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In reality, even with the announcement, not a single person has been able to explain why our CF-18s must be removed from the air campaign. In fact, the Liberal government’s reasoning is even more flawed given its commitment to keeping our refuelling and reconnaissance planes as part of the mission.

Let us get this straight: We must remove our CF-18s from bombing ISIL, but we can continue to fuel other countries’ planes and find targets for them so they can bomb ISIL? Such Liberal logic is totally incomprehensible.

The government claims that today’s decision is grounded in reason. What reason prevents us from helping the people of Iraq and Syria in the most practical way possible: safeguarding them from attacks by ISIL? What reason prevents us from increasing diplomatic presence, building infrastructure, and continuing an effective air campaign? We are surely capable of all three.

The answer, of course, is the entirely unreasonable fear of breaking yet another misguided campaign promise. The “reason” at play in the government’s decision is pure political pride – nothing more, nothing less.

I call on the prime minister to listen to Canadians; listen to the Kurdish people; and listen to the international community: Keep our fighter jets in the air over Iraq and Syria. Keep up the steady pressure against the barbarism that is ISIL. And keep on building Canada’s international reputation as an ally that stays in the fight when it matters most.

In refusing these reasonable requests, Mr. Trudeau will fail to confirm that “Canada is back” – only that Canada is backing away.

Hon. Rona Ambrose is the leader of the Official Opposition and interim Leader of the Conservative Party of Canada.