why is canada involved in the military intervention in libya?

[sorite39]

Unlike the UK&france,who have a direct trade business over the suez canal.
Canada always keeps his head down,i m just wondering how he would benefit from this military operation,or just simply for humanitarian,also whether this mission is comparable with the depolyment in afghanistan.
Thanks.

 

[Feros Ferio]

Unlike the UK&france,who have a direct trade business over the suez canal.
Canada always keeps his head down,i m just wondering how he would benefit from this military operation,or just simply for humanitarian,also whether this mission is comparable with the depolyment in afghanistan.
Thanks.

I think it is comparable to the deployment in Afghanistan in so far as it is a conflict that our allies are have decided to enter, and Canada has a long standing history of supporting our allies when we feel the cause is just. Had Gaddafi kept his rhetoric a little more toned down, Canada may not have joined its allies in the whole venture. For example, he goes on air and says he's going to "massacre all the rats". Now, Canada is one of those nations that professes to be against the massacre of civilians. Based on what was going on, Gaddafi really didn't give anyone reason to think he was joking. If our allies are ready to stand against this, then certainly we must, or we lose political capital on multiple fronts. So there really was no choice but to throw our weight behind the no fly zone.
:fly

 

[riksavage]

I think it is comparable to the deployment in Afghanistan in so far as it is a conflict that our allies are have decided to enter, and Canada has a long standing history of supporting our allies when we feel the cause is just. Had Gaddafi kept his rhetoric a little more toned down, Canada may not have joined its allies in the whole venture. For example, he goes on air and says he's going to "massacre all the rats". Now, Canada is one of those nations that professes to be against the massacre of civilians. Based on what was going on, Gaddafi really didn't give anyone reason to think he was joking. If our allies are ready to stand against this, then certainly we must, or we lose political capital on multiple fronts. So there really was no choice but to throw our weight behind the no fly zone.
:fly

The Libya campaign is backed by a clear UN resolution. Canada is a strong advocate of the UN.

It sent troops to Rwanda under similar circumstances, a country with zero economic/political leverage over Canada. It's all about being a responsible world citizen fronting up to protect civilians under a UN backed resolution.