Bob Rae
Former interim leader of the Liberal Party of Canada
In a column for The Globe and Mail, published two days before Liberals announced they would not back airstrikes against ISIL, Rae argued the Islamic State represents a "clear and present danger" and cautioned about comparing military intervention to the 2003 Iraq war.
"There are some who quite mistakenly compare any decision to engage militarily against IS with the invasion of Iraq and the overthrow of Saddam Hussein. This is hardly the same issue. The government of Iraq has asked for military assistance. The regional government of Iraqi Kurdistan has done the same. The Kurdish, Christian, and other minorities in northern Iraq and Syria are under siege. To equate this with the invasion of Iraq over a decade ago is wrong."
READ the full column
Rae also wrote a few tweets on the Iraq crisis in advance of the Liberal announcement. Tory minister Jason Kenney retweeted them after Justin Trudeau announced his opposition to the combat mission.
Lloyd Axworthy
Former Liberal foreign affairs minister
Axworthy told CTV News in September that ISIL terrorists "have to be whacked and whacked good." He expressed his full support for a combat mission.
"If you really want to stop them, you’re going to have to give a full-court press."
A day after Liberals voted not to support ISIL airstrikes, Axworthy told The Globe and Mail he was disappointed.
"I was concerned, and I was surprised at the [Liberal] decision to be honest, because traditions and the history and the principles I think of the party were very much centred I think on this idea that part of our mandate, nationally, is to help protect innocent people," he said.
Ujjal Dosanjh
Former Liberal minister of health
Dosanjh took to social media to express his disappointment after Liberals announced they would not support a combat mission.
"For me fighting forces such as ISIS is beyond partisan politics," he wrote.
Jean Lapierre
Former Liberal transport minister
Lapierre told CJAD 800's Aaron Rand that he could not understand the Liberal decision, suggesting the party wanted Canada to be a "freeloader."
"If I was sitting in the House of Commons today, I would support the government. We cannot sit on our hands and look at the parade and tell the rest of the world, 'go and defend our freedom, go make the sacrifices of your young men and women in uniform but we're not going to do anything ourselves.' We're a bunch of cowards to act like that, in my opinion."
LISTEN: Lapierre's interview with Aaron Ran
Romeo Dallaire
Former Liberal senator, retired lieutenant-general
Dallaire told CBC Radio that he doesn't believe airstrikes will be enough in the battle against ISIS.
"I don't see how it's possible to contain ISIS without having boots on the ground," he said.
Byron Wilfert
Former Liberal MP and foreign affairs critic
Michelle Simson
Former Liberal MP
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