Globe and Mail: Canada's once-lofty Afghan goals downgraded, defence files show

[tuvor]

STEVEN CHASE

From Tuesday's Globe and Mail

July 22, 2008 at 2:59 AM EDT

OTTAWA — Just 17 months ago, Canada's war planners had far more ambitious goals in mind for Afghanistan, an internal document from National Defence shows, including significantly reducing the capability of Taliban insurgents and substantially cutting poppy growing and drug trafficking.

Today, Ottawa's published goals are more modest. For instance, the Harper government's June release of refocused goals for Afghanistan sets no targets for the strength of insurgents - who are making a comeback in 2008 - or combatting drugs.

...

Those problems have only grown worse since the earlier strategy was written. Afghanistan's opium crop has increased every year for the plast six years, UN estimates say. Available data also show deteriorating security in Afghanistan, including Kandahar, in recent years. Figures compiled by Sami Kovanen, a respected security consultant at Vigilant Strategic Services Afghanistan, show this year's total insurgent attacks as of July 20 are greater in Kandahar than any other province.

Now, a key focus of the Harper government's strategy in Kandahar is turning over responsibilities for maintaining order and fighting insurgents to local army and police. The Tories said in their June statement of priorities that they plan to "maintain a more secure environment and establish law and order by building the capacity of the Afghan National Army and Police."

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http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080722.wafghan22/BNStory/Afghanistan/home

"There will be some who want to cut and run, but cutting and running is not my way and it's not the Canadian way... We don't make a commitment and then run away at the first sign of trouble. We don't and we will not, as long as I'm leading this country."

Stephen Harper, March 13, 2006
http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2006/03/13/harper_afghanistan060313.html