PERSIAN GOD KING
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HALIFAX Canada could be sending military resources to Iran and Syria if there is Western intervention in those countries, Defence Minister Peter MacKay told the West Block shortly before announcing that Canada will maintain a naval presence in the Mediterranean Sea until the end of next year.
Speaking at the Halifax International Security Forum, MacKay said he wouldnt rule out military intervention.
I dont think we can, he said. It's not the preferred option, it never is.
Although the crisis in Syria has been escalating, MacKay said sanctions and diplomatic interventions will be considered before sending military.
The United Nations has estimated that more than 3,500 people have been killed in Syria since the uprising began in mid-March.
And the crisis continues to escalate, with the countrys president, Bashar al-Assad, saying on Sunday that he will continue his bloody crackdown in spite of the Arab Leagues threat of sanctions.
Iran, meanwhile, is under increasing suspicion of developing nuclear weapons earning criticism from the Atomic Energy Agency.
Canada will be expected to be a key player if Western countries intervene, said U.S. Sen. John McCain, who was also at the Security Forum.
I would expect from Canada, in both of those cases, the kind of involvement we've seen in Libya including a leadership role, the former Republican presidential nominee told the West Block. They gained a lot of experience in this whole Libyan operation.
While MacKay said he considers Canadas Libyan mission a success, he said the situation there shouldnt be compared too closely to the current conflicts.
We have to be very careful when drawing comparisons or putting too fine a point on what happened in Libya versus whats going on currently in Syria, he said.Just as I would suggest is the case for every country that we've seen under the spell of the Arab spring whether it be Tunisia, whether it be Egypt, whether it be what happened in Libya.
Canada became involved in the NATO-led Libya mission in March and pulled out last month.
Canada committed more than 600 personnel, seven fighter jets, two patrol aircraft, two frigates and two tankers to the seven-month conflict.
One of those vessels will stay in the area until early 2012. Another Navy frigate, scheduled to leave Halifax in January, will replace it.
Global News | Canada remains open to sending military to Syria, Iran
Speaking at the Halifax International Security Forum, MacKay said he wouldnt rule out military intervention.
I dont think we can, he said. It's not the preferred option, it never is.
Although the crisis in Syria has been escalating, MacKay said sanctions and diplomatic interventions will be considered before sending military.
The United Nations has estimated that more than 3,500 people have been killed in Syria since the uprising began in mid-March.
And the crisis continues to escalate, with the countrys president, Bashar al-Assad, saying on Sunday that he will continue his bloody crackdown in spite of the Arab Leagues threat of sanctions.
Iran, meanwhile, is under increasing suspicion of developing nuclear weapons earning criticism from the Atomic Energy Agency.
Canada will be expected to be a key player if Western countries intervene, said U.S. Sen. John McCain, who was also at the Security Forum.
I would expect from Canada, in both of those cases, the kind of involvement we've seen in Libya including a leadership role, the former Republican presidential nominee told the West Block. They gained a lot of experience in this whole Libyan operation.
While MacKay said he considers Canadas Libyan mission a success, he said the situation there shouldnt be compared too closely to the current conflicts.
We have to be very careful when drawing comparisons or putting too fine a point on what happened in Libya versus whats going on currently in Syria, he said.Just as I would suggest is the case for every country that we've seen under the spell of the Arab spring whether it be Tunisia, whether it be Egypt, whether it be what happened in Libya.
Canada became involved in the NATO-led Libya mission in March and pulled out last month.
Canada committed more than 600 personnel, seven fighter jets, two patrol aircraft, two frigates and two tankers to the seven-month conflict.
One of those vessels will stay in the area until early 2012. Another Navy frigate, scheduled to leave Halifax in January, will replace it.
Global News | Canada remains open to sending military to Syria, Iran