Canada to provide $15 million in non-combat assistance for Iraq

Follow-Up (IraqiNews.com) On Wednesday, Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird made a surprise visit to Iraq to deliver additional financial assistance and to urge ethnic tolerance in a land strained by tensions and fighting.

A statement by the Canadian Foreign Affairs Ministry received by IraqiNews.com cited “Joined by NDP MP Paul Dewar and Liberal MP Marc Garneau, Baird met with government officials and pledged $15 million for non-lethal security gear, such as helmets, body armor and logistics support vehicles to security forces in Iraq battling ISIL fighters. It also includes $5 million to assist efforts to limit the movement of foreign fighters into Iraq and Syria.”

The statement added “Canada has been involved in supporting Kurdish fighters in their battle against the militants. Transport aircraft from the Royal Canadian Air Force have been used to shuttle humanitarian aid as well as military supplies provided by other nations to the Kurds.”

But Harper hinted that Ottawa was contemplating even further action, together with allies, to “stabilize” the situation.

He said where there is a common threat and allies are willing to act, “the general position of the government of Canada is that we’re also willing to act and prepared to play our full part.”

“We’re speaking to our allies about how we can do that, and what the best strategy is going forward,” he added.

Harper’s comments Wednesday were prompted by the murder of U.S. journalist Steven Sotloff at the hands of ISIL militants, just days after journalist James Foley was also killed by the same group.

As he did with Foley’s death, Harper expressed disgust at the killing, saying it showed again how “barbaric and brutal” the organization is. He said the high-profile deaths are just the tip of the iceberg of the abuses unfolding at the hands of the militants, the statement concluded. /End/