Mission creep

Gordon O'Connor still can't be bothered to inform Canadians about Canada's military goals, mandate and exit strategy in Afghanistan. But not satisfied with that state of uncertainty, he wants to spread the undefined combat mission into Pakistan as well:

Canadian soldiers should join local forces fighting Taliban insurgents inside Pakistan, Defence Minister Gordon O'Connor says, making a tentative first attempt at raising the explosive issue of foreign troops trespassing on Pakistani territory.

Mr. O'Connor held meetings with several military and intelligence officials in Islamabad yesterday in which he urged his counterparts to step up their actions against the insurgents who emerge from hideouts in Pakistan to attack Canadian troops in southern Afghanistan.

"Among other things, I suggested that some Pakistan officers be stationed with our troops in Kandahar and Canadian troops be stationed on the Pakistan side," Mr. O'Connor said afterward, in an interview with Associated Press of Pakistan.

Considering that the least implausible justification for Canada continue any combat involvement in Afghanistan is to try to bring some stability to a country which may not yet be capable of providing such stability itself, it has to be a significant change for the mission to spill over into a state which undoubtedly has the ability (though perhaps not the desire) to keep effective control over its own terrain. And the importance of the change isn't limited to Canada either: as noted by the article, there's understandably something less than total enthusiasm for any foreign military presence within Pakistan.

Which would seem to make the issue one which should require substantial debate in Canada before getting pushed abroad. But by making his pitch to Pakistan first without discussion at home, O'Connor has perhaps irreparably altered the framework of interaction between the Con government and Pakistan. And if it's too late to avoid the predictable backlash in Pakistan arising out of the request alone (let alone any actual Canadian troop presence), then there may be all the more reason to instead get Canadian troops out of combat in the region altogether.

Update: And here comes O'Connor's attempt to parse his way out of the mess by saying he never specifically referred to "stand-alone" Canadian presence in Pakistan.

(Edit: typo.)