The Ruxted Group

No one would welcome peace more than Canadian soldiers: those who have served in Afghanistan, those who are serving in Afghanistan and those who will, soon, serve in Afghanistan – some for the second or third time. The Ruxted Group is certain that chief amongst the ‘cheerleaders’ for peace is General Rick Hillier. He, rather than sideline snipers like Lawrence Martin, meets the coffins which return the bodies of his soldiers to their grieving families; he knows the cost of this war – of any war. Ruxted knows that General Hillier is all too aware that he bears the heavy responsibility of command for the loss of his soldiers. To suggest that he is some sort of glory hound is an egregious insult – the more so when it comes from someone who is bereft of anything like a similar responsibility. Journalists, an old maxim goes, are akin to those who wait for the end of the battle and then come down from the hills and rob the dead. Commanders, like General Hillier, bleed with each casualty.

Lawrence Martin is correct in asserting that negotiations are, generally, a prelude to peace. No one in The Ruxted Group argues with history. Where Martin (and Rideau Institute ‘talking head’ and former disarmament ambassador Peggy Mason, whom he cites) are mistaken is in the belief that Canada has any significant and useful role in peace negotiations. Canada’s role in Afghanistan is to work in support of the legitimate Government of Afghanistan. If that government decides, as it may, perhaps as it should, that now is the time for negotiations then Canada should support it – diplomatically and, to the degree possible, militarily. Such support might involve reducing the intensity of combat operations, but it might, equally, involve stepping up the pace of offensive combat operations aimed at underlining the Taliban’s weak position. It will be up to the Government of Afghanistan to decide on the best strategy and for the Canadian military commanders on the ground to adjust their tactics accordingly. There is little else for the Government of Canada or for Canadian parliamentarians to do except hope that a route to peace for the poor, war ravaged people of Afghanistan can be found.

As we have recently said, Canada is engaged in a long, long war – a war which pits the forces of civilization, as we understand that term, against the forces of aggressive barbarism. Afghanistan is just one battle in one front of that long, ‘good’ and ‘world’ war – a war which we can and must win. Bringing peace to Afghanistan is a laudable goal – one the Government of Afghanistan should pursue, provided it is a real peace, not just a temporary ceasefire. Nothing that happens in Afghanistan will bring peace to the liberal, democratic, secular West – the enemy has its own war aims, as Ruxted described in ”A world war, too” just two weeks ago. Afghanistan is intended to be one of the lesser provinces of the new ‘Caliphate’ – it is not an end in itself. Canadians will be fighting this new, long, world war for many years, even decades to come in places beyond Afghanistan. Peace can be won – but not just on the battlefields, solid diplomatic and development work is required, too. Equally, peace – real lasting peace with freedom for the Afghans – can be lost at a negotiating table. The people of the ‘Islamic Crescent’ are the only ones who can make real peace and they can only do that when they decide that their futures do not involve a militant, medieval, jihadist version of Islam.

There is another factor which Lawrence Martin misses, that is that negotiating from a position of weakness is a mug's game. Talks with consequences as monumental as the fate of a nation and perhaps even Western civilization are not the same as resolving a dispute over a fence with a neighbour or negotiating a friendly takeover or a merger in the corporate world. In Ruxted’s opinion, we - the lawfully elected Government of Afghanistan and its Allies - are not yet in a position to impose our terms on the Taliban; to attempt to gain a lasting advantage at the table at this time would be folly.

For the time being Canada, and Canadians - including parliamentarians, anti-military busybodies, terrorist apologists and accomplices in the so called peace movement and sideline sniping journalists like Martin and other sheep in sheep's clothing - can only offer quiet, diplomatic support to the Afghanistan government’s quest to bring peace, security and prosperity to its people. General Hillier and the Canadian Forces can, as they must, adjust their tactics to the strategy of the Government of Afghanistan, as they await the next phase in this long, long war.

Lawrence Martin must, finally, come to appreciate that we are not the Russians – we did not invade Afghanistan, we are not a colonial, occupying power – we are part of an alliance, properly exercising our ‘Responsibility to Protect.’ It appears that some Liberal Party of Canada politicians understand that fact and that is why they are not joining Martin in attacking the Canadian government for being responsible.