www.cdfai.org Summer 2010 ARTICLES IN THIS ISSUE About CDFAI Message from the Editor-in-Chief David Bercuson Page 5 Profile CDFAI is a think tank pursuing Afghanistan: Out of Sight…? authoritative research and factual By Derek Burney comprehensive analysis to Page 6 ensure Canada has a respected Derek Burney voice in the international arena. The Failing Greek Economy Senior Fellow By Barry Cooper Background Page 8 A charitable organization, founded in 2001, CDFAI develops and Access to Information and the Harper Government disseminates materials and By Sharon Hobson carries out activities to promote Page 10 understanding by the Canadian public of national defence and Democracy Promotion — Conservative Style foreign affairs issues. We are By David Pratt Page 12 developing a body of knowledge David Pratt to be used for Canadian policy Senior Fellow development, media analysis and Addressing the Detainee Issue: Modernizing educational support. Our the Geneva Convention on the Treatment of network of distinguished Prisoners of War By Rob Huebert Canadian Fellows supports CDFAI Page 15 by authoring research and policy papers. China, America and World Leadership By Alexander Moens Mission Statement Page 18 To be a catalyst for innovative Canadian global engagement. A Different Take on National and Global Security By Hugh Segal Page 20 Hugh Segal Senior Fellow “Back to Basics?” Canada and the “New NATO Strategic Concept”, from Afghanistan to the Arctic By Stéphane Roussel and Samir Battiss Page 23 Page 2 Thank you to our Supporters... Editor-in-Chief: Crew Brief: David Bercuson The Dispatch is the official Program Director, CDFAI communiqué of the Canadian Defence & Foreign Affairs Assistant Editor: Institute. Comments and Sarah Magee subscription requests are welcome Program Coordinator, CDFAI and should be sent to: [email protected] Design: Lynn Arsenault 1600-530 8th Avenue SW Administrative Coordinator, CDFAI Calgary, AB T2P 3S8 (403) 231-7624 THE QUARTERLY REVIEW Page 3 WWW.CDFAI.ORG Article Summaries from the Assistant Editor Afghanistan: Out of Sight...? Derek Burney examines Canada’s role in Afghanistan, noting that without further debate and direction on what our future role should be the Canadian public will continue to lose trust in the value and importance of our presence in Afghanistan. The Failing Greek Economy Barry Cooper investigates the reasons for the economic decline of Greece, and its place in the European Union, by discussing the relative value of currency and how countries can extend their influence through this. Access to Information and the Harper Government Sharon Hobson probes the public’s access to information from the government with regards to military matters. She concludes that all her inquiries were answered in a ‘consistent manner’ — vaguely and without specifics. Democracy Promotion — Conservative Style David Pratt investigates the Conservative Government’s pledge for democratic reform in the 2008 Throne Speech and concludes that the Harper Government has dawdled, thus passing up an opportunity to be a leader in democracy promotion at home and abroad. Addressing the Detainee Issue: Modernizing the Geneva Convention on the Treatment of Prisoners of War The Afghan detainee debate has become a topic of great debate in Canada. Rob Huebert investigates the options that Canada has with regards to detaining Prisoners of War and what options we should consider in the future. China, America and World Leadership Alexander Moens investigates the rise of China and its potential to surpass the United States as the worlds primary superpower. A Different Take on National and Global Security Hugh Segal explores the need for Canada to pursue a more ‘linked-up’ framework for strategic doctrine that not only includes a well funded, equipped and trained military, but investment in foreign aid to increase stability in at risk nations. “Back to Basics?” Canada and the “New NATO Strategic Concept”, from Afghanistan to the Arctic Stéphane Roussel and Samir Battiss discuss the changing nature of the NATO alliance and what Canada can do to make sure its national interests are heard. Visit us on the web: www.cdfai.org WWW.CDFAI.ORG Page 4 CDFAI ADVISORY COUNCIL DENIS STAIRS — CHAIR PERRIN BEATTY Dennis Stairs is Professor Emeritus in Political Perrin Beatty is currently the President and CEO of Science and a Faculty Fellow in the Centre for the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and former Foreign Policy Studies, Dalhousie University. He Minister of National Defence. specializes in Canadian foreign and defence policy, Canada-US relations and similar subjects. BOB FOWLER JOCELYN COULON Bob Fowler is currently a Senior Fellow at the University of Ottawa’s Graduate School of Public Jocelyn Coulon has been a visiting Fellow with the and International Affairs. He had a distinguished 38 Research Group in International Security (REGIS) year public service career in which he served as at the Université de Montréal’s Centre for Foreign Policy Advisor to Prime Ministers Trudeau, International Research and Studies (CERIUM) Turner and Mulroney, as the Deputy Minister of since 2004. He is a member of the International National Defence, and as Canada’s longest serving Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS). Ambassador to the United States. PETER HARDER JACK GRANATSTEIN J.L. Granatstein is one of Canada’s most Peter Harder is currently a Senior Policy Advisor for distinguished historians focusing on 20th Century Fraser Milner Casgrain and a former Deputy Minister Canadian national history. of Foreign Affairs. GENERAL (RET’D) RAY HENAULT DAN HAYS Dan Hays has been a member of the Macleod General Henault has a long and distinguished career Dixon law firm since his call to the Bar in 1966. He with the Canadian Forces and is the longest-serving is the current Chair of the firm and has been active 4-Star General in CF History. From June 2001 to in different practice areas, most recently in February 2005, Gen. Henault served as Chief of the corporate, commercial and international Defence Staff, a period marked by the highest operations. He was appointed to the Senate of operational tempo for the Canadian Forces in 50 Canada by Prime Minister Trudeau in 1984 and years including those generated by the terrorist retired from the Senate in 2007. attacks of September 11, 2001. SHARON HOBSON DON MACNAMARA Sharon Hobson has been the Canadian Don Macnamara is a specialist in national and correspondent for Jane’s Defence Weekly since international security affairs and strategic April 1985. For the past decade she has also been intelligence analysis and teaches on the Queen’s a regular contributor to Jane’s Navy International Public Executive Program and at the Canadian and Jane’s International Defense Review. She is Forces College in Toronto. also the 2004 recipient of the Ross Munro Media Award. ELINOR SLOAN DAVID PRATT Elinor Sloan is Associate Professor of International The Honourable David Pratt, P.C. is currently a Relations in the Department of Political Science at consultant. He is the former Advisor to the Carleton University, specializing in U.S., Canadian, Secretary General and Special Ambassador for the and NATO security and defence policy. She is also Canadian Red Cross and former Minister of a former defence analyst with Canada’s Department National Defence. of National Defence. THE QUARTERLY REVIEW Page 5 WWW.CDFAI.ORG Message from the Editor-in-Chief Written by: Canadians ought to be used to this strange method of communication from the Canadian Forces. It is, David Bercuson after all, one of the few ways that the Chiefs of the Air Staff, Maritime Staff and Land Staff can speak directly to the public – but at the same time not In the second week of May, the speaking directly – to level with them about how navy suddenly announced that underfunded they are. There is simply no real half its fleet of Maritime Coastal chance in Canada that any military leader is going to Defence Vessels (MCDV) speak up when his (or her) service is in trouble would be retired, three on the without losing his/her career. That is the way east coast and three on the west coast, due to Canada’s Parliamentary system works and it does shortages of funds and sailors, mainly reservists, to not matter which party is in power. A year and a half man the ships. From the way the news suddenly ago the Chief of the Land Staff actually laid out the appeared in mid-week, in broad daylight and not late desperate straits the army was in during early 2009 on a Friday afternoon, it was very apparent that the to the Senate Committee on National Security and announcement had come from the navy itself and not Defence, but effectively withdrew his remarks several from the Minister of National Defence. months later after the government announced a billion+ purchase of new and better LAV-type There was an immediate public protest from the vehicles – a purchase that was subsequently premier of Nova Scotia who claimed he had not been shelved. consulted by Peter MacKay who is, after all, not only MND but also the minister who is politically No government wants Canada’s military leaders to responsible for Nova Scotia. Not 36 hours went by come clean with Canadians but this government’s before the Chief of the Defence Staff withdrew the tight control of virtually any defence information, even announcement and ensured all and sundry that all how far a program to purchase fixed-wing search and the MCDVs would continue to patrol Canadian rescue aircraft, has made the matter far worse than coastal waters for the time being. Obviously he too at anytime in the last decade or so. Watch for the was bypassed when the navy broke its news. imminent cancellation of the Snowbirds – again. This is not the first time the navy has made a sudden announcement that its presence in Canadian coastal David Bercuson is the Director of Programs at CDFAI, the Director waters would be slashed due to funding cuts.