Will new U.S. commander make a difference?
Published Wednesday July 8th, 2009
The next few months will give the first signs of whether more U.S. troops and a new American commander in Afghanistan will make a marked difference over the long term in the war-torn country.
June was highlighted by the arrival of Gen. Stanley McChrystal, a four-star general, as the new commander of U.S. and NATO troops in Afghanistan.
It's hoped McChrystal, who has extensive experience in special operations, will be able to use his expertise to turn the tide in what has become an increasingly violent eight-year war.
A recent Associated Press report from the region suggests a huge increase in insurgent attacks - 400 during the first week of June, compared to 50 a week in January 2004.
According to NATO figures, the use of roadside bombs by Taliban insurgents last year rose by 30 per cent.
More than 30 Canadians died in Afghanistan in 2008, including three soldiers from The Second Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment (2RCR) from CFB Gagetown, mostly by improvised explosive devices or roadside bombs.
McChrystal replaces Gen. David McKiernan, who, according to media reports, was fired by U.S. Defence Secretary Robert Gates about halfway through his two-year posting.
The new general will have more than 80,000 troops under his command - 56,000 from the U.S. and another 32,000 from a mix of other countries, including Canada.
This country has more than 2,800 soldiers in Afghanistan under the leadership of Brig.-Gen. Jonathan Vance, a former commander of the 2RCR.
The increase of U.S. troops into the troubled region is receiving a thumbs up from Canada's Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Walt Natynczyk.
During a recent stopover at Canadian Forces Base Gagetown, he described the build up as significant.
"As we have said for some time, there are insufficient troops on the ground, insignificant boots on the ground to accurately advance this campaign as we need to," Natynczyk said.
"That call went out to all NATO countries, and several NATO countries are, in fact, responding (with) the United States clearly putting in the majority of the troops."
The chief of defence staff also likes what he sees happening on the other side of the border with the Pakistan military's ongoing battles with the Taliban insurgency in the country's volatile northwest.
The offensive is being strongly supported by the U.S. in hope that it will lead to increased stability in Pakistan, while helping to eliminate al-Qaida and Taliban networks that frequently use the border region to attack NATO troops in Afghanistan.
"We need to do the engagement with the Pakistan military, we need to enhance the Afghan military and the Afghan police capacity inside Afghanistan to address their issues." Natynczyk said.
"We have to help the government of Afghanistan take control of their country and we have to provide jobs for Afghans in order for them to have the hope to move peace and security along in their own country."
Cam Ross, a retired major-general and now senior military adviser for Calgary-based EnCana Corp., and former Gagetown commander, said earlier this year that he expects the added U.S. troops will make a huge difference.
"U.S. commanders are extremely good at the art of war," Ross said. "I am not saying that the Brits, Dutch, Germans and whoever else aren't, but you are more likely to get a more seasoned U.S. commander.
"Secondly, and arguably more importantly, you've got a vested interest when you've got a U.S. commander with a lot of U.S. troops available. Then you have the whole resources of the United States."
If international forces are going to make a lasting difference in the region, their goals have to be accomplished without dreadfully impacting the civilian population.
There have been too many mistakes during the counterinsurgency.
That's why the next few months will be vital if the NATO mission in Afghanistan is going to succeed beyond the short-term.
Michael Staples covers the military for The Daily Gleaner. He can be reached at staples.michael@dailygleaner.com.
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