VICTORIA - NATO's future as a military alliance does not hinge on a successful mission in war-torn Afghanistan, says the Canadian chairman of the organization's high-ranking military committee.
Gen. Ray Henault said Saturday success in Afghanistan is NATO's top priority, but it's not holding the organization's future in the balance.
Henault made the comments in response to questions from reporters who suggested defence critics and analysts are saying Afghanistan will play a role in NATO's future as one of the world's major military organizations.
"I would say to you that Afghanistan is, as I've already mentioned, a very important part of how we do business and job one, but from our perspective it's not the make or break that perhaps is envisioned by people," he said.
"We need to succeed in Afghanistan," said Henault. "NATO is an important factor there. It's providing some capability and it's providing things for people there that are very important. If you look at the statistics with what we've done there in terms of the thousands of kilometres of roads that have been put in place, the millions of children that are in school."
The defence chiefs are aware that Canada is currently considering pulling its troops out of Afghanistan in 2009, said Henault, but he did not say anything about NATO's plans with regards to replacement nations or other strategies if Canada decides to withdraw its troops.
"Canada wasn't the only focus of problems in that respect," Henault said. "Understanding though that Canada is in that debate, and we're aware in NATO that Canada is discussing it's contribution and how long or in what form it might be beyond 2009."
The chiefs of defence from the 26 NATO member nations on Saturday wrapped up two days of talks that focused on planning, preparing and conducting NATO operations, he said.
As the NATO chiefs mapped strategy, about 300 peaceful, but boisterous protesters gathered outside the fenced-in hotel where the military brass were meeting.
The protesters marched to the NATO meeting hotel chanting anti-NATO slogans, but there were no signs of violence or tensions that have erupted at other world gatherings involving military and political leaders.
"I'm here to say, 'no, to NATO,' so that Canada can maintain its peaceful reputation," said Janet Hawksley.
Hawksley, 86, said she attends every anti-war protest she can, because "it's the only world we've got."
She said she wore a green leaf over her nose to protect herself naturally from the sun.
"I've got Irish skin," said Hawksley.
Despite a heavy police presence, the mood remained calm except for the arrest of an elderly naked male cyclist on the front steps of the B.C. legislature.
Protesters stood outside the hotel fence calling on the generals to come out and speak to them. At one point, a man appeared on the hotel balcony, and the protesters, believing he was a NATO general, yelled, "jump, jump."
The protesters said they wanted to deliver a summons to the NATO leaders that said they've been convicted of international war crimes, but they had no luck getting the document inside the hotel.
They chanted "bring down the generals" and "stop the NATO war machine."
They called on Prime Minister Stephen Harper to pull Canada's troops out of Afghanistan, and one of the chants called Harper and U.S. President George Bush killers.
Many of the protesters carried placards accusing NATO of using weapons filled with depleted uranium and bombs filled with highly flammable white phosphorus.
The placards showed pictures of children grotesquely deformed by uranium and other children horribly scarred by phosphorus.
Sociologist Bo Filter called on the protesters to form alliances on the Internet in an effort to force NATO to disband.
Henault said earlier the NATO alliance has not received formal notice from Ottawa that it intends to end its combat commitment as scheduled in February 2009.
The opposition Liberals and Bloc Quebecois want Canadian troops pulled out of Kandahar when the mandate of the mission expires in 2009. The NDP have long demanded an immediate withdrawal.
Henault said earlier he hopes Canada will stay because progress is being made, but added that the final decision rests with the government.
Liberal Leader Stephane Dion said Canada should stand by its commitment in Afghanistan, but make it clear it is going home in February 2009.
Dion has said he will bring a motion into the House of Commons setting Feb. 9, 2009 as the firm end to Canada's combat role.
Defence Minister Peter MacKay has said the government wants a vote in the Commons, adding that Dion wasn't big on Commons approval when he was part of the former Liberal government.
One Victoria protester said the show of force Saturday against NATO will do little to change the minds of the military leaders.
"I don't think this is really useful except as a feel good for the people who are here," said the women who only provided her first name, Emily.
"They're obviously fencing us off. They're not listening," said the 26-year-old from California. "They're just going to keep on doing what they're doing."
