Michael Byers, Steven Staples and Walter Dorn on recent death during Afghan CF “training mission”

Rideau Institute board member Michael Byers and senior advisor Walter Dorn comment on the death of Master Cpl. Byron Greff , a Canadian Forces soldier killed by a car bomber in Kabul.

 

“The Canadian government calls it a non-combat mission, but there are cases where you might find your soldiers actually engaged in combat, if only for self-protection,” Walter Dorn said.

Canadian soldier among 13 NATO dead in Kabul suicide bombing: military official, The Canadian Press.

 

“But the majority of Canadians were against the extension of the mission and portraying it as a non-combat mission enabled the Prime Minister to argue that no parliamentary debate was required. I believe that in a democracy we need to have these debates and they need to be based on the full range of information that is available.” said Michael Byers.

Combat in Afghanistan has ended, but deadly risks remain, the Globe and Mail.

 

“The government did let Canadians down by not adequately preparing them for the possibility of more casualties even during this so-called training mission,” said StevenStaples, president of the Rideau Institute. “I think it was presented to Canadians as risk-free.”

Afghan training mission debated after soldier’s death, Embassy.