Soldiering and its results

Christie Blatchford of the Globe looks at the effect combat in Afstan is having on our troops--and is impressed with how they are doing (a great pity the full text is not free online):

The Canadians here -- chiefly the three companies of 1st PPCLI but including some from 2nd PPCLI, a squadron of combat engineers, a reconnaissance troop of the 12th Régiment Blindé Canadien and 1st regiment, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery -- have been shot at and shot; they have been ambushed and bombed in a variety of ways; they have killed and been killed.

It is an experience that makes them almost unique in modern Canada, a country where over the course of recent decades, by federal-government decree and arguably by national inclination, soldiering was effectively rendered a dirty word, with children in schools carefully encouraged to send Christmas letters addressed to "Dear Peacekeeper."..

The Canadian role here is genuinely equal parts governance, reconstruction and security, but it is the latter that has received the lion's share of attention, not only because 15 soldiers and one diplomat have been killed in Afghanistan since 2002, and many more than that gravely injured, but also because to many Canadians, soldiering is new and, perhaps, even a little alarming...

When I was last here, in early April, many of the soldiers I met were still keenly anticipating their first enemy contact, not unlike hockey players who after months of scrimmaging grow hungry for a proper game. A great many of them have since had their wish fulfilled, and know too well now what combat is like.

And they have learned hard truths about themselves and the nature of war, in an environment that is almost absurdly challenging...

Here are some of the results of their soldiering:

While the Taliban threat persists, Canadian soldiers have made enough progress in Kandahar province for the international community to plan new health clinics, roads and other aid projects, a top military commander says.

Hard fighting and patrolling by Canadian and Afghan troops have the Taliban on the run, allowing for a switch in priorities to reconstruction, says Lt.-Col. Ian Hope, commander of the Canadian battle group.

"In Kandahar province, the Taliban are on the defensive," Hope says. "We have been able to organize and attract large donors back ... and we are going to see in the next few months considerable sums of money being dedicated to improving economics and social infrastructure."..

This approach would seem to fit with what Afghan President Karzai thinks.

"While there is currently a mighty struggle against terrorism going on in Afghanistan, this menace cannot be defeated by military means alone," Karzai said in a speech. His comments were released by his office in Kabul on Thursday [July 6].

"We must redouble our efforts on all dimensions of the war against terrorism, go after terrorists and their sources of training [Pakistan - MC], inspiration and financing."..

Things certainly are not rosy. The Brits are doubling their number of combat troops.

SIX HUNDRED more infantry troops are to be sent to southern Afghanistan as urgent reinforcements after a month of Taleban attacks in which six British soldiers were killed...

The 600 soldiers of the Royal Irish Regiment will double the number of combat troops in Afghanistan. At present the 3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment, part of 16 Air Assault Brigade, based in Helmand province, is the only full combat unit available to take on the Taleban...