From canada.com: “‘I can tell you from the senior Canadian in this headquarters that I have been asked on several occasions by AFCENT (United States Air Forces Central) and CENTCOM (Central Command), `How can we get Canadian F-18s into the game over here?” said Maj.-Gen. Duff Sullivan. ‘And I’ve told them that that is a political decision back in Canada . . .'”

“‘Whenever our troops are in trouble and taking casualties, every single time they call for air support — armed overwatch — that is what the Canadian F-18s would do,’ Sullivan said, noting that Canada alone among the allies contributes combat ground forces in Afghanistan without also providing close air support.”