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Our proud history of
peacekeeping
Thursday, May 26, 2005
Re: Proudly Keeping The Peace, Norman Hillmer,
May 24; The Myth of Peacekeeping, letter to the editor, May 25.
After carefully reading both the article and follow-up
letter, it seems that Prof. Hillmer has been accused of saying thing he clearly did not. Prof. Hillmer indicates that Lester
Pearson won the 1957 Nobel Peace Prize for his invention of
peacekeeping but "he did not do so alone." And it is a fact that
over the years, Canada has been one of the greatest contributors to UN and
non-UN peacekeeping missions and has saved countless thousands of lives in
the process.
I served at the Canadian mission to the UN for six years
in the 1980s and never then or since heard "most major players" use
it as an excuse for anything. Certainly others would like us to be more
active but accolades come Canada's way every time the word "peacekeeping" is
mentioned.
Prof. Hillmer quite rightly points out that "effective
peacekeeping is the byproduct of a highly professional and well-trained
military prepared for any contingency." It is just that professionalism
in general-purpose combat that makes our military men and women such good
peacekeeping.
Mr. Henry should cease his carping about one of Canada's greatest international accomplishments and recognize
that our participation in peacekeeping and other conflict resolution
undertakings is helping to make the world a more peaceful, stable and secure
place.
Alex Morrison, founding president, The Pearson Peacekeeping Centre, Halifax.
© National Post
2005
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