Colonel urges patience on Afghanistan mission: Knowledge Driven Revolution

Related - "One would suggest that the fight is the last vestiges of the hold that the Taliban continue to exert over parts of Afghanistan."

Related - Britain 'risking defeat in Afghanistan'

Related - Troops will be in Afghanistan for next 20 years, says commander

Canada's mission to Afghanistan is making progress despite continuing violence but Canadians need to be patient because the process of creating a stable country will take years, a military officer told a parliamentary committee on Monday.

Canadian Forces Col. Mike Capstick, who spent a year in the Kabul working with the Afghan government, told the Commons defence committee that Canada is helping make a difference to Afghanistan.

"Somewhere around 75 per cent of the country is relatively stable and secure. And it's stable and secure enough for development to occur. Of course, incidents occur — suicide bombers here and there," Capstick said.

The ongoing insurgency facing Canadian troops in southern Afghanistan, he said, can be beaten but not quickly.

"If it's to be successful, the international community is going to have to be involved for a long time," he said.

Canada has more than 2,000 troops in Afghanistan, with the majority in southern Afghanistan. Forty-two Canadian soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan since Canada first sent troops there in early 2002.

The Canadian mission involves a combination of troops on the ground, an embassy in Kabul and developmental projects that include the building of schools, clinics, wells, roads and bridges. Canada has committed to spending nearly $1 billion over 10 years on reconstruction, reducing poverty and illiteracy and strengthening the government in Afghanistan.

Canadian troops recently took part in a military offensive, called Operation Medusa, to root out the Taliban in two volatile districts west of Kandahar. NATO deemed the operation a success, but suicide bombers continue to attack Canadian troops with alarming frequency.

Despite Capstick's assurances, some opposition MPs on the committee had questions.

"There's no question that if you want to have a peaceful, prosperous, stable Afghanistan, it's going to take a long time. The question is: Can we get there?" said Liberal defence critic Ujjal Dosanjh.

Capstick acknowledged that it will take years before Canada will be able to say the mission is accomplished. And he said more international aid is needed to accomplish the task of creating a stable, peaceful Afghanistan.

"This is one very tough place to try and rebuild," he said.

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HOME Canadians Should Pay NOT to be Poisoned: NDP V for Vendetta - R for Reality Canadian Bird Flu Pandemic Looming ? Shill of the Week: Stephan Harper Aspartame: The Sweetest Killer Chicken Little Terrorist of the Week: Creating Fake Terrorists Shill of the Week: Paul Martin The Number 1 Reason YOU became a Slave	Colonel urges patience on Afghanistan mission CBC News October 25, 2006 Related - "One would suggest that the fight is the last vestiges of the hold that the Taliban continue to exert over parts of Afghanistan." Related - Britain 'risking defeat in Afghanistan' Related - Troops will be in Afghanistan for next 20 years, says commander Canada's mission to Afghanistan is making progress despite continuing violence but Canadians need to be patient because the process of creating a stable country will take years, a military officer told a parliamentary committee on Monday. Canadian Forces Col. Mike Capstick, who spent a year in the Kabul working with the Afghan government, told the Commons defence committee that Canada is helping make a difference to Afghanistan. "Somewhere around 75 per cent of the country is relatively stable and secure. And it's stable and secure enough for development to occur. Of course, incidents occur — suicide bombers here and there," Capstick said. The ongoing insurgency facing Canadian troops in southern Afghanistan, he said, can be beaten but not quickly. "If it's to be successful, the international community is going to have to be involved for a long time," he said. Canada has more than 2,000 troops in Afghanistan, with the majority in southern Afghanistan. Forty-two Canadian soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan since Canada first sent troops there in early 2002. The Canadian mission involves a combination of troops on the ground, an embassy in Kabul and developmental projects that include the building of schools, clinics, wells, roads and bridges. Canada has committed to spending nearly $1 billion over 10 years on reconstruction, reducing poverty and illiteracy and strengthening the government in Afghanistan. Canadian troops recently took part in a military offensive, called Operation Medusa, to root out the Taliban in two volatile districts west of Kandahar. NATO deemed the operation a success, but suicide bombers continue to attack Canadian troops with alarming frequency. Despite Capstick's assurances, some opposition MPs on the committee had questions. "There's no question that if you want to have a peaceful, prosperous, stable Afghanistan, it's going to take a long time. The question is: Can we get there?" said Liberal defence critic Ujjal Dosanjh. Capstick acknowledged that it will take years before Canada will be able to say the mission is accomplished. And he said more international aid is needed to accomplish the task of creating a stable, peaceful Afghanistan. "This is one very tough place to try and rebuild," he said. Read the full article here Broken Link? If the link to the original article is broken or has been altered you can view the article by clicking here. About KDR \| \| Home \| \| Weekly Features Archive	Weekly Features Archive
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