging deeper into its depleted armed forces than many had predicted, said on Monday it would contribute six ships, the same number of aircraft and a special commando unit to the US-led military coalition that has attacked inside Afghanistan.
Defense Minister Art Eggleton said Canada would be committing more than 2,000 military personnel for an initial period of six months. The first deployments will start over the next few days.
Canada’s military has suffered greatly from budget cuts over the last seven years and was widely expected to offer just logistical or intelligence support to the campaign triggered by the Sept. 11 attacks in the United States.
But Eggleton said Canadian forces would become an integral part of the coalition along with such partners as Britain, Germany and France.
“Since Sept. 11 Canada’s determination to stand by the United States and its allies in the fight against terrorism has been solid and unwavering,” he told a news conference.
“Every role in this campaign is significant. Every country determined to halt terror can make an important difference in the long road that lies ahead — and make no mistake about it, it will be a long campaign,” he said.
FRENCH COMMITMENT: France looked poised Monday to step up its commitment to the US-led campaign against Osama bin Laden’s network in Afghanistan, but grumbling about the attacks among left-wing parties spoiled the political consensus.
Defense Minister Alain Richard confirmed that French intelligence operatives have been deployed in the north of the country, and he gave a strong hint that new American demands for men or material would receive a quick response.
“We are continuing our discussions with our American partners about the sharing out of missions,” Richard told Le Monde newspaper.
“The United States knows that we can join in the action with dozens of planes or boats and thousands of men, to participate in operations on terrorist targets on Afghan territory. It is a matter of days.”—Reuters / AFP
