On February 26 Canadian Prime Minister Stephen J Harper announced additional funding for aid in Afghanistan. In his speech Prime Minister Harper pointed out that global security hinges on success in Afghanistan:

- If we fail in Afghanistan, if that country relapses into anarchy and once again becomes a haven for extremists and terrorists, the world will be manifestly more dangerous. Afghanistan is the front line of the international security challenge of the modern, post-Cold War world, said Prime Minister Harper.

The full text of Prime Minister Harper's speech: PMHarperAfghanistan.pdf