World

Canada's departure from Afghanistan would hurt mission - Adviser

by albertacowpoke | August 12, 2009 at 05:33 am

110 views | 24 Recommendations | 2 comments

Canada has been in Afghanistan since the onset of the War on Terror early 2002. During that time frame Canada has gathered experience and know how on dealings with the people of Afghanistan.

Canada's Parliament has voted to end Canada's military mission in 2011. This is supported by the people of Canada, who are increasingly weary of the mission.

A counter-insurgency adviser to General Stanley McChrystal has remarked that Canada's departure would seriously undermine operations in Afghanistan.

The problem is not the troop levels, but more so the lost experience and continuity that Canada brings to this mission. Khandahar is one of the most dangerous places in Afghanistan.

Experts feel that many of the caveats have to be removed from operations of other NATO nations.

Canadians have had a long standing reputation as excellent peacekeepers. This experience brings valuable lessons to dealing with local populations. Although Afghanistan is not peacekeeping it provides Canadian troops with the necessary tools to win the hearts and minds of the local population.

Canada has recently been involved in several major operations to move into towns, purge it of insurgents, and remove weapons caches. This has hampered the Taliban, as the tools for making IEDs, suicide vests and roadside bombs have been removed.

It is anticipated that the pressure to have Canada remain in Afghanistan will mount as we move towards 2011. What will the Canadian Parliament do. It is relatively clear how the NDP and the BLOC will vote. What will the Conservatives and Liberals do? Michael Ignatieff has indicated that he supports the involvement in Afghanistan.

Let's hope we don't succumb to the pressure.

OTTAWA -- A Canadian departure from Kandahar in 2011 would seriously undermine NATO's war in Afghanistan, said a U.S. counter-insurgency expert, who served as a special adviser to the alliance's new ground commander, Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal.

The withdrawal of a small number of troops is not as big an issue as the loss of experience and credibility with local Afghans in what has become the most important battleground in the war-torn country, said Anthony Cordesman.

"It isn't simply a matter of troop levels," Cordesman, of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, said in an interview with The Canadian Press.

"It's a matter of experience continuity; having shaped the security presence in one of the most critical provinces in the country. And so would a Canadian departure seriously hurt NATO? The answer at least this point seems to be: Yes."