NDP Leader Jack Layton says Canada should pull its troops out of Afghanistan by February because the mission has gone astray.
Sniping at both Prime Minister Stephen Harper and President George W. Bush, Layton said the Afghan mission has lost its direction.
It has no clear goals, no exit strategy and no criteria to judge success, he said at a news conference Thursday.
"This is not the right mission for Canada,'' he said. "There is no balance. In particular, it lacks a comprehensive rebuilding plan and commensurate development assistance.''
The focus in Afghanistan has changed from reconstruction to open war and Canada should have no part of it, he said.
"Stephen Harper wants to take Canada in the wrong direction.''
Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay quickly brushed off Layton's proposal.
"Canada will not go back on its word to its allies and people of Afghanistan to fight terrorism and help to develop and stabilize the region,'' he said. source
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