generalspeaking

Of Frank Necessity

Finally, a responsive and responsible summing-up of Canada's position and purpose in Afghanistan. Written by Senator Pamela Wallin whose service on the Foreign Affairs Committee and as Deputy Chair of the defence and national security committee, along with her experience as a member of the Independent Panel on Canada's role in Afghanistan have positioned her well to write compellingly of the matter at hand.

That there was an expressed apprehension by experts in the field that a new American surge in producing additional boots on the ground would provoke and amplify Taliban resurgence. Allied casualties in even greater numbers would result. By-passing the reality of the context, that in response to an increased presence and activity by the Taliban, an even greater response would be experienced through the allied forces, in squashing the Taliban offensive.

Ms. Wallin goes to lengths to point out the idea-indebtedness of U.S. General Stanley McChrystal to Canada's troops having paved the way in their template presentation of 'hearts and minds' activities in Kandahar province. Where Canadians, for the past eight years have made great strides in assisting millions of young girls to attend school through an atmosphere of entitlement to normalcy. And where micro-finance sponsored by Canadians enables war widows to work to support themselves and their families.

Where seven million children have been vaccinated, and a greater proportion of the population now has at least some access to basic health care. Canadians are invested in assisting the country to build a huge dam for the supply of potable water. We are also assisting in the training of the national police, mentoring a free media, and public servants working in civil institutions, along with the fledgling democratic-led (albeit imperfectly), Islamic-tinctured judiciary.

None of which can possibly take place safely and reliably, nor forge ahead to greater success without security. To which end Canadian troops, despite their relatively small numbers have deployed in groups of 100 to set themselves up in "platoon houses", living on site in villages to ensure security once the Taliban have been routed. To ensure that their return is not readily accomplished, thus offering a good measure of security to the locals.

Representing interaction with the populace, and connection with the local population at the most basic of circumstances, encouragement and protection levels. Sharing the problems, in essence, of the population. Hoping to secure their trust. There are no guarantees in this world, and certainly not in areas as fraught with the potential for distrust and misunderstanding as Afghanistan, wearied of their long history of the intervention on their territory of foreign troops.

A treasury-full of funding has gone into the country from foreign administrators, hoping against hope that the country can be turned into a self-protecting, well-functioning nation at least partially resembling a democracy promising fulfillment and opportunities for all its people. Canada has disproportionately lost too many of our military personnel in the process, and other countries too have seen similar sacrifices.

We are aghast at the loss of life, the wanton destruction of vital infrastructure by the Taliban who themselves take advantage of any modern conveniences that they may, in their mountain strongholds, but deny those advantages and anything reflecting Western custom to the people of Afghanistan. The gruesome targeting of teachers and students, and women is compelling reason to try to continue helping to guide the country toward reasoned sovereignty.

The very real problems of endemic corruption, social and traditional and tribal suspicions and violations of basic human rights, the oppression of the vulnerable, the current government's inability to govern adequately are fearsome. The reality of corruption infesting the entire government apparatus, the business community, the police, and any process of local government action sours the imagination.

But neither Canada nor its allied partners, most significantly the United States, have much option but to forbear from giving up all hope. Resolve is required to continue the collective commitment to furnish the country with the institutions it requires to bring it to some working level of modernity so its people can aspire toward a better future.

To become a reliable bulwark against fanaticism.

Labels: Canada-US Relations, Conflict, World Crises

posted by Pieface @ Monday, November 02, 2009