Afghanistan: Canadians in Action

[Stan]

OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canada will pull its 2,500 troops out of Afghanistan early next year unless NATO sends in significant reinforcements...

The minority Conservative government wants the soldiers to stay beyond their current withdrawal date of February 2009 but in another potential threat to the mission, the main opposition Liberal Party expressed doubts about the idea of an extension.

Harper, who is exasperated at the refusal of many other NATO nations to commit more troops to Afghanistan, said the Alliance's failure to provide enough forces meant the whole future of the organization was under serious threat.

Harper said he accepted the recommendations of an independent panel which last week urged Canada to end its mission in the southern city of Kandahar unless NATO provided an extra 1,000 troops and Ottawa obtained helicopters and aerial reconnaissance vehicles.

"Both of those recommendations will have to be fulfilled or Canada will not proceed with the mission in Afghanistan. We believe these are essential to our success."

More at the link

[Jedburgh]

Canadian Army Journal, Winter '08:

Canadian Armour in Afghanistan

Learning on the Run: Company Level Counterinsurgency in Afghanistan

Learning from the Seven Soviet Wars: Lessons for Canada in Afghanistan

A Comprehensive Approach to Stability: The Strategic Advisory Team in Afghanistan

[Jedburgh]

Legion Magazine, 2 Apr 08: The Afghanistan Commitment

It is decision time for Canada’s political and military leaders. And it is no easy question they have to answer. Indeed, it is a decision that could cost many lives. The question is this: what role will Canada next take on in NATO’s effort to stabilize Afghanistan?

With the end of Canada’s three-year commitment to its leading role in Kandahar province coming up in early 2009, Ottawa has in recent months been buzzing with debate about what should happen next.

While there are many options—everything from continuing the current combat role to complete withdrawal—the most often mentioned new role is one focused on the softer side of the mission, particularly the delivery of aid, reconstruction and the training of Afghan forces.....

[davidbfpo]

Came across this concise explanation of the Canadian-Afghan role around Kandahar, with open source mapping overlay: http://www.snappingturtle.net/flit/a...11.html#006414

Note the article revolves around leaving a strongpoint - due to resupply problems, nothing by road and no helicopters.

davidbfpo

[frank]

The Canadian helicopter shortage is a direct result of the former socialist government that gave away the Chinooks and dissolved the tactical helicopter transport unit just to make points with it's core voters. Now the force struggles to rebuild tactical helicopter assets. The 214's flying where a political decision. by the above mentioned government (Liberals under Chretien), because the plant is in Quebec, he is from Quebec....well, you get the idea.

[milnews.ca]

...to make up for my delinquency:

1) Canada's latest fallen - two military engineers:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/can...1aUfeePNoMTinQ
- were killed by a (second) IED while securing the area following another (first) IED blast

2) How Canadian special forces are helping fight the IED fight:
http://www.thestar.com/printArticle/665009
http://toyoufromfailinghands.blogspo...in-afstan.html
http://milnewsca.wordpress.com/2009/...uicide-bomber/

3) Commentary on how Canadian public support for the mission could have been higher now if more politicians communicated more about the "why":
http://www.canada.com/news/History+b...370/story.html
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/674568

4) From davidbfpo's spotted blogger, BruceR (a former OMLT trainer/mentor with the Canadian Forces), some interesting insights re: why growing and deploying the ANA isn't working as planned:
http://www.snappingturtle.net/flit/a...02.html#006459
http://www.snappingturtle.net/flit/a...31.html#006485
http://www.snappingturtle.net/flit/a...31.html#006486

5) Canadian and US Officers' Paper on UAVs Over K'har: "The key to successful employment of the UAV is the relationships formed between UAV pilots and the ground personnel directing the aerial surveillance and strikes performed by the aircraft, articulation of priorities, and building and sharing a detailed intelligence picture."

6) My assessment (humble crystal balling, really) of the wording of the Parliamentary Motion regarding the future of Canada's mission in AFG (motion wording mentions being out of KANDAHAR by end of 2011, not out of AFGHANISTAN):
http://milnewsca.wordpress.com/2009/...r-or-afg-2011/

[milnews.ca]

1) One wounded warrior returns to the fight, while another moves on into the civilian world to continue advocating for the wounded.

2) Canadian counter-IED team sets up web page here to get information to and from soldiers.

3) Canada's latest quarterly report on the mission in Afghanistan is out (and my haiku summary of the initial coverage).

4) Newest Canadian Ambassador to AFG and Representative of Canada in Kandahar (ROCK) settling into new posts.

5) Canada is making it a bit easier for Afghans who have helped Canadians in Kandahar move to Canada (but only until 2011).

6) Given all the range of statements made by Canadian politicians, my own humble triangulation (aka Wild Ass Guess) of what Canada's mission in AFG could look like post-2011.