Fighting ISIS: Prime Minister Harper has announced a one-year extension to the bombing campaign in Iraq, and an expansion into Syria. He says it's necessary to stop a brutal force, and to keep the battle from coming to Canada's shores. The opposition parties disagree. They question the legality and say Canada should only provide humanitarian support. What do you think?

INTRODUCTION

This week the government announced it plans to extend the bombing mission in Iraq a year ....and expand it into Syria.

There is no decision more difficult than the one that sends Canada's forces into harm' s way. Six months ago the government made that move as it agreed to join an international mission to oppose ISIS in Iraq. The bloody and brutal advance of ISIS through Iraq replete with beheadings, enslavement and ethnic cleansing shocked the world. Sixty nations felt the need to do something ...anything to help.

Canada sent six jet fighters along with support staff and equipment as well as a small group of 69 special forces. The opposition parties were not keen to see Canada going in with the intention of bombing. Opposition leader Thomas Mulcair said the mission would inevitably lead to a wider conflict that would kill more civilians than if Canada did not join the battle. Liberal leader Justin Trudeau said while the West should oppose ISIS, Canada should concentrate on humanitarian support.

The opposition is even less keen now that the mission is being both extended and expanded. They raise questions about the legality of bombing Syria without permission. They want more specifics on the goals and objectives of Canada's expanding role there. The original intent as stated by Prime Minster Stephen Harper was to "significantly degrade" the capacity of ISIS, and they feel that is too open-ended.

We want to know what you think?

Does a force as ruthless and brutal as ISIS require speedy resolute action? Is Canada right to jump in ...if not who?

Do you see ISIS as a threat that demands Western military intervention? Should that help go beyond an aerial bombing campaign? Is expanding into Syria a game-changer that raises a whole new set of concerns? Do you worry that this is a fight that will not be won quickly? Do you think such an active role will invite retaliation here at home? What should be done when people in other parts of the world face such a brutal force?

Our question today: "What's your reaction to the expansion of the mission against ISIS?"

I'm Rex Murphy ...on CBC Radio One ...and on Sirius XM, satellite radio channel 169 ...this is Cross Country Checkup.

GUESTS

Jason Kenney

Minister of National Defence and Minister for Multiculturalism.

Twitter: @jkenney

Paul Dewar

NDP MP, Ottawa Centre & Critic, Foreign Affairs

Twitter: @PaulDewar

Bessma Momani

Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Waterloo and the Balsillie School of International Affairs in Canada. She is Senior Fellow at the Centre For International Governance and Innovation (CIGI) an international think-tank in Waterloo, Canada.

Twitter: @b_momani

Houchang Hassan-Yari

Professor of Comparative Politics and International Relations (military and strategic issues) at Royal Military College of Canada.

LINKS

CBC.ca

National Post

Globe and Mail

Macleans

Toronto Star



Chronicle Herald

Centre for International Policy Studies

Policy Options



The Atlantic

TWITTER & EMAIL

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