Afstan: Sen. Kenny defends his defeatism

I think the Senator's criticism of our politicians is bang-on. I also think he has over-reacted out of personal frustration and gone overboard:

There's a 'giant hush' about our mission in Afghanistan
As our forces lose ground to the Taliban, it is time to acknowledge the mission is failing

Ten days ago, I published a statement [lots of relevant links here] arguing that Canada's mission to Afghanistan is failing, and that it is time for the Canadian government to make every effort to pull troops out of harm's way and prepare to take an initiative that is always dispiriting but sometimes intelligent: retreat...

...After a long summer of reflection, I became increasingly disturbed that a national dialogue on Afghanistan has never really gotten underway.

There is a great hush in the country, as though the war weren't going on. My sense is that Canadians very much want to honour those who have died or been injured, as well as their families, but that we don't really want to think too much about whether it all makes sense.

The Prime Minister should be leading this dialogue, but he is not. He issues the odd platitude, but is largely mute on what seems to be going so terribly wrong, and what he thinks we can do about it.

Similarly, if Michael Ignatieff – who has in the past voiced his strong belief in the role of the noble western warrior – believes that we should dig in and continue to try to play that role in Afghanistan, I would like to hear his arguments. Let the dialogue begin...

The most encouraging email came from a retired lieutenant-general who shared it with many of his military colleagues:

"The mission, the Canadian Forces, [our] capabilities and defence and security in general need to be part of the political discussion so that Canadians can choose their political leadership en connaissance de cause [understanding the issues]. For that reason ... it is good that Sen. Kenny wrote his controversial piece."

That works for me. There is very little we can do about the Canadians who have died in Afghanistan. But let's make absolutely sure that this number doesn't keep climbing for a cause that has stopped making sense.

Senator Colin Kenny is Chair of the Senate Committee on National Security and Defence.

Regarding the mute:

Calling Mr. Harper: Where are You?

Regarding failing. With the arrival of large US Army forces the position in Kandahar province's most populated areas should stabilize significantly. And if President Obama agrees considerably more should be deployed. Indeed I have it from someone well-informed that the US military are seriously considering three more battalions for Kandahar/Zabul to operate in peripheral/Pak border areas that remain under-resourced. Moreover the US has already doubled the size of ISAF forces at Helmand with US Marines (list of units here), and the US military is also considering more battalions for areas other than Kandahar.

The Senator also fails seriously to consider the Afghans (which now seems to be President Obama's position, see last link); even now many Afghans feel betrayed by our intention to withdraw in 2011.

It's important to note that Gen. McChrystal says the US/NATO only risk failure if greater efforts are not made. Sen. Kenny seems to me rather to have given up the ghost while the way ahead is still very misty, essentially depending on President Obama's decisions:

Afstan: McChryal report hits the fan/Obama changing position?