POLITICS_ Canada prepared for possible military mission in Syria, defence documents show

Canada prepared for possible military mission in Syria, defence documents show Lee Berthiaume, Postmedia News | April 14, 2014 6:25 PM ET

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Canadian defence and diplomatic officials have been quietly working on plans for possible Canadian military missions — as well as shoring up non-religious groups on the ground — in Syria as its three-year civil war continues.

The federal government has so far said it has no plans for Canada to be dragged into the conflict, which has killed an estimated 150,000 and driven hundreds of thousands more from their homes and their country.

But internal documents obtained by the Ottawa Citizen show National Defence has drawn up at least five scenarios in which it could become involved in Syria’s ongoing civil war, as well as potential Canadian Forces missions for each situation.

The documents have been censored to remove specifics, but allude to “the rapidly deteriorating conditions in Syria, its impact on neighbouring countries and … the importance of Middle East stability.”

The scenarios also include several assumptions such as the Syrian government remaining “defiant,” as well as “most likely” and “worst case” outcomes, such as extremist groups getting hold of advanced or chemical weapons, or the conflict spilling beyond Syria’s borders.

At least one possible Canadian military intervention “assumes that a legitimate armed opposition group has been recognized” by Canada, although details about the rest of this scenario have been blacked out.

National Defence spokesman Daniel Blouin described such planning as “routine to significant international events” and part of the military’s due diligence to be prepared for any eventuality. He said none of the possible interventions has been acted upon.

However, the fact such plans have been drawn up indicates the degree of seriousness to which defence officials and the government are taking the fighting in Syria, which brings with it the risk of escalation and broader regional impacts.

Any military action would require the government’s approval.

Meanwhile, separate documents show Canada has been helping train anti-sectarian activists, journalists and others so they can provide a political alternative to Islamic extremist groups if the fighting stops.

Canada has expressed concern in the past about an influx of Islamic militias into Syria, which has turned what was once billed as a fight for greater democratic rights into a messy religious conflict.

Not only have these Islamic groups blurred the lines between the different factions fighting Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad’s government, they are also positioning themselves to take power should the government fall.

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In documents obtained by the Citizen, Foreign Affairs officials cited the listed terrorist group Jabhat al-Nusra, as an example, noting that “it employs a combination of military exploits and delivery of social services to build a support base and position itself for power after the transition.

“A post-Assad Syria risks opening yet another phase in the conflict if those who vanquish Assad retain power through the force of arms, by sowing ethnic or sectarian division or through allegiance to extremist religious beliefs,” officials added.

To combat this threat, Canada has been working with several non-secular groups that are training dozens if not hundreds of activists on leadership skills, conflict resolution and community development.

Canada is also helping teach activists to monitor humanitarian organizations to make sure they are delivering the aid that is needed by Syrians, and training of citizen journalists. These activities are being supported by small funds run out of the Canadian embassies in Lebanon and Turkey, which have been at the forefront of Canada’s response to the Syrian crisis.

The exact cost wasn’t included in the documents, including whether the funding was part of the more than $630 million Canada has committed in humanitarian, development and security assistance in response to the war in Syria.

It also wasn’t clear whether Canada has also been working with political entities such as Syrian opposition groups. Foreign Affairs did not immediately respond to questions Monday.

Read more: http://news.nationalpost.com/2014/04/14/canada-prepared-for-possible-military-mission-in-syria-defence-documents-show/



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