US-led airstrikes to increase ISIL recruiting: Pundit

Press TV has conducted an interview with Anthony Hall, professor of globalization at Lethbridge University, about the US Department of Defense saying Canadian fighter jets killed dozens of Iraqi civilians in an airstrike against the Daesh terrorists in the country earlier this year.

What follows is a rough transcription of the interview.

Press TV: How deep is Canada’s involvement with this US-led air campaign against ISIL and why is it that none of the allies in this campaign ever take responsibility when civilian casualties arise?

Hall: This campaign against ISIL is the core election strategy of Stephen Harper. We are starting to gear up into a federal election campaign and this Islamophobic exploiting, political stance against ISIL both at home and abroad, Harper is really stirring up paranoia, fear, so he may very well embrace the fact that these airstrikes have taken place and we know that these airstrikes take place.

One of the things that happens is of course it increases ISIL recruiting and the western powers want ISIL to be recruiting because they want a global war on terror and so they need to manufacture terrorists and that is part of what these airstrikes accomplish.

Press TV: And the people in Canada, was their support behind Stephen Harper in this campaign?

Hall: One of the things we have to deal with is that all three parties are pretty much in line with Israeli policy, with Netanyahu Likudnik policy and that is one of the real problems in our failing Canadian democracy right now. But Justin Trudeau is running saying “no, we would not do airstrikes”.

It is going to be a political issue and this murder of civilians by Canadians, it is shameful to be Canadian and think this justification to invade Syria and overthrow the Assad government which the supposed war on ISIL is being used, a war which has the same people supporting both sides in some ways, that this is taking place in my own country, it is kind of shameful.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk