Canada's Retreat from Peacekeeping

First of all, I would just like to say to hello to anyone who reads this. This is my first attempt at blogging so I’m kind of hoping it won’t be a total disaster. So I thank you in advance and please keep reading.

Yesterday (June 2, 2008) I learned from an article by Allan Thompson on TheStar.com about how Canada has turned down a request by the United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations for Canada to take lead of the UN peacekeeping mission in Congo. The request, according to Thompson, was for a two-star general and some support staff, not soldiers. Not entirely an unrealistic request. The request was not for troops, which would have a negative effect on the of the troop deployments of the mission in Afghanistan. Surely Canada’s limited forces can spare one “lowly” two-star for a mission as important as the Congo.

I realize that Canada has had a bad experience in leading UN peacekeeping missions … cough cough…. Rwanda… cough cough… but for Canada to reject this call is a blatant slap in the face to the UN and the whole UN peacekeeping concept. Robert Fowler is completely right saying that Ottawa is acting as if it has given up on traditional peacekeeping. The perfect example of this is the fact that Canada has fallen from peacekeeping poster child to the 53rd position on the list of the UN’s largest contributors to peacekeeping. Now this slide is not solely the fault of the current Conservative government but as the current leaders of the government, and the ones to most recently turn down the UN, they will face the heat from the opposition and the public. This was Canada’s chance to restore its reputations and image, especially after the Bernier affair, and the controversial record of success in Afghanistan. The current mission in Congo is the largest one ever undertaken by the United Nations, and they wanted us to assume control of it. What the hell are the people in the ministries of Defence and Foreign Affairs thinking? As a middle power, this is a role that Canada is well suited to play. We have the technical knowledge and experience to fulfill this role, and we are in that funny little niche where we are not a major power that pisses off other nor are we a quiet little pushover state; a largely neutral state that can act in the best strategic interests of the mission (especially considering we won’t have any troops in the theatre). This would have been an excellent opportunity for Canada to play a strategic role in international affairs and one that would likely be beneficial down the road (like helping our case for a seat on the Security Council).

"What they wanted was a francophone, from a country with no colonial or political baggage," said the military insider. "Canada could have made a real difference here."

Opportunity only knocks so many times before it stops coming and Canada will soon been running short of chances.

- blenCOWe