Reassess Strategy?

I recently received a care package from my parents, inside was the best morale booster of all, my mom’s homemade fudge and Rockets…I love them candies! But inside the box was a Daily News Paper from 7 March. It was noticeable immediately because Cpl Kevin Megeney stood smiling out at me from the cover, with “We’re so very, very proud” as the major headline.

As I read through the paper I flipped through the Editorial section, then came across a letter by Mr. John van Gurp from Halifax. His letter was entitled “Reassess Strategy”. Mr van Gurp comes to his point immediately – “Through the government’s misguided military aggression, support for insurgency is the only option for many Afghans.” The article goes on to end with “Canada needs to adopt policies that will win trust and confidence in Afghanistan and must end U.S.-style blind aggression before the challenges become insurmountable.” Reading such comments dishearten me, as it is a shame to see the nobility of our action in Afghanistan be trivialized down to an assumed political puppetry assimilation, and poor leadership.
Before the Canadian’s and coalition military involvement there were two options for Afghans, brutal conformity or death. There is now a greater force than religious extremist tyranny in Afghanistan and it is in the form of well-guided and restrained military action. This has created a third option, hope and the development of trust.

I guarantee Mr. van Gurp and his compatriots that there are no better soldiers in this theatre at winning hearts and minds than Canadians. Our entire focus is centred on policies to support the initiatives and actions of a fledgling democratic government. There is no such concept as blind aggression with regards to our military action and to state so is an insult to each and every single soldier in this theatre. Extensive planning, and legal, political, economic, and tactical consideration guide every military action, regardless of size or objective.

The letter states after describing conditions in local hospitals, “This callous disregard for ordinary citizens, coupled with crushing poverty and growing resentment of coalition troops, is a perfect recruiting environment for Taliban forces.” Recently, a Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED) in Kandahar City struck a Canadian convoy; the vehicles they were in protected the Canadian soldiers. The children in the street were not protected, and the measures taken trying to save these children should make commentators like Mr van Gurp blush with shame. And if you still doubt, be aware that the death of these children was met with a universal and deep sadness, regret, and a hardened resolve to rid this country of the real enemy who would perform such despicable acts of selfishness.

Mr. Van Gurp wrote, “Canada needs to urgently reassess our strategy. We need ongoing humanitarian aid, economic development and the establishment of functioning health-care and education systems to win the hearts and minds of ordinary citizens.” These two sentences are in direct opposition to one another, because that is our strategy. However, this development, and campaign of hearts and minds is not an immediately quantifiable goal. It does take time to build something from nothing. As we work diligently to provide a sense of normalcy to the country, we cannot compare the end result immediately to Western standards that just is not fair to all parties involved, and will set an unrealistic goal in the short-term.

The one thing seemingly forgotten is that there is a cunning, and insidious enemy in this country (who do come from other countries as Afghanistan is the front line for Islamic extremists) who has no regard for human life whatsoever; an aggressive enemy that will use children as a leverage and shield. They use brutal methods of intimidation and coercion that requires incredible bravery from citizens just to live with, let alone rebel against.
As our brave young soldiers go out into the countryside to declare our presence, be face-to-face with community and religious leaders, building and forging trust through dogged determination and consistency there is a looming darkness in every single moment. In an instant that smiling man can wield an axe or detonate himself or his vehicle in an effort to kill, maim, and destroy; in an effort to kill civilians, children, soldiers, leaders, and to destroy the Canadian public’s resolve and faith in its soldiers and their leadership.

When I read letters such as Mr. Van Gurp’s I liken it to being in a car with teenagers. You may be on a long car trip to somewhere nice and beautiful; a veritable paradise, imagine you decide to drive to Disney World from Halifax NS. It is a long trip with many ways to get there, and you don’t have everything you need when you left, and having to make some of it up as you go.
Then from the backseat you hear “I’m bored.” - “are we there yet?” And as the trip continues maybe through some rough patches you hear “This is stupid” - “You went the wrong way” distracting you from driving. Everyone wants to be there right now with absolutely no regard or concern for how long it takes to get there. These are great kids, these teenagers; the people you live for and do everything for but as smart as they are they may not totally understand the world around them.

This is a one-way trip; there is no going back. We have set a journey in motion that must be carried out. This military action in support of a democratically elected government that needs us and wants us is historic and monumental. We as Canadians and as a coalition are in the midst of changes that will define an entire generation of Afghans, and Canadians. The success and strength of our country was created over hundreds of years with no real enemy seeking to undermine our forward progression, I do not comprehend how we build Afghanistan into something similar in twelve months.

Bottom line in simple terms, the Canadians in this country are your brothers, sisters, mothers and daughters and of course your sons and fathers; some of them are diplomats, humanitarians, social workers and leaders. Although this mission requires a “Team Canada” approach, we wear one uniform, we are soldiers, and there is an enemy standing in the way, and sometimes the best way to win the hearts and minds of the local population is to eliminate this enemy, permanently. We are committed to achieving the measurable goals of the “Afghanistan Compact” to accelerate development, increasing security, tackling the drug trade and strengthening governance by identifying three critical and interdependent “pillars” of activity: security; governance, the rule of law and human rights; and economic and social development.

In closing I would like to assure Mr. Van Gurp and those who share his concerns that we are here to achieve your goals—Canada’s goals. With diligence, dedication, and understanding we will achieve our aims, we will reach our destination.

For reference, the original Letter to the Editor which appeared in the 7 March 07 Halifax Daily News has been included in this post.

Reassess strategy

To the editor:

Last week we learned of yet another innocent Afghan killed by Canadian
soldiers. Through the government’s misguided military aggression, support for
insurgency is the only option for many Afghans. Each incident results in a
further erosion of the reputation of coalition forces and an increase in the
strength of the Taliban.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s approach, through trigger-happy Gen. Rick
Hillier, ignores all the lessons learned in regional counter-insurgency
experiences.

Afghanistan is rapidly becoming the main recruitment centre for Taliban
fighters. Canada’s approach is making already impoverished Afghans feel
alienated and hostile toward the international community.

According to the Senlis Council’s recent report, NATO makes no effort to
provide health care to civilians, and the main hospitals in Kandahar and Helmand
provinces remain “dilapidated, barren and filthy,” and lack “basic war zone
trauma treatment, medical diagnostic equipment, medicines, oxygen and trained
staff.”

This callous disregard for ordinary citizens, coupled with crushing poverty
and growing resentment of coalition troops, is a perfect recruiting environment
for Taliban forces. Canada needs to urgently reassess our strategy. We need
ongoing humanitarian aid, economic development and the establishment of
functioning health-care and education systems to win the hearts and minds of
ordinary citizens.

Canada needs to adopt policies that will win trust and confidence in
Afghanistan and must end U.S.-style blind aggression before the challenges
become insurmountable.

John van Gurp
Halifax