FOR YOUR INFORMATION
DOCUMENT I - Prime Minister Tony Blair's statement
DOCUMENT II The text of an address by Prime Minister Jean Chretien
DOCUMENT III The Right Honourable Joe Clark'S statement.
DOCUMENT IV Facts on the Canadian military
(Terrorist-Blair-Bombi) Text of Blair's address on military strikes against
Afghanistan
Source: CP
Oct 7, 2001 15:52
Here is the text of Prime Minister Tony Blair's statement at Downing Street, as provided by Press Association of Britain.
___
BLAIR:
As you all know from the announcement by President Bush, military action against targets inside Afghanistan have begun.
I can confirm that U.K. forces are engaged in this action.
I want to pay tribute at the outset to Britain's armed forces. There is no greater strength for a British Prime Minister and the British nation at a time like this to know that the forces we are calling upon are amongst the best in the world.
They and their families are of course carrying an immense burden at this moment and will be feeling deep anxiety, as will the British people, but we can take great pride in their courage, their sense of duty, and the esteem with which they are held throughout the world.
No country lightly commits forces to military action and the inevitable risks involved.
We made clear following the attacks upon the U.S. on Sept. 11 that we would take action once it was clear who was responsible. There is no doubt in my mind, nor in the mind of anyone who has been through all the available evidence, including intelligence material, that these attacks were carried out by the al-Qaida network headed by Osama bin Laden.
Equally it is clear that they are harboured and supported by the Taliban regime inside Afghanistan.
It is now almost a month since the atrocity occurred. It is more than two weeks since an ultimatum was delivered to the Taliban to yield up the terrorists or face the consequences.
It is clear beyond doubt that the Taliban will not do this. They were given the choice of siding with justice, or siding with terror. They chose terror.
There are three parts, all equally important, to the operation in which we are engaged - military, diplomatic and humanitarian.
The military action we are taking will be targeted against places we know to be involved in the al-Qaida network of terror or against the military apparatus of the Taliban.
The military plan has been put together mindful of our determination to do all we humanly can to avoid civilian casualties.
I cannot disclose how long this wave of action will last. But we will act with reason and resolve.
We have set the objective to pursue those responsible for the attacks, to eradicate bin Laden's network of terrorism and to take action against the Taliban regime that is sponsoring him.
After the precise British involvement, I can confirm that last Wednesday the U.S. government made a specific request that a number of U.K. military assets be used in the operation which has now begun, and that I gave the authority for these assets to be deployed.
They include the base at Diego Garcia, reconnaissance and other aircraft and missile-firing submarines. The missile-firing submarines are in use tonight. The air assets will be available for use in the coming days. The U.S. are obviously providing the bulk of the force required and leading the operation. But this is an international effort. As well as the U.K., France, Germany, Australia and Canada have also committed themselves to take part in it.
On the diplomatic and political fronts, in the time I have been prime minister, I cannot recall a situation that has commanded so quickly such a powerful coalition of support _ not just from those countries directly involved in military action but from many others in all parts of the world.
That coalition has strengthened, not weakened, in the 26 days since the atrocity occurred. This is no small measure due to the statesmanship of President Bush.
The world understands that whilst of course there are dangers in acting as we are, the dangers of inaction are far, far greater _ the threat of further such outrages, the threats to our economies, the threat to the stability of the world.
INDEX: INTERNATIONAL POLITICS DEFENCE
The text of an address by Prime Minister Jean Chretien on Sunday following the U.S. air strikes in Afghanistan:
On Sept. 11, 2001, Canada and the world looked on in shock and disbelief as the deadliest terrorist attack in history was carried out against thousands of defenceless victims in New York and Washington.
This was an act of premeditated murder on a massive scale with no possible justification or explanation _ an attack not just on our closest friend and partner, the United States, but against the values and the way of life of all free and civilized people around the world.
From the moment of the attack, I have been in close communication with President George Bush who has been a symbol to the world of calm, courage, resolve and wisdom. I told him that Canada stands shoulder to shoulder with him and the American people. We are part of an unprecedented coalition of nations that has come together to fight the threat of terrorism. A coalition that will act on a broad front that includes military humanitarian, diplomatic, financial, legislative and domestic security initiatives.
I have made it clear from the very beginning that Canada would be part of this coalition every step of the way.
On Friday evening, the United States asked Canada to make certain contributions as part of an international military coalition against international terrorism.
I immediately instructed our minister of national defence to agree. Yesterday, I met with the chief of the national defence staff to confirm the type of role that Canada was being asked to play. And shortly before noon today, I confirmed to President Bush in a telephone conversation that we would provide the military support requested.
Just after noon, I instructed the chief of defence staff to issue a warning order to a number of units of our Armed Forces to ensure their readiness. All Canadians understand what is being asked of the men and women of our Armed Forces and their families. As always, they are ready to serve. As always, they will do Canada proud. I have spoken as well to the leaders of opposition parties. They pledged their co-operation and I thank them for it.
While I obviously will not be able to provide the Canadian people with operational information that could endanger lives, I intend to offer regular updates on our objectives and efforts. I will meet with my cabinet this week and a take-note debate will be held in Parliament on Monday of next week. We will also be introducing a series of programs and legislative steps to deal with the threat of terrorism.
I would like to thank all the Canadians who have worked around the clock to come to the aid of our American friends in their time of need. I have made clear in the days since Sept. 11 that the struggle to defeat the forces of terrorism will be a long one. We must remain strong and vigilant. We must insist on living on our terms, according to our values not on terms dictated from the shadows.
I cannot promise that the campaign against terrorism will be painless, but I can promise that it will be won.
Thank you.
INDEX: INTERNATIONAL POLITICS DEFENCE SOCIAL
For Immediate Release
CALGARY, Sunday, October 7th, 2001 - The Right Honourable Joe Clark, leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada, released the following statement today after his telephone conversation with Prime Minister Jean Chr�tien:
"At 1pm Eastern Time today, the Prime Minister contacted me in Calgary, in order to advise that strikes had begun against strategic targets in Afghanistan, in the International Coalition's fight to bring Osama bin Laden to justice. He also informed me that Canada would be taking part in those strikes, largely through the provision of communications and other support.
I expressed my appreciation to Mr. Chretien for his courtesy in calling to inform me of Canada's role in these events.
The Prime Minister also informed me that he would undertake to engage Parliamentarians in a full debate in the House of Commons as soon as Parliament resumes.
I fully support Canada's strong and active role in the International Coalition. Together we will succeed in defeating terrorism.
On behalf of the Progressive Conservative Party, and myself, I want to state our support, appreciation and high regard for our men and women of the Canadian Armed Forces who will take part in this common front in the fight for freedom and democracy."
(Terrorist-Cda-QuickFa) With BC Terrorist Cda Military, Bgt
Source: CP
Oct 7, 2001 16:50
Facts on the Canadian military:
PERSONNEL
Total: About 58,000
Army: About 22,000
Navy: About 9,000
Air Force: About 14,000
Other: Staff, administration, support, etc., about 13,000.
KEY WEAPONS SYSTEMS
Army:
_ Leopard I tanks: recently refurbished with new turrets and sights. Main armament is one 105-mm rifled cannon.
_ LAV (Light armoured vehicles): armoured personnel carrier-armoured fighting vehicles. Main armament is one 25-mm chain gun.
_ Coyote armoured reconnaissance vehicle: equipped with long range TV, infra-red and radar sensors.
_ M109 self-propelled howitzers, 155-mm gun.
_ C7 rifles, machine guns.
Air Force:
_ 80 CF-18 fighter-bombers. Some equipped to drop laser-guided bombs and fire TV-guided Maverick missiles.
_ 32 C-130 Hercules tactical transports.
Navy:
_ 12 patrol frigates armed with a 100-mm gun, various anti-ship and anti-air missiles.
_ Four Tribal-class destroyers equipped for air defence with standard missile launch cells.
_ One Victoria-class attack submarine; three more on order from Britain.
COMMAND STRUCTURE
Chief of the defence staff: Gen. Raymond Henault.
Vice-chief (head of administration): Vice-Admiral Gary Garnett.
Deputy chief (head of operations): Vice-Admiral Gary Maddison.
Chief of the maritime staff (head of the navy) Vice-Admiral Ron Buck.
Chief of the air staff (head of the air force) Lt.-Gen. Lloyd Campbell.
Chief of the land staff (head of the army): Lt.-Gen. Mike Jeffery.
MOST RECENT MILITARY ACTION (not including peacekeeping)
1999: Canada sends CF-18 fighter-bombers to the three-month NATO air campaign over Kosovo. They fly hundreds of bombing missions _ 10 per cent of the allied total _ with no casualties.
1990-1991: Canada sends three warships, a squadron of CF-18s, an aerial tanker and a field hospital to the Gulf War. There were no Canadian casualties.
1950-53: Canada sends ships and infantry to fight with United Nations forces against a North Korean invasion of South Korea. Over 30,000 Canadians served. More than 500 were killed.
MAIN ALLIANCES
NATO: Founding member. Fought in Kosovo under NATO auspices, operates 1,800-member peacekeeping mission in Bosnia-Herzegovina under NATO.
Norad: Founding member of North American Aerospace Defence Command. Deputy commander of Norad, stationed at Colorado Springs, Colo., is always a Canadian.
PEACEKEEPING
1. Bosnia-Herzegovina. NATO Stabilization Force. (1653 people).
2. Croatia. UN Mission of Observers in Prevlaka. (1 person).
3. Kosovo. UN Mission in Kosovo. (5 people).
4. Macedonia. (203 people).
5. Golan Heights. Middle East UN Disengagement Observer Force. (190 people).
6. Cyprus. UN Forces in Cyprus. (3 people).
7. Jerusalem. UN Truce Supervision Organization. (8 people).
8. Sinai. Multinational Force and Observers. (29 people).
9. Sierra Leone. UN Observer Mission. (5 people). International Military Assistance Training Team. (11 people).
10. Congo. UN Organization Mission. (6 people).
11. Ethiopia and Eritrea. United Nations Mission. (7 people).
INDEX: DEFENCE POLITICS INTERNATIONAL
