ANOTHER BROKEN PROMISE.

This article comments on an election promise made in Canada to increase its armed forces by 5,000 men, which has not occurred. It was a visionary election vow, cunningly crafted to appeal to our pride and idealism. Former defence minister David Pratt had planned to ask cabinet after the election to approve the extra troops. But, insiders say, the notion of a separate brigade for peacekeeping was news to him and the defence establishment. Early last month, the vice-chief of the defence staff, Vice-Admiral Ron Buck, told the Senate security committee that he still has not received the money to hire those troops. In a strange way, it's good the military has not yet recruited the troops--because the Liberals have not produced a defence policy.