Canada To Help Military Effort
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By TOM COHEN, Associated Press Writer
OTTAWA (AP) - Canada is contributing six navy ships, six transport and surveillance aircraft and a special forces unit to the U.S.-led military response to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Defense Minister Art Eggleton announced Monday.
Four navy frigates, a destroyer and a supply ship, along with Sea King helicopters, will support U.S. and NATO (news - web sites) naval forces, Eggleton said. The total number of personnel involved will exceed 2,000.
Canada's contribution will also include three Hercules transport planes, one other transport plane, two Aurora maritime patrol aircraft and components of a special forces anti-terrorism unit, he said.
He said the Canadian forces would begin deploying in the coming days. He warned of a long campaign and said Canada was ready to make further contributions if asked.
``This campaign will not be like any other campaign we have been engaged in before,'' Eggleton said at a news conference at defense headquarters.
Also Monday, NATO Secretary-General Lord Robertson said he and Prime Minister Jean Chretien would discuss having Canadian troops take over some peacekeeping operations in the Balkans to free U.S. forces there for other operations.
``I've got indications the Canadians are willing,'' he said of Canadian soldiers going to Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo. Robertson was in Ottawa to address the NATO parliamentary assembly on Tuesday.
Chretien said Sunday that the United States requested specific military help Friday and that he assured President Bush (news - web sites) shortly before the U.S.-led attacks that Canada could meet the U.S. needs.
Canada's military has been reduced in size and readiness in recent years due to spending cuts under Chretien's government. The standing force numbers about 58,000.
Eggleton said the frigate HMCS Halifax would head to the Persian Gulf ``immediately'' to support U.S. naval forces. Another frigate, the HMCS Vancouver, will join a U.S. carrier battle group.
Eggleton said the Joint Task Force 2, a special forces unit with anti-terrorism training, would join the U.S.-led effort. He did not disclose its role.
Since the Sept. 11 attacks, Canada has increased the number of its jet fighters patrolling North American airspace under the North American Aerospace Defense Command.
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