"Afghanistan: a volatile situation"

A useful round-up of media coverage, and more (including the Liberals' submission to the Manley panel), from the Conference of Defence Associations. Some reaction to the Liberals' submission is here.

Meanwhile, a letter of mine sent to the Toronto Star Jan. 8 and so far not published:

In her column about the US presidential race Linda McQuaig writes that "while Canadians like to think of Afghanistan as a very different war than the one in Iraq, the Republicans clearly see the two wars as simply twin parts in America's battle with radical Islam."

She also notes that the Democratic "candidates shied away from seriously critiquing the ideas behind Bush's 'war on terror'"

In fact, with regard to Afghanistan, the leading Democratic candidates--Barack Obama and Hilary Clinton--are more hawkish than our government, not to mention the Liberals, NDP and Bloc.

Mr Obama wants the US to send more troops "to re-enforce our counter-terrorism operations" and also wants European members of NATO to eliminate the caveats that prevent their forces from fighting.

Ms. Clinton has written that "our military effort must be reinforced. The Taliban cannot be allowed to regain power in Afghanistan; if they return, al Qaeda will return with them."

Just like the Republicans neither of them is shying away from the "War on Terror" in Afghanistan; indeed they want to go at it more vigourously. Should a Democrat become president Canada will still be a "junior partner" in that war. Not a bad thing I would say.'

References:
http://www.foreignaffairs.org/20071101faessay86601-p30/hillary-rodham-clinton/security-and-opportunity-for-the-twenty-first-century.html
http://www.cfr.org/publication/13974/

Update: In any event others will try and do the job that far too many Canadians do not want to--Semper Fidelis:

US to send 3,000 Marines to Afghanistan

Update: More here.

Upperdate: Looks like the Marines will be going to Helmand province:

The Marine air-ground task force will go to Helmand, where its mission will be "to beat back another spring offensive," [Pentagon spokesman] Morrell said. Fighting in Afghanistan tends to be seasonal, with a lull in winter when the weather makes travel difficult. British forces now lead the NATO command in southern Afghanistan, including Helmand...