National Defence Committee on Sept. 25th, 2006

[Prof. David Bercuson]

Well, I'm partially satisfied, and the reason I say that is because I wish the United States and NATO had devoted more resources to Afghanistan, rather than intervening in Iraq. It's a whole other question we can get into.

I think the Iraqi intervention was a strategic mistake, even though I supported it at the time, and I have to say that.

So I'm partially satisfied. The reason I say that is because clearly the Taliban are not taking over the country. Clearly they're not even dominating in the area around Kandahar. It seems to me that since the conclusion of the battle a week and a half or two weeks ago, we've seen a relative calm in that area, at least as reported by both our military and the press.

What would I like to see changed? I'd like to see more troops. This is a test for NATO, in my opinion, and I'd like to see NATO coming up with the resources that are required to do this job more quickly and more efficiently.

[Dr. Douglas Bland]

I would agree with all that, and as I said before, I think at this level, at the strategic level of Ottawa and so on, what would be most helpful is a concerted effort by the political community to rebuild and transform the Canadian forces rapidly.

In 1950, when NATO was formed, we had fewer than 30,000 people in the armed forces, an old propeller-driven air force, and a bunch of rusted up old ships. Six years later we had 120,000 in the armed forces, jet squadrons, a jet air force, 12 squadrons deployed in Europe, brand new fleets of ships, and so on.

When Canadians decided that defending ourselves against the ever onward creeping tide of communism was important, we did something.

I think a resolve in Parliament to rebuild the armed forces dramatically, quickly, and together would be useful. And I'll throw out, if I may, Mr. Chair, an advertisement that on October 5 in this town, Queen's University will release a new study called “Reinventing Canadian Defence Procurement”, which we hope will be a plan to do at least part of that kind of job.

But we need to get serious. We have only 20,000 people in the army, and they're carrying the weight for the entire country. These young people need some support, and they need big support, not small support.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rick Casson]

Very good. Thank you.

That brings us to our time limit.

I'd like to thank you, Mr. Bercuson, out in Calgary. It seemed to work fairly well.

[Prof. David Bercuson]

Yes, it did.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rick Casson]

We appreciate your taking the time--

[Prof. David Bercuson]

I didn't have to get on a plane last night.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rick Casson]

All right. Good.

Mr. Bland, thank you very much for being here. I hope you make your train.

Committee, good questions. Thank you.

The meeting is adjourned.