Time for Moral Leadership Address to the Canadian Council of Churches Joanna Santa Barbara McMaster University Centre for Peace Studies Physicians for Global Survival - Canada Canadian-Afghan Peace Partnership

Plan for Session Presentation Presentation Questions Questions Small groups Small groups Large group Large group Summary Summary

Timing and Context In Afghanistan In Afghanistan - Worsening situation - Worsening situation - Afghan anger - Afghan anger - Risk of collapse of government - Risk of collapse of government In Canada In Canada - doubt about Canadian role - doubt about Canadian role -discrediting of war as a means of conflict resolution -discrediting of war as a means of conflict resolution - Canadian Forces dropping peacekeeping for war-fighting - Canadian Forces dropping peacekeeping for war-fighting

Principles Christian Reject violence Reject violence Make peace Make peace Love your enemies Love your enemies Forgive Forgive Take care of people who are hungry, sick or in prison Take care of people who are hungry, sick or in prison Peace Studies Nonviolence Nonviolence Peace through dialogue Peace through dialogue Empathy for all parties Empathy for all parties Reconciliation Reconciliation Attend to basic needs and human rights Attend to basic needs and human rights

CCC’s pathway to understanding Canada’s role in Afghanistan Letter to Standing C’tees on Foreign Affairs and on National Defence Legality of war? Legality of war? Has Canada accepted Bush doctrine on ‘war on terror’? Has Canada accepted Bush doctrine on ‘war on terror’? Treatment of detainees? Treatment of detainees?

Forum on Afghanistan Jan Canada has responsibility to Afghanistan Canada has responsibility to Afghanistan ‘War on Terror’ not the right response ‘War on Terror’ not the right response Use of lethal force is undesirable Use of lethal force is undesirable Canadian Forces should protect population Canadian Forces should protect population Political dialogue needed with Taliban and with Pakistan Political dialogue needed with Taliban and with Pakistan

Draft letter, May 2007 Need for diplomacy, with insurgents, and with neighbours Need for diplomacy, with insurgents, and with neighbours Exclusion of some population groups from government Exclusion of some population groups from government Need for reconciliation processes Need for reconciliation processes Promotion of human rights, especially for detainees Promotion of human rights, especially for detainees Canadian resources for development, not for war Canadian resources for development, not for war Troops for protection not for war Troops for protection not for war

The Third Option Stop war-fighting Stop war-fighting Resume peacekeeping Resume peacekeeping Peace dialogues Peace dialogues Reconciliation Reconciliation Development assistance (not militarized) Development assistance (not militarized)

Peace Dialogues McMaster Group 2004 McMaster Group 2004 Lawrence Martin G&M 06 and 07 Lawrence Martin G&M 06 and 07 Lakdar Brahimi, UN envoy to Afghanistan, 06 Lakdar Brahimi, UN envoy to Afghanistan, 06 Najibullah Lafraie, former Foreign Minister, 06 Najibullah Lafraie, former Foreign Minister, 06 Bill Frist, US Senate Majority Leader, 06 Bill Frist, US Senate Majority Leader, 06 Chris Alexander, UN official in Afghanistan, 07 Chris Alexander, UN official in Afghanistan, 07 Gordon Smith, U Victoria, 07 Gordon Smith, U Victoria, 07 Peggy Mason, former Amb. Disarmament, 07 Peggy Mason, former Amb. Disarmament, 07 Jack Layton, May 07 Jack Layton, May 07 Afghan Senate May, 07 Afghan Senate May, 07 Canadian Public 62% Canadian Public 62%

Vicious Cycle Armed insurgency ^ l l V Militia Recruitment Counterinsurgency ^ l l V Afghan civilian anger