Article content continued

Nicholson and Baird wasted no time painting the so-called Islamic State as a group of bloodthirsty fanatics that, in Nicholson’s words, poses “a real and growing threat to civilization itself.”

“What we are facing here is one of the most barbaric terrorist groups the world has ever known,” Baird said. “Their world view is a direct challenge to the values of Western civilization.”

Canada and its allies cannot afford to ignore the Islamic State, the ministers added, which is why the government is providing humanitarian aid, helping transport military supplies and now deploying military advisers to help fight the militants.

“I ask that as we consider whether or how to act, we also consider what happens if we don’t act,” Baird said. “It might seem convenient to brush options off as leading to mission creep in the future. But the hard reality is that inaction is not an option.”

Nicholson confirmed the troops being deployed are from the Petawawa-based Canadian Special Operations Regiment and that they will be sent to northern Iraq to provide advice to Kurdish forces fighting the Islamist militants.

A handful of Canadian soldiers are already on the ground as an advance team to help set the stage for the rest to arrive in the near future, the minister added, and the deployment will be reassessed in 30 days to determine next steps.

But Nicholson and Baird agreed 30 days was an extremely short period of time, leaving the impression that Canadian troops will remain in Iraq past that time.