No plan to increase Iraq mission size: Kenney

The government i sn’t planning to increase the number of special forces advisers in Iraq, Defence Minister Jason Kenney said Wednesday while sidestepping questions about a tweet some allege was intentionally misleading and intended to bolster support for the mission.

The Citizen reported this week that military officers are expecting the government to extend the war against the Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL, past April, and that an expansion of the special forces training contribution is possible.

But Kenney poured cold water on those prospects during an appearance before the Commons defence committee Wednesday, saying: “We certainly have no intention of increasing the number of ( special operations troops) in the region.”

Canada deployed 69 commandos to northern Iraq in September to help train Kurdish forces in their fight against Islamic State. One of those soldiers, Sgt. Andrew Doiron, was killed and three more injured when the Kurds opened fire on them near the front lines in a friendly fire incident Friday night.

Kenney said the government is not anticipating more casualties, but he added the advisory mission isn’t without risk.

The six- month advisory mission and Canada’s involvement in the U. S.- led bombing campaign against Islamic State are scheduled to expire on April 7. Kenney said the government has not decided whether to renew the mission, but he promised MPs will be asked to vote on an extension if it is proposed.

Meanwhile, Kenney was unapologetic after tweeting a picture he suggested was of Muslim women put in chains by the Islamic State, but which was actually from a ceremony that re- enacts the persecution of the Prophet Muhammad’s family.

During the committee appearance, Kenney was asked about the photo amid opposition suggestions that such a tweet was unbecoming of a Canadian defence minister.

“Shouldn’t the public of Canada really expect when a minister of Defence communicates ( by Twitter), that it will be based in reality, not on the basis of some mistaken understanding of what’s going on in other parts of the world?” NDP defence critic Jack Harris asked.

“Should the minister of National Defence not ensure that communications such as on social media are accurate?” Kenney replied. “Absolutely.”

But rather than apologize, Kenney instead listed the numerous ways in which Islamic State has trampled and violated the rights of women, children and religious minorities in Iraq, Syria and the surrounding region.

We certainly have no intention of increasing the number of ( special operations troops) in the region.