Steve Staples at a demonstration of the C-130J at CANSEC in 2006

Rideau Institute President Steve Staples has asked the Department of National Defence to include him on the next stakeholders’ tour of the Canadian mission in Afghanistan. DND has organized several tours of the Afghanistan mission for Canadian academics, defence lobbyists, journalists, and other “opinion leaders”, but rarely (if ever?) have these tours included prominent critics of the mission.

In his request, Staples wrote that “Participation in a tour would contribute to my research and allow me to acquire a deeper and more nuanced understanding of this complex military conflict, while gaining a more personal appreciation of the challenges, concerns and dangers facing the members of the CF and DND.”

No word yet from DND on the government’s response.