Afghan Army Dropout Rate Poses 'Challenge' to Canada's Exit Strategy

[tekisui]

Source: Brandon Sun

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan - They are supposed to be our exit strategy.

But the latest Canadian government quarterly assessment raises concern about the number of soldiers leaving the Afghan National Army, which is expected to take over security in key Kandahar districts by next summer.

Although the high attrition rate among Afghan soldiers has always bothered Canadian and NATO mentors, the challenge of recruiting, training and keeping those soldiers has started to weigh more heavily as Canada prepares to wind up its military mission in Afghanistan in 2011.

The report, released late Wednesday in Ottawa, said the benchmark of a capable security force "continues to be challenged by issues relating to attrition, retention and recruiting."

Another battalion, or kandak, of Afghan soldiers under Canadian guidance has reached its top-tier status. That makes two battalion-sized units ready to go, but the report said they're undermanned and the ranks looked thin last fall.

more: http://www.brandonsun.com/story.php?story_id=191173

[HeresyLives]

1. Another govt fiction down the drain.

The 'Afghan Army' is never going to 'take over' from us. Just leave and be done with it.

[unhappycamper]

2. I don't care how much our 'leaders' wish for the 'coalition' to 'win' in Afghanistan.

It ain't gonna happen. I'm surprised that Canada doesn't recognize that.

[HeresyLives]

4. Canada does, our rightwing govt doesn't.

Or at least didn't until awhile ago. That's why we're leaving in 2011, or so they say now.

[jody]

3. If Afghan citizens don't want to fight, then why are U.S. troops dying & being maimed & traumatized

for life?