5-20-06, 9:38 am

Wednesday’s narrow approval of the Harper government’s motion to extend Canada’s military mission in Afghanistan will not forestall growing public opposition to the war, the Communist Party declared in a statement released by its Central Executive following the Parliamentary vote.

“The Conservatives know full well that public opinion is swinging rapidly against this aggressive mission. If Prime Minister Harper and his government think this cynical and undemocratic manoeuvre – forcing a snap Commons debate on 36-hours notice – will silence the growing anti-war sentiments of the Canadian people, they are deluding themselves.”

The Communist Party has consistently opposed the unjust war and subsequent occupation of Afghanistan ever since the U.S.-led aggression was launched in October 2001.

“This war has nothing to do with rendering ‘humanitarian relief’ or defending ‘freedom and democracy’ in Afghanistan. In fact, Canada is propping up a corrupt and illegitimate regime of warlords and heroin traffickers. What’s more, this ‘mission’ is helping to carry out Washington’s dirty work in the entire region, freeing up U.S. forces for its continued bloody occupation in Iraq. “

“The Bush Administration is now preparing to launch aggression against Iran – a country sharing a lengthy border with Afghanistan – raising the real possibility that Canada will be drawn into a fresh round of aggression and war.”

“Mr. Harper and the Conservative Party want to drag our country into even closer collusion with U.S. imperialism’s drive for economic and strategic domination around the world, under the hypocritical pretext of ‘fighting terrorism.’ That’s why they are in such a hurry to extend the ‘mission’ in Afghanistan, to substantially increase military spending, to redraft the NORAD treaty, and to reverse Canada’s non-participation in missile defence.”

“But the vast majority of the Canadian people reject this increasingly aggressive, militarist shift in Canada’s foreign policy, and they will have the final word, notwithstanding Harper’s pyrrhic victory on Wednesday.”

The Communist Party urges all peace-loving Canadians to continue speak out and organize against the war in Afghanistan, and to intensify pressure on all parties in Parliament to immediately end this aggressive ‘mission’ and bring Canadian troops back home.”

From Communist Party of Canada