O'Connor: 'We have to train Afghan army quickly':

[Praxius]

CTV.ca | O'Connor: 'We have to train Afghan army quickly'

Defence Minister Gordon O'Connor says by the time the 22nd Regiment, known as the Van Doos, takes over the mission in Afghanistan in August, the Canadian military will be shifting from combat to the classroom. O'Connor, appearing on CTV's Question Period Sunday, said the Van Doos will be training up to four or five battalions of the Afghan army -- about 3,000 soldiers. A small contingent from the Van Doos began arriving in Kandahar last week. Next month, there will be about 2,500 new Canadian soldiers on the ground -- 2,330 from Quebec. O'Connor's comments come after new poll numbers emerged last week suggesting Canadians' opposition to the mission is rising. Nationwide, opposition is at 59 per cent, but the total number of those opposed in Quebec remains higher at 75 per cent. O'Connor said those numbers are largely due to Canadians' lack of clear understanding of Canada's successes in Afghanistan, as well as the challenges faced there. He said there is reason to believe that the situation in Afghanistan is improving, and Canada's frontline role will soon be reduced. O'Connor said Canadian troops recently sponsored an Afghan infantry battalion, providing intense mentorship and training, and as a result the battalion is now conducting its own operations. He described it as a success that will be used as a model for training other battalions, and will eventually take pressure off the Canadians. But this could also take pressure off the Conservative government, especially in Quebec where opposition to the mission runs highest. Amir Attaran, a University of Ottawa professor with expertise on global development and governance issues, says getting the Van Doos out of harm's way is a strategic move. "The Conservatives want to make sure that nobody out of Quebec dies," Attaran told CTV News. "The Van Doos are going to be protected from casualties even if it means the war isn't won." NDP Leader Jack Layton, who has been calling for an early end to the mission, was also critical of Prime Minister Stephen Harper. "I guess Mr. Harper feels he has to beef up his public relations strategy and I think that is unfortunate," Layton said. O'Connor also renewed his call for other NATO nations to step up their involvement and allow their troops to take part in combat operations in the more volatile regions of the country. At the moment, most of the heavy lifting is being done by Canada, the U.K., the Netherlands and the United States. "It would help the situation if more NATO nations sent troops to the south and the east but we can't put all our eggs in one basket. We have to train the Afghan army as quickly as possible and that's what we're doing," O'Connor said.

Additional comments from other readers can be found at the bottom of the link above.

This is pretty contrivertial here in Canada..... Quebec is the #1 province with the most opposition to the war, and the Van Doos were just sent there (Whom are stationed in Quebec) The opposition for the war here is increasing, and I imagine that it could outbreak in Quebec into some more serious protests and demands to remove outselves from the war if they loose too many troops of their own...... (Which of course is a pretty silly mentality.... since you can't fight a war without risking death.)

The big stink is if our comanders restrict the Van Doos from leaving the Air base, then that will send a big message that it's all political. What would all the other forces and soldiers who have died or have been wounded thus far in our forces think if the Van Doos (Whom have always been known in history as strong fighters) got special treatment?

But then again, Quebec is used to making the rest of Canada tip toe around to what they like..... it'd be nice to see the government tell them to suck it up and get over it.

[GodBlessAmerica]

Quote by: Praxius CTV.ca | O'Connor: 'We have to train Afghan army quickly' Additional comments from other readers can be found at the bottom of the link above. This is pretty contrivertial here in Canada..... Quebec is the #1 province with the most opposition to the war, and the Van Doos were just sent there (Whom are stationed in Quebec) The opposition for the war here is increasing, and I imagine that it could outbreak in Quebec into some more serious protests and demands to remove outselves from the war if they loose too many troops of their own...... (Which of course is a pretty silly mentality.... since you can't fight a war without risking death.) The big stink is if our comanders restrict the Van Doos from leaving the Air base, then that will send a big message that it's all political. What would all the other forces and soldiers who have died or have been wounded thus far in our forces think if the Van Doos (Whom have always been known in history as strong fighters) got special treatment? But then again, Quebec is used to making the rest of Canada tip toe around to what they like..... it'd be nice to see the government tell them to suck it up and get over it.

Iraq has to eventually do all this themselves. but part of the difficult process is weeding out the bad guys applying for Iraqi troop and police positions. Then they have to establish salary consistency, training and they need to build their self confidence against terrorist on their own.

There have been more and more reports of Iraqis rising against Al Qaeda, so it will get done despite those who want to cut and run to leave a genocide behind for terrorist to fulfill.

[Praxius]

Quote by: GodBlessAmerica Iraq has to eventually do all this themselves. but part of the difficult process is weeding out the bad guys applying for Iraqi troop and police positions. Then they have to establish salary consistency, training and they need to build their self confidence against terrorist on their own. There have been more and more reports of Iraqis rising against Al Qaeda, so it will get done despite those who want to cut and run to leave a genocide behind for terrorist to fulfill.

I appreciate the very good points you made..... but this is an article about Afghanistan.... the other war you guys are in.

The Afghan army is having better progress then their Iraqi counterpart.... not to diss the Iraqis in this matter, their situation is a lot worse of a condition.... making it more difficult.

But the Afghan army has been helping the Canadians in a good select few of missions, I don't think it will take too long....... there's even reports of sole afghan missions sent by the government without NATO assistance, and they report the same mission information as we do.... so they're doing quite well I must say.... they just need much better equipment and more body armor.... plus a bit more training and I think they'd be very good.... they are a proud people, they've just been beaten down without a fighting chance for too long.

[GodBlessAmerica]

Quote by: Praxius I appreciate the very good points you made..... but this is an article about Afghanistan.... the other war you guys are in. The Afghan army is having better progress then their Iraqi counterpart.... not to diss the Iraqis in this matter, their situation is a lot worse of a condition.... making it more difficult. But the Afghan army has been helping the Canadians in a good select few of missions, I don't think it will take too long....... there's even reports of sole afghan missions sent by the government without NATO assistance, and they report the same mission information as we do.... so they're doing quite well I must say.... they just need much better equipment and more body armor.... plus a bit more training and I think they'd be very good.... they are a proud people, they've just been beaten down without a fighting chance for too long.

Whoops, I am so used to seeing Iraq all the time.

It is really the same answer, but the other issue is how they are so willing to plant drugs everywhere in that country.
China is screwing with us sending rockets in a little bit of a proxy war through Iran and we in return have not been breaking necks to stop all those drugs from going back to China. We also have been screwing internally with Iran since they started to screw with Iraq and helping kill our soldiers.

Lots of proxy wars going on.

Bottom line is the same as Iraq + the drug issue.
China says 90% of the illegal drugs to them come from Afghanistan.

[Pooeypants]

Quote by: GodBlessAmerica Whoops, I am so used to seeing Iraq all the time. It is really the same answer, but the other issue is how they are so willing to plant drugs everywhere in that country. China is screwing with us sending rockets in a little bit of a proxy war through Iran and we in return have not been breaking necks to stop all those drugs from going back to China. We also have been screwing internally with Iran since they started to screw with Iraq and helping kill our soldiers. Lots of proxy wars going on. Bottom line is the same as Iraq + the drug issue. China says 90% of the illegal drugs to them come from Afghanistan.

Ironically, during the Taliban's brutal rule, the drugs trade was but a percentage of what we see today. Fact is, growing those plants is profitable so what we need to do is give them a better alternate.

[Praxius]

That, and in their country, they are used to it being legal. Farmers only have opium and marijuana, etc to grow there to keep their families and communitites going unfortunatly.

[PatrickHenry]

I hope all foreign troops in Afghanistan and Iraq get their ass shot off.

Then maybe they will leave...

[rez]

Quote by: article O'Connor said Canadian troops recently sponsored an Afghan infantry battalion, providing intense mentorship and training, and as a result the battalion is now conducting its own operations.

Where can we find some success stories about the Afghan army? What about the Afghan police?

I wonder what religious faith most of the Afghan police and army hold? How many different sects of religion are within Afghanistan anyway?


I want to see the Afghan army fight Al Queda.


Training Iraqi police and army is even more of a joke. How can westerners possibly train a bunch of religious zealots to fight and kill their fellow citizens?

[Praxius]

Quote by: PatrickHenry I hope all foreign troops in Afghanistan and Iraq get their ass shot off. Then maybe they will leave...

Well apparently our forces are going ahead with this, since we are planning on pulling out in 2009 (Yup.... a country actually setting a time table of withdrawl) And we are planning on getting them up to par for protection of their own country.

Where can we find some success stories about the Afghan army? What about the Afghan police?

To help answer that question:

Afghan police 3 years from readiness: outgoing Canadian commander

It will take at least three years before Afghanistan's corruption-plagued police can stand on its own as a legitimate force, the outgoing head of Canada's military mission in Afghanistan said Monday. "It was about three years for us to get the Afghan army to the level where they are now, and it will probably take at least that long to get the police to the level where they enjoy the confidence of the people," Brig.-Gen. Tim Grant said in an interview with CBC News from Kandahar. Grant's comments come after his superiors in Ottawa appeared to contradict each other over whether the Afghan National Army was ready to shoulder the burden of fighting Taliban militants when Canada's current commitment to the NATO mission comes to an end in February 2009. "The army is doing well and the army will continue to take more and more the lead of operations," Grant said. "Police are a bigger challenge." Grant cited police officers' low pay and lack of adequate training as obstacles to the force's readiness to face the difficult circumstances of maintaining law and order in the war-torn country. "They do need a lot of help," he said. "There's no doubt about it." Tour of duty drawing to an end Grant is slated to leave Afghanistan this week after a nine-month stay and will hand the command of Canadian forces in Kandahar to Brig.-Gen. Guy Laroche, who arrived at the base on Friday. Laroche has said he hopes Afghan soldiers will take on a larger security role in Afghanistan in order to reduce Canadian casualties. Prime Minister Stephen Harper has said he'll only extend the mandate beyond February 2009 with the consensus of Parliament. Canada's chief of defence staff, Gen. Rick Hillier, said over the weekend that he wasn't so sure troops would be able to hand over much of the frontline fighting to the Afghan National Army by that time. His frank assessment appeared to contradict Defence Minister Gordon O'Connor's assertion that the Afghan forces would be ready. Sixty-six Canadian soldiers and one diplomat have died in Afghanistan since 2002. As he prepared to return to Canada, Grant expressed frustration with having to explain the mission's importance to Canadians and having to demonstrate what their countrymen and women have accomplished. "The focus always ends up being on casualties, attacks, on the military-security situation," he said. "In fact, where we're making the most difference is on reconstruction and development." He cited health care as a major area the mission has improved that Canadians should be able to appreciate. "This is a poor country, 30 years of war," he said. "It needs a lot of help to get back on track." "If I could find the magic solution to explain to Canadians how important this is, it would make me a happy man."