Dusappe Insults Van Doos

The implication that the reason his latest tirade was to protect the man and women in the Van Doos is an insult to this unit who has proved on a number of occasions their bravery and dedication unlike many of the the citizens of Quebec.

Duceppe's threat offensive
By SUN MEDIA

Sun reporter Doug Beazley in one of his Canada at War dispatches from Afghanistan -- spoke with Warrant Officer Daniel Parenteau, of Drummondville, Que., about his wife Marie and his kids, Vincent and Marjorie, back at home. Yes, it's tough being separated from family and friends at this time of year.

But Parenteau, whose job it is to liaise with the Afghan people, also reflected on the mission the Canadian government has sent him on. "I'm proud of what I do," Parenteau said. "We don't want to die. But we want to change this country -- to give hope."

This interview thankfully took place before Bloc Quebecois Leader Gilles Duceppe decided to cynically and manipulatively use the Afghan mission as a reason to drag the country into an unwanted general election. Unless, that is, Prime Minister Stephen Harper "rapidly and profoundly" modifies Canada's role in the conflict.

The apparent reason for Duceppe's sudden change of heart on the Afghan mission is because the Canadian NATO contingent in Kabul, in his words, "in a few months will be made up of men and women from Valcartier."

That's right, the French-speaking Royal 22nd Regiment has seen benign guard house duty in Afghanistan. The bulk of the combat work and "peacemaking" has been done by Edmonton's Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, who are looking at yet another deployment after Christmas, and Ontario's Royal Canadian Regiment.

Both proud units have taken significant casualties attempting to pacify the country and root out the forces of evil. Not only is Duceppe's threat to bring down the Harper government offensive, it also casts unfair and unwarranted aspersions on the Van Doos.

We all know where NDP Leader Jack Layton is coming from. He took his pacifist stand long ago. But Liberal Leader Stephane Dion is being coy, even though the Afghanistan intervention clearly is Paul Martin's war, having been initiated by the former Liberal government.

The Tories are fulfilling our duty as a top tier nation in standing by our allies. Warrant Officer Parenteau and his family deserve better than this from the despicable and opportunistic Gilles Duceppe.S