More on why combat help is needed at Kandahar

Further to this post, Lt.-Gen. Michel Gauthier expands on the case again:

Canada's efforts to bring stability and peace to Kandahar would be much further ahead if it had more troops, the general in charge of the military's overseas operations has told Canwest News.

Lt.-Gen. Michel Gauthier, chief of the Canadian Forces expeditionary command, said yesterday the "pace of progress" has been limited by too few troops on the ground in Kandahar -- the most violent province in Afghanistan -- where Canada has 2,500 soldiers and the Taliban insurgency has been most intense.

Lt.-Gen. Gauthier's comments echo those of other NATO commanders, as the alliance faces broader shortfalls of up to 7,500 troops throughout Afghanistan. Prime Minister Stephen Harper has threatened to withdraw Canada's troops next year unless NATO can find an additional 1,000 soldiers to share the burden in Kandahar.

"We've been relatively limited in what we've been able to do with the number of troops that we've had available," Lt.-Gen. Gauthier said in an interview.

"I've said all along that we will do what we can with what we have. That simply means that you get to the finish line or you get to the end state more slowly than you would if you had more troops."..

But Lt.-Gen. Gauthier said extra troops on the ground are crucial to help coalition forces "clear and hold" tough areas. Canada had to fight last year to retake Taliban strongholds in the Panjwaii and Zhari districts that they had previously won.

Lt.-Gen. Gauthier said Afghan police outposts, with Canadian assistance, are helping hold that re-won ground.

"The 'hold' element of this is particularly challenging," Lt.-Gen. Gauthier explained. "To hold ground, to make it secure enough, to give the locals and to give international organizations a sense of confidence that it's safe for them to work to make the lives of Afghans better."

Lt.-Gen. Gauthier said the core recommendation of the Manley panel -- one country, preferably, with 1,000 troops to partner with Canada in the south -- is "being worked hard at all levels."