Mackay Believes Taliban isn't getting stronger

Jersay

House Member
Dec 1, 2005
4,837
2
38
Independent Palestine
KABUL (CP) - Restoring democracy and a semblance of normal life in Afghanistan may take longer than anticipated, Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay admitted Wednesday after a two-day trip to the war-shattered country.

MacKay also questioned reports of growing instability in the south, saying increased bombings may be the result of coalition forces moving into formerly Taliban-controlled areas.

After meeting Wednesday with Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Foreign Minister Rangeen Spanta, MacKay acknowledged he's returning to Canada with a message of caution about efforts to rebuild the country.

"With all the achievements that we have seen, there is a need for a longer-term plan and a commitment," MacKay said.

"We recognize that it is going to take perhaps a longer period of time than was first envisioned."

Canada's commitment of troops to Afghanistan runs out in February 2007. Afghan officials such as the governor of Kandahar province, where almost all of the 2,300 Canadian troops in the country are based, pressed MacKay to keep the soldiers on the ground longer, perhaps for years.

Although the subject came up with Karzai, MacKay said specific time frames were not discussed.

MacKay also urged patience with Canada's involvement in economic aid.

Although Canada's commitment of $100 million in development assistance to Afghanistan makes it the country's largest donor, the military presence in the south dwarfs that of civilian development workers. Camp Nathan Smith, home of the provincial reconstruction team, houses only a handful of workers from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and other non-military workers.

"All the wheels are in the right place and they're turning," said MacKay. "They may not turn as quickly as some people would like. There is a certain degree of patience required."

Taliban activity has been increasing in Afghanistan's southern provinces. Coalition commanders acknowledge an increase in the number of suicide and roadside bombers, and observers say the Taliban have been moving more freely in the rural areas.

Still, MacKay disputed the assertion that the increased violence suggests the Taliban are gaining ground or growing bolder.

"I would disagree that things are unstable in the south," he said. "You're going to see more insurgents at various times. It will ebb and flow like the tide."

MacKay suggested that the reason there have been more attacks in recent weeks is that coalition forces are moving more strongly into areas that were once controlled by the Taliban. The British are in the process of moving more than 3,000 soldiers into Helmand province, immediately to the west of Kandahar, and the Dutch are taking control of Uruzgan to the north, where no coalition troops have previously been stationed.

"Sometimes the increase in insurgency is the recognition that the Taliban may be on the run and we are moving into territories that they are feeling more threatened," MacKay said.

Earlier in the day, MacKay visited a school in Kabul partly funded by $13,500 from CIDA, designed to create alternatives for children whose only previous livelihood was found on the streets.

The Aschiana School, one of six in Afghanistan, teaches about 100 children from age six to 18 in subjects ranging from reading and writing to health and English. The school also offers vocational training, including courses on plumbing, embroidery, art and music.

"We're not going to save them all, but every little drop fills the bucket," said Sigrid de Jong, the school's acting director.

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Mogz

Council Member
Jan 26, 2006
1,254
1
38
Edmonton
RE: Mackay Believes Talib

They really aren't. Bolder yes, stronger no. They're no where at the levels that they were in 2001/2002 when the war was in full swing. They took a beating once they withdrew to the cave systems, especially during Operation Anaconda where over 400 Taliban militants were killed as opposed to the 8 coalition soldiers. Superior training and equipment have led the coalition to obtain the upper hand in every aspect in Afghanistan. The mistake Al-qaeda made in attacking the U.S. was to not factor in NATO. As a result they brought against themselves some of the most highly trained and well equipped fighting men on the planet.
 

FiveParadox

Governor General
Dec 20, 2005
5,875
43
48
Vancouver, BC
Re: Strength of the Taliban

Given the apathy of so many citizens of Canada toward the intervention taking place in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, I would hope, for our sakes, that the Taliban are not making gains in any respect whatsoever. I am counting on Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition to block the attempts of the Bloc Québécois and the New Democratic Party of Canada to compromise the commitment of Canada to this mission.