For some reason I just received in the mail a “Citizens’ Panel Survey” from the United Nations Association in Canada.  Here are the first two questions:

Please indicate the extent to which you agree with the following statements:

1. Canada should focus its partipation in peacekeeping missions around the world on those that are either UN, or UN-sanctioned, missions.

2. Canada should also continue to participate in non-UN peacekeeping missions (such as the NATO-led mission in Afghanistan)…

Apparently the association is blissfully unaware that the NATO ISAF mission has been repeatedly authorized by the UN Security Council (most Canadians still do not realize that but one would rather expect of a UN association…). The Afghan operation is hence a full UN mission; just not one organized and run by the UN itself, thank goodness.

I also wonder why the association insists on (mis)using the word “peacekeeping”; “peace operations” is now the more common generic term. Peacekeeping, if that is what it be, certainly ain’t what it used to be:

UN peacekeepers in action?

Update: Post is the basis for this in the National Post’s “Full Comment”.

Upperdate: The UNSC has renewed ISAF’s mandate yet again. Hope the association noticed.

Mark
Ottawa