OTTAWA - Romanian troops are preparing to replace Canada's ground troops in Afghanistan, who may be withdrawn because the Canadian Forces are stretched too thin to replace them.
Romania will send 485 soldiers to Afghanistan to take over from the Canadian battalion group now operating in Kandahar, Romanian military officials said in a statement issued in Bucharest.
The replacements could be in Afghanistan as early as July 15, a Romanian government representative said yesterday.
Senior Canadian Forces officials are expected to inform the government that because of other commitments at home and around the world, the military cannot continue supporting the mission in Afghanistan.
The federal Cabinet could still ignore that advice and keep the 880 members of Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry in Kandahar or send another contingent of soldiers there after the Romanians finish their mission.
Sub-Lieutenant Pierrette LeDrew, a spokeswoman for the Canadian Forces, said yesterday that no decision has been made on whether the Canadian soldiers will return home. "We don't have anything on that at this point."
The government has already reduced Canada's overall deployment to the war on terrorism by almost 1,000 troops over the past three months.
The Canadian Forces yesterday withdrew a long-range Airbus supply plane and its supporting detachment. The number of Canadian warships deployed to the theatre has been cut to three from the six that were sent last fall.
The current Canadian force is 1,931 troops, including soldiers, sailors and airmen and women, said Brigadier-General Michel Gauthier, the overall Canadian task force commander based at the coalition Central Command in Tampa, Fla.
Leon Benoit, the Canadian Alliance defence critic, said the government has likely cut back the deployment because the underfunded military is at the breaking point and was unable to sustain the earlier large numbers.
"They're downsizing the operation, and I think it's because they don't have the people," Mr. Benoit said.
General Raymond Henault, the Chief of Defence Staff, acknowledged yesterday all branches of the Canadian Forces must frequently juggle staff to complete units that are being deployed overseas.
"Part of it is the vacancies that we have, and we have been on a very aggressive recruiting and retention campaign," he said.
But Gen. Henault said 11,000 people have joined up in a recruitment drive over the past year. He said patriotism and a sense of adventure have spurred recruits since Sept. 11 and the beginning of the campaign in Afghanistan.
"It has exceeded our expectations," he said.
In Afghanistan, Lieutenant Colonel Pat Stogran, commander of the Canadian ground troops, has suggested his soldiers could stay on after their six-month tour ends in July. He said they should be prepared, if necessary, to continue their mission until the end of the year.
But the Romanians have already begun training to take over the duties handled by the Canadians. The Romanian contingent will consist of an infantry battalion of 405 soldiers, a 70-member nuclear, biological and chemical warfare company and 10 liaison and staff officers.
Romania is keen to contribute to the U.S.-led war on terrorism to enhance its bid to join NATO. The Romanian parliament approved the commitment to Afghanistan on April 30.
Gen. Gauthier and other Defence Department officials said yesterday the military has submitted recommendations and options to Art Eggleton, the Minister of Defence , about the future of the Canadian ground troops.
It is now up to the Prime Minister and Cabinet to decide whether the PPCLI battle group will be replaced when its six-month tour expires. The government could also decide to extend their stay for a short period and then end Canada's role in the ground offensive against al-Qaeda and Taliban terrorists.
Mr. Eggleton has admitted it would be difficult to deploy a new rotation of troops to Afghanistan without reducing Canada's peacekeeping commitments to the Balkans and other regions.
Renée Filiatrault, a spokeswoman for the Defence Minister, said the government will announce a decision "soon."
The Canadian military has warned in recent weeks that it is stretched dangerously thin. Besides the troops in Afghanistan, another 1,700 are serving in Bosnia. As well, the military will need 5,000 personnel to provide security for the G8 summit in Kananaskis, Alta., on June 26-27.
Gen. Henault has indicated members of Canada's commando unit, Joint Task Force Two, will remain in Afghanistan for the foreseeable future. A new rotation of the commandos is expected to take place, but no numbers or further information was given.
However, there have been concerns inside the military that JTF2 might also be stretched thin. The unit, based just outside Ottawa, is preparing to follow through on federal government orders to double its size to 600 troops.
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