Canada to send 200 more troops to Afghanistan: Emerson

[daleo]

KANDAHAR — Kandahar needs a significant increase in foreign troops, but Canada will contribute only 200 more soldiers later this year, Foreign Affairs Minister David Emerson says.

Mr. Emerson's whirlwind trip to Afghanistan over the last two days stood out from previous visits by Canadian dignitaries in that he avoided major gaffes; while his predecessors were mocked for flashy photo opportunities or upbeat statements that appeared out of touch with the reality of rising violence in Kandahar, Mr. Emerson took a more sober approach to his first experience in the war zone.

His statement about increasing the number of troops in the Afghan mission to 2,700 from 2,500 was the only new information offered during the visit, but the increase has been widely expected after Canada announced it would be sending helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles to Afghanistan in the coming months. New equipment usually requires extra personnel.

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