Afstan: How to make the NATO mission work

A general message I have received from Alain Pellerin, Executive Director, Conference of Defence Associations:

I have recently returned from a one week fact finding/familiarization visit in Kandahar and Kabul, at the invitation of the Chief of Defence Staff, and as a representative of the Conference of Defence Associations (CDA). I came away with a feeling of immense pride in the men and women of the CF, both regular and reserve forces. They are doing an outstanding job in trying to stabilize and rebuild a country devastated by 25 years of warfare, they have a sense of purpose, they believe in the mission and have confidence in their leaders and equipment. They are the best this nation can offer and they have paid a high price.

I believe the NATO forces in the southern provinces are pointing in the right direction as far as the provision of security is concerned. The big problem in Kandahar and the southern provinces is that there are not enough NATO boots on the ground. In my view, at least two more strong battle groups [my emphasis - MC] are required in Kandahar and Helmand provinces.

The next six to twelve months will be crucial for the NATO Afghan mission particularly in the southern provinces but also in Kabul. Time is of the essence and the Allies need to do more. The NATO summit in Latvia will address the matter, hopefully NATO allies will answer the call.

To further the debate about Afghanistan here at home, the CDA draws your attention to a couple of media appearances.

First, on October 25, 2006, the CDA’s senior defence analyst, Colonel (ret’d) Brian MacDonald appeared on the TVO program, The Agenda to discuss the situation in Afghanistan, and the need for more boots on the ground. We invite you to listen to the interview online, at the following link:

http://www.tvo.org/cfmx/tvoorg/theagenda/index.cfm?page_id=7&bpn=279022&ts=2006-10-25%2020:00:00.0#381

Second, for those of you in the Ottawa area, the CDA invites you to attend a CBC-run forum taking place on Thursday November 9, 2006 at 19:00 hrs at the Federal Studies Centre at 1495 Heron Road in Ottawa (East of Bank Street on the North side of Heron Road). The forum, entitled "What Are We Fighting For?", will be hosted by Kathleen Petty, and will be heard on “The House”, at 0900 hours(Ottawa time) on Saturday, November 11, 2006. The aim of the forum is to look at what Canada's goal is in Afghanistan, and how will we measure whether or not we've accomplished that goal. Aside from myself, the panelists will be:

·Cheshmak Farhoumand-Sims, a professor at St.Paul's University in Ottawa,

·Malu Hamidi, an Afghan-Canadian Doctor who has established a small hospital and school in a remote barren location on an extended trip to Afghanistan.

·Ted Menzies is Parlimentary Secretary to the Minister of International Cooperation.

·John McCallum, former Minister of Defence and of Veterans Affairs, currently an Associate Member on the National Defence committee.

·Alexa McDonough, former Leader of the NDP, currently on the Committee for Foreign Affairs and International Development and an Associate Member of the Committee for Veterans Affairs.

It promises to be an interesting debate, and we encourage those who support the mission in Afghanistan to attend, to help ensure a balance of opinion. For those of you unable to attend, we hope you tune in.

Finally, we draw to your attention an op/ed piece by General (ret’d) Paul Manson, President of the CDA Institute,entitled “NDP Attack on Afghan Mission lacks Credibility”, published in the latest issue of Frontline, in which he examines the NDP stance on Afghanistan.

The article can be accessed through the following link:

http://www.frontline-global.com/Manson_2006.pdf

We at the CDA strongly support Canada’s efforts in Afghanistan, and honour those men and women, soldiers and diplomats, who have given their lives for our country.

We remember, too, the sacrifices made by Canadians serving this great nation throughout the 20th and into the 21st centuries, and the CDA will honour them on November 11.

"At the going down of the sun

And in the morning,

We will remember them."

Alain Pellerin

Executive Director

(613)235-1252