The Unexpected War: Canada in Kandahar is a remarkable book on how Canada ended up in Afghanistan. The book’s authors, Janice Gross Stein and Eugene Lang talk to Joseph Planta about the inside story on Canada’s involvement.

The Unexpected War: Canada in Kandahar by Janice Gross Stein and Eugene Lang. (Viking, 2007) Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: The Unexpected War

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line. This is THECOMMENTARY.CA.

A necessary and important book is out now called The Unexpected War: Canada in Kandahar. It illustrates how Canada became involved in the Afghanistan conflict. Its authors know of what they write. Janice Gross Stein and Eugene Lang join me now to discuss their book. He is a former chief of staff to two ministers of National Defence, and she is one of the country’s foremost experts on security and foreign policy. The Unexpected War, $35.00, from Viking is an insider’s account featuring candid and revealing interviews from some of the key Canadians who’ve played a part from the aftermath of September 11th up to the present day. As the conflict continues, a look at how we got there can be had in this highly recommended book.

Janice Gross Stein is the Belzberg Professor of Conflict Management, and director of the Munk Centre for International Studies at the University of Toronto. Eugene Lang is a public policy consultant and served as chief of staff to defence ministers John McCallum and Bill Graham from 2002 to 2006. He is a visiting fellow at the same Munk Centre at the University of Toronto. Eugene Lang is on the line from Ottawa this morning, while Janice Gross Stein joins us from Toronto.

Welcome both to the Planta: On the Line program. Good morning, Professor Stein; and good morning, Mr. Lang.

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