OTTAWA – Defence Minister Jason Kenney delivered a mea culpa today for his erroneous claims that Canada is the only nation outside of the United States with smart-bomb technology that’s willing to launch airstrikes in Syria.
Kenney made the statement several times last week in the House of Commons, as well as in television interviews and a media availability — but it’s not true.
The United States’ Arab allies – notably Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates – have all conducted airstrikes in Syria against the Islamic State and they all use American-made, laser-guided “smart” weapons.
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Kenney took responsibility for the mistake in the Commons today — saying he wasn’t given accurate information in military briefings.
Both Opposition Leader Tom Mulcair and Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau slammed Kenney over the smart bombs gaffe — with Mulcair saying the minister has always had “an uneasy relationship” with the truth.
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Kenney also landed in hot water last month when he tweeted a photos of Muslim girls and women covered in black and in chains — citing it as another example of ISIL brutality.
The photos were actually of a ceremonial Shia Ashura ceremony that celebrates the heroism of the prophet Mohammad’s grandson, Hussein, and his family.
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