For the all the wind blowing from Conservative and NDP partisans - that NATO serves no purpose but to point guns and shoot - NATO's literature doesn't bend to their argument:
"the fundamental role of NATO is to safeguard freedom and security of its member countries by political and military means," furthermore adding, "The Alliance... recognises the importance of political, economic, social and environmental factors in addition to the indispensable defence dimension."
NATO's new strategic concept (1999) also emphasizes the notion of "common commitment," stating that "The fundamental guiding principle by which the Alliance works is that of common commitment and mutual co-operation" and "no single Ally is forced to rely upon its own national efforts alone in dealing with basic security challenges."
This seems to be at odds with the way a minority of NATO members, Canada among them, have been forced into carrying a disproportionate burden in Afghanistan.
In the face of this public information, Jason Kenney went to bat as the government spinmaster, regardless of his lack of authority on the Foreign Affairs file. In this Toronto Star article, he said: "NATO is a military alliance. When you talk about a NATO intervention, you are clearly and explicitly talking about a military intervention."
After reading NATO's strategic concept, Kenney's comments seem to be a Conservative assumption of NATO's role based on a cold-war hangover. Though Kenney asserts that Dion "doesn't understand what NATO does," it appears that Kenney hasn't done his own homework on the role of the organization, however ineffectively it's been practiced.
For its part, the NDP seem to be taking their PR cues from the Conservative government, as NDP defence critic Dawn Black did little more but echo Kenney's comments.
"the fundamental role of NATO is to safeguard freedom and security of its member countries by political and military means," furthermore adding, "The Alliance... recognises the importance of political, economic, social and environmental factors in addition to the indispensable defence dimension."
NATO's new strategic concept (1999) also emphasizes the notion of "common commitment," stating that "The fundamental guiding principle by which the Alliance works is that of common commitment and mutual co-operation" and "no single Ally is forced to rely upon its own national efforts alone in dealing with basic security challenges."
This seems to be at odds with the way a minority of NATO members, Canada among them, have been forced into carrying a disproportionate burden in Afghanistan.
In the face of this public information, Jason Kenney went to bat as the government spinmaster, regardless of his lack of authority on the Foreign Affairs file. In this Toronto Star article, he said: "NATO is a military alliance. When you talk about a NATO intervention, you are clearly and explicitly talking about a military intervention."
After reading NATO's strategic concept, Kenney's comments seem to be a Conservative assumption of NATO's role based on a cold-war hangover. Though Kenney asserts that Dion "doesn't understand what NATO does," it appears that Kenney hasn't done his own homework on the role of the organization, however ineffectively it's been practiced.
For its part, the NDP seem to be taking their PR cues from the Conservative government, as NDP defence critic Dawn Black did little more but echo Kenney's comments.
Labels: Afghanistan, cons, NATO, NDP, Stephane Dion
1 Comments:
I did a blog about this a few years ago. NATO attempting to redefine itself in a post-cold war era. But apparently a good portion of the so-called 'intellectually elite' in this country failed to notice, and continue to cling to their cold war paradigms. If our leaders can't adjust their thinking, I fear for the majority of the 'flock', who look up to them.
Post a Comment
<< Home