March 28, 2024

BY JORDAN JOHNSTONE

With the Islamic State (IS) taking over swaths of land in Syria and Iraq, committing countless atrocities and war crimes as they do, it has rallied the international community against them. On Oct. 6 the House of Commons voted to join the United States-led coalition against IS in Iraq.

“Today we are bringing forward a motion asking this House to confirm its confidence for a government decision to join our allies and partners in launching airstrikes against ISIL,” Prime Minster Stephen Harper said in parliament, according to a press release on the PMO’s website.

Those partners include the United States, United Kingdom, France, United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.

Harper said the mission will focus on Iraq and made it clear Canada would only carry out airstrikes in Syria once that government gave Canada permission to do so. Other allies have already launched airstrikes in Syria, which has been locked in a three-year civil war against IS, other terrorist groups and rebel factions.

He also said Canada would not work with Bashar al Assad’s government forces to combat IS in Syria.

“The revulsion of the Government of Canada to the actions of the Assad regime is well known,” Harper told the house.

Despite joining the Unites States’ 11-year campaign in Iraq, Harper promised Canada’s participation wouldn’t be prolonged.

With no combat troops on the ground and Iraq and Kurdish troops barely hanging on, many wonder what the end strategy will be in order to eliminate the IS threat.

Canada’s part may be a token role, with the support given just to add one more name to the coalition list.

Or maybe Harper has finally gotten Canada involved in a war he wanted be involved in 10 years ago as opposition leader. These bloody campaigns have caused countless loss of life and suffering throughout the Middle East. Let’s just be sure to do it right this time.

Canada’s last campaign in the Middle East didn’t end well and being dragged in to another long ground campaign is what IS wants.

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