Posted on 02/02/2006 8:13:46 PM PST by Straight Vermonter
OTTAWA (CP) - Canada's new mission in the perilous southern region of Afghanistan will be dangerous, with no guarantees that everyone will come home safely, says the man in charge of the force.
Brig.-Gen. David Fraser, who will lead 2,200 soldiers into the Kandahar region this month, says their training and equipment will reduce the risks. But in a province where suicide bombers and roadside booby traps are part of the landscape, the threat remains high.
"This is a dangerous mission, this is a dangerous environment," Fraser said. "We can mitigate the risk, but I can't reduce the risk to zero."
Fraser normally commands the 1st Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group based in Edmonton. The backbone of his Afghanistan force is based on the 1st battalion of the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, also from Edmonton.
Since Canada first sent troops to Afghanistan in February 2002, eight soldiers have been killed. Diplomat Glyn Berry was killed by terrorist bomb in Kandahar last month, an attack that also wounded three Canadian soldiers.
Fraser said his troops are well trained and have all the equipment they need, including LAV III armoured vehicles and new artillery howitzers that can fire so-called smart shells.
He is to take command of a NATO multinational brigade in Kandahar this summer, with 4,000 more soldiers from six other countries.
The general said Operation Archer, as his mission is known, is aimed at helping the Afghans rebuild their country, which has been battered by years of war.
Canadian soldiers and aid workers in the provincial reconstruction team will help rebuild roads and schools. The soldiers will provide the security to let people resume normal lives.
Fraser wants his soldiers to befriend ordinary people.
"Every Canadian in the task force has a responsibility to go find an Afghan to mentor . . . and help them to help themselves."
Omar Samad, Afghanistan's ambassador to Canada, said that is a good idea.
"It is very important for all foreign security forces in Afghanistan to engage not only with the Afghan government institutions . . . but also with average Afghans, whether they are teachers or whether they are business men or whether they are students.
"It is, we think, very important to keep the relationships strong."
Samad said the vast majority of the Afghani people welcome the foreign soldiers because they know they are helping provide the security and stability the country needs.
He said things have been relatively peaceful around the capital, Kabul, partly because of the presence of foreign troops. He hopes the same holds true in the south.
The region lies close to the Iraqi border and infiltration points which insurgents use to bring in men, weapons and explosives.
Fraser said the priority is to help rebuild the country, but his people are prepared for combat if it comes to that.
"We're ready for the fight if the fight comes to us," he said.
It won't just be defensive work. Fraser said that he plans to work with the Afghani army to root out insurgents on the 200,000-square kilometres that are his responsibility.
"Can I take the offensive? Yes."
He said it will be a tough job to secure the region, to nurture a new police force, to encourage people to resume normal lives. But without that effort, Afghanistan could revert to being a failed state harbouring terrorists.
"I'm confident we're going to win this.
About 6,000 Canadian soldiers have rotated through Afghanistan since 2002, not counting the latest contingent. Canada has also pledged $616 million in aid through 2009, the country's biggest single international aid contribution.
Canada has promised at least two six-month rotations of troops for Operation Archer, although an international conference in London this week said NATO should be prepared to stay in Afghanistan through the end of 2010.
Speaking to the conference, Peter Harder, Canada's deputy minister of foreign affairs said the country is committed to rescuing Afghanistan.
"We are moving forward, together, with full appreciation of the difficulties that lie ahead, ever mindful of the costs already paid," he said. "The tragic losses that Afghans, Canadians and our international partners have suffered will not dissuade us.
"This struggle for stability is not a choice."
ping
I'm proud of our northern neighbor.
Canada Ping!
Please FReepmail me to get on or off this Canada ping list.
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I have a good friend from Quebec City, Patrick, who is there. I'm praying for him and all the soldiers.
"I have a good friend from Quebec City, Patrick, who is there. I'm praying for him and all the soldiers."
God bless all the brave soldiers who are there to help the people of that country. I work with numerous Afghans and I can say without a doubt that every one of these people are grateful for the brave soldiers who have brought freedom from tyranny.
http://www.sfu.ca/casr/101-c9mm.htm
http://www.sfu.ca/casr/101-c9mmsig.htm
The Inglis is pulled when you're SOL and you're out of ammo for C6-9, McMillan Tac-50 etc...
Canadian Rangers still sport .303 No4 MkI Enfields... but they seem to like them.
US Forces have the same complaints with the M9...
Canadian troops prepared for battle
Canada has an army?
Gotta say, I've NEVER heard that one before. </sarcasm>
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