The Canadian government plans to withdraw its combat troops by 2011, feeling the loss of more than 100 troops killed in Afghanistan since 2001. About 2,500 serve there now.The looming absence of one of its closest allies has left the United States grappling with how to eliminate terror threats and government corruption in Afghanistan with its own troops already stretched thin from years in Iraq.
Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen, the top U.S. military officer, paid homage to Canada's fallen and praised the nation's Afghanistan mission during a daylong visit to Ottawa on Tuesday.
Mullen called Canadian combat forces in fghanistan «absolutely critical» but said the issue of their withdrawal did not come up during his meetings.
"The Canadian force is a great armed force and a great combat force," Mullen told reporters at an Ottawa news conference with Canada's chief of defense staff, Gen. Walt Natynczyk. «And they've made a huge difference. In the fights that we're in, having partners like this is absolutely vital.
"But it is for the government of Canada to make that decision _ not for me or anybody in my country," Mullen said.
Canada is not the only country leaving. The Netherlands also will withdraw troops over the next two years. Last month, NATO commander Gen. John Craddock predicted the global financial crisis would force other nations to scale back in the costly war against al-Qaida and efforts to stabilize Afghanistan's government.