Andrew Leslie

Inserted 2 years ago

“To be effective in solving complex problems, interstate dispute, or war; you have diplomacy, you've got economics, you've got humanitarian support, and you have got the military. Canada has been active in diplomacy, by the way diplomacy obviously has failed because otherwise Putin wouldn't have attacked. Economic; the sanctions (are) valuable but they are not stopping the Russian battlegroups from grinding away and essentially killing Ukraine citizens. Humanitarian support is after the fact where you try to remediate the damage and the tragedy. We have done a good job at bringing refugees to Canada. I am told about 10,000 Ukrainians so far, some medical supplies. But on the military side we are lacking. For 5 years Canada did not allow Ukraine to acquire weapons from Canada. That was a conscious government decision because they were asking. And then when the push came to shove 3 days before the attack we send a couple boxes of weapons and then some old anti tank systems and then some other stuff and then now we've stopped again. As well we only have 600 troops in Europe right now and we are talking of a need of multiple thousands. So to demonstrate leadership we've got to do more. Not just in the first three areas I mentioned but also in the military side because if we don't deter Putin he may try something else.”

Cbc

Retired Canadian lieutenant-general