Canadians march against military mission in Afghanistan

On March 15, 2008, hundreds of people marched in the streets to protest against the lengthened military mission in Afghanistan. In Toronto, about 1000 people gathered in Queen’s Park and walked around the city. In Ottawa, about 500 people took to the streets to join the peace movement. On March 13, parliament signed a contract to keep approximately 2,500 Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan until 2011. Dylan Penner, an organizer of the movement in Ottawa, said the polls showed that most Canadians wanted troops out by 2009 and that the government “isn’t listening to the people.”

The war was started on October 7, 2001, by the United States and the United Kingdom. The declared purpose of the attack was to capture Osama Bin Laden, destroy al-Qaeda and remove the Taliban regime. Infantry from Canada, the US and the UK were committed in 2002. The first attack removed the Taliban from power, but it has strengthened since. The war has not been very successful in restricting al-Qaeda’s movement. The Afghan government is deteriorating, and has no strong control outside of Kabul.

References

Canwest Digital Media (2008). Hundreds march against military mission in Afghanistan. Retrieved March 20, 2008, from http://www.canada.com/topics/news/story.html?id=afdd7230-44a9-49f0-bda8-61dbc29fbd60&k=38813

Wikepedia. (2008). War in Afghanistan (2001, present). Retrieved March 20, 2008, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_in_Afghanistan_(2001%E2%80%93present)