Afghanistan Conflict Monitor

Ottawa Maps Out Post-Combat Role in Afghanistan

Ottawa Maps Out Post-Combat Role in Afghanistan, The Globe and Mail, 24 August 2010

EXCERPT: "The Canadian government has mapped out plans for a non-combat mission in Afghanistan after 2011 that would spend close to $600-million over three years to prevent the country from becoming a 'haven for terrorists,' declassified documents show. A spring 2010 PowerPoint presentation, stamped 'Secret, Canadian Eyes Only,' offers further evidence of how solidly committed Ottawa is to ending the military mission in Afghanistan despite pressure from allies to keep a combat force there. The presentation, obtained under an access to information request for records from Chief of Defence Staff General Walt Natynczyk’s office, quotes Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s January, 2010, pledge that Afghanistan 'will become a strictly civilian mission after 2011.' It lays out a plan for the post-military phase of Canada’s involvement in Afghanistan that concentrates on development and diplomacy, envisioning a 'modest engagement focused out of Kabul,' the capital. The document proposes 'total mission expenditures' in Afghanistan of $549-million between 2012 and 2014, adding there would be new funding required for security at Canada’s embassy in Kabul."

Read the full story.

Related articles:
Canada spurned Afghan reinforcement plea, The Canadian Press / Yahoo! News, 22 August 2010
Canadian, Dutch Commanders exchange lessons on troops' withdrawal from Afghanistan, Bernama, 21 August 2010
Canada names new top civilian in Afghanistan, CBC News, 9 August 2010

Related resource:
Canada's Engagement in Afghanistan 2011-2014, The Globe and Mail (via Scribd), 24 August 2010

Related posts:
Canada tables its eighth quarterly report on Afghanistan, 14 June 2010
Afghan deployment past 2011 possible: MPs, 3 June 2010
Keeping our promises, 14 April 2010
Don't extend Afghan mission, Canadians say: Poll, 8 April 2010
US to press for Canada to keep troops in Afghanistan, 25 March 2010

Canada Surrenders Command of Kandahar City to US Forces

Canada Surrenders Command of Kandahar City to US Forces, Vancouver Sun, 15 July 2010

EXCERPT: "After holding the Taliban at bay in Kandahar City for more than four years, Canada transferred responsibility for the war in the provincial capital to the U.S. army's 82nd Airborne Division on Thursday afternoon. With the move, Canada's footprint until its combat mission ends next July has now formally shrunk to the Panjwaii, Dand and Daman districts, to the southwest and southeast of Kandahar City. The 1 Royal Canadian Regiment battle group is only patrolling Panjwaii and a squadron from the U.S. army's 10th Mountain Division, which remains under Canadian command, is doing the same in Dand and Daman. 'This is a tactical footprint change,' Canada's Brig.-Gen. Jon Vance said. 'The military brawn is being concentrated.' But the general cautioned that 'there is a wider Canadian mission here and we will continue to support that.'"

Read the full story.

Related articles:
Afghan mission facing toughest test, Calgary Herald, 4 July 2010
Harper resolute on end of Afghanistan mission, CTV News, 1 July 2010
Afghanistan asks Canada to extend its military mission, Vancouver Sun, 1 July 2010
Water: Canada's secret ingredient for Afghan development, The Globe and Mail, 1 July 2010

Related posts:
Canada tables its eighth quarterly report on Afghanistan, 14 June 2010
Afghan deployment past 2011 possible: MPs, 3 June 2010
Don't extend Afghan mission, Canadians say: Poll, 8 April 2010
Afghan exit plan intact despite Clinton's plea, 30 March 2010
About half of Canadians OK with civilian mission post-2011, 23 October 2009

Ignatieff Calls for Afghan Training Past 2011

Ignatieff Calls for Afghan Training Past 2011, CBC News, 16 June 2010

EXCERPT: "Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff says Canada should commit its military to training Afghanistan's police and soldiers after its combat mission in Kandahar ends in 2011. It marks the first time the Liberal leader has publicly stated his position on what role Canada's soldiers should have in Afghanistan beyond next summer. In a speech in Toronto, Ignatieff said he believes the current combat mission should end on schedule, but his party is ready for a 'frank national conversation' on Canada's post-2011 presence in Afghanistan. In the meantime, he accused Prime Minister Stephen Harper of 'walking away' from the Afghan mission 'as if it never occurred.' Along with a continued civilian presence to bolster Afghanistan's fledgling government, Ignatieff proposed that some Canadian troops to remain in the Afghan capital Kabul for an undefined 'fixed period' to provide training at a military and police staff college."

Read the full story.

Related articles:
Canadian army well-prepared for future roles, thanks to Afghan mission, top commander says, Toronto Star, 15 June 2010
Security boss leaves Canadian project in Afghanistan, Toronto Star, 15 June 2010
NATO chief wants more Afghan troops trained, CBC News, 10 June 2010

Related resource:
Canada in the World: A Global Networks Strategy [pdf], Liberal Party of Canada, 16 June 2010

Related posts:
Canada tables its eighth quarterly report on Afghanistan, 14 June 2010
Afghan deployment past 2011 possible: MPs, 3 June 2010
Keeping our promises, 14 April 2010
US to press for Canada to keep troops in Afghanistan, 25 March 2010

Canada Tables its Eighth Quarterly Report on Afghanistan

Canada’s Engagement in Afghanistan - Quarterly Report to Parliament for the Period of January 1 to March 31, 2010, Government of Canada, 11 June 2010

EXCERPT: "Throughout the first quarter of 2010, Canada continued to make progress on a number of priorities and signature projects in Afghanistan, thanks to the continuing dedication and perseverance of our military and civilian personnel, the contributions of our development and humanitarian partners, and ongoing commitments from the Afghan government and numerous international allies. Canada—as part of a strong international effort to help Afghans rebuild their country as a secure, democratic and self-sufficient society—has worked hard in Afghanistan to develop effective partnerships with government and non-governmental organizations from around the world. Among the most important of these is the one we maintain with the United States."

Read the entire report.

Related articles:
Air force choppers out of Afghanistan by August 2011: General, The Montreal Gazette, 12 June 2010
Armed drones for Canada years away: official, CBC News, 11 June 2010
"Violence hurdle in way of Afghan development", Daily Times, 11 June 2010
Ottawa asks judge to block release of detainee records to military watchdog, The Globe and Mail, 9 June 2010

Related posts:
Afghan deployment past 2011 possible: MPs, 3 June 2010
Don't extend Afghan mission, Canadians say: Poll, 8 April 2010
Afghan exit plan intact despite Clinton's plea, 30 March 2010
US to press for Canada to keep troops in Afghanistan, 25 March 2010
Canada releases its seventh quarterly report, 18 March 2010

Afghan Deployment Past 2011 Possible: MPs

Afghan Deployment Past 2011 Possible: MPs, CBC News, 3 June 2010

EXCERPT: "A group of MPs visiting Afghanistan has left the door open for an agreement in Parliament to keep some Canadian troops in the country after the current mission ends next summer. At the end of their five-day visit, members of the parliamentary committee on the Afghan mission said that they were surprised at the level of success the Canadians have had militarily, as well as in terms of development. As a result of their trip, most of the committee's members said they believe Canadian troops should have a role in Afghanistan beyond 2011, but one that would focus on training instead of combat. Chaired by Conservative MP Kevin Sorenson and vice-chaired by Liberal MP Bryon Wilfert, the committee includes Conservatives Bob Dechert, Deepak Obhrai, Jim Abbott and Laurie Hawn, as well as Rae, Bloc MPs Claude Bachand Pascal Pierre Paille and the NDP's Jack Harris."

Read the full story.

Related articles:
Canada changes tack, gives Afghans a say in project development in Panjwaii, Winnipeg Free Press, 30 May 2010
Soldiers’ deaths bolster mission support: Studies, Toronto Star, 2 June 2010
Canada may turn to U.S. military to guard its aid efforts in Afghanistan, Toronto Star, 19 May 2010

Related resource:
Minister Oda Concludes Visit to Afghanistan: Measured the progress of Canadian aid projects, ReliefWeb, 20 May 2010

Related posts:
Keeping our promises, 14 April 2010
Don't extend Afghan mission, Canadians say: Poll, 8 April 2010
Canada releases its seventh quarterly report, 18 March 2010
About half of Canadians OK with civilian mission post-2011, 23 October 2009

Commons Given Two Weeks to Resolve Detainee Document Issue

Commons Given Two Weeks to Resolve Detainee Document Issue, Vancouver Sun, 27 April 2010

EXCERPT: "The Speaker of the House of Commons has given government and opposition parties two weeks to come to a resolution over the Afghan detainees documents controversy, after ruling that the House has every right to order the production of uncensored documents. Speaker Peter Milliken spoke for roughly 45 minutes at the end of question period Tuesday after weeks of deliberations over the question. The Conservative government claimed it couldn't release the uncensored documents because of security concerns after opposition MPs demanded to see the detainee-related documents in 'their original and uncensored form' in a motion presented on Dec. 10, 2009. The government and the opposition parties must now find some sort of compromise that will allow for the release of the documents but will not violate national security, Milliken said. If they are unable, he said he cannot help but find the refusal to hand over the documents constitutes a breach of parliamentary privilege."

Read the full story.

Related articles:
Afghan records denial is privilege breach: Speaker, CBC News, 27 April 2010
The PM vs. Parliament precedent, The National Post, 27 April 2010

Related posts:
Afghan torture hearings resume in private, 7 April 2010
Afghan security blocked Canadian detainee access, 1 April 2010
Canada releases its seventh quarterly report, 18 March 2010
Canada hoped Afghan army would take over prisoner watch in 2006, 12 March 2010

Keeping Our Promises

Keeping Our Promises: Canada in Afghanistan Post-2011: The Way Forward, Canada-Afghanistan Solidarity Committee, 9 March 2010

EXCERPT: "On March 13, 2008, following the report of the Independent Panel on Canada’s Future Role in Afghanistan (the 'Manley Panel' report), the House of Commons adopted a resolution calling for an end to Canadian combat operations in Kandahar by July, 2011. Specifically: 'Canada will end its presence in Kandahar as of July 2011, and, as of that date, the redeployment of Canadian Forces troops out of Kandahar and their replacement by Afghan forces start as soon as possible, so that it will have been completed by December 2011.'  Instead of resolving the uncertainties surrounding Canada’s role in Afghanistan through 2011 and generating debate about the options for Canada’s commitments to Afghanistan Post-2011, the resolution created a policy vacuum. The Canada Afghanistan Solidarity Committee (CASC) has set out to help reinvigorate the Canadian debate and to focus attention on Canada’s unfulfilled and continuing obligations in Afghanistan. To this purpose, CASC is proceeding with a program of consultation and analysis in order to help us articulate a vision for a new Canadian mission in Afghanistan. The CASC 'Keeping Our Promises' project is predicated on the conviction that a Canadian multi-party consensus on the way forward, beyond 2011, remains possible. This report marks the beginning of our efforts. We have not covered every possible Canadian contribution. We have also tried to avoid the temptation to be overly prescriptive. This report is a work in progress."

Read the full report [pdf].

Related articles:
Civilian shuffle: Cdn diplomats, development staff to leave Kandahar 2011?, The Canadian Press, 12 April 2010
MacKay says Canada will continue training Afghan police after 2011, The National Post, 10 April 2010

Related posts:
Don't extend Afghan mission, Canadians say: Poll, 8 April 2010
Afghan exit plan intact despite Clinton's plea, 30 March 2010
US to press for Canada to keep troops in Afghanistan, 25 March 2010
Canada releases its seventh quarterly report, 18 March 2010

Don't Extend Afghan Mission, Canadians Say: Poll

Don't Extend Afghan Mission, Canadians Say: Poll, CBC News, 8 April 2010

EXCERPT: "Half of Canadians do not support the country's military being deployed to Afghanistan, and 60 per cent oppose extending the mission past its current end date of July 2011, a new poll suggests. The poll, conducted by research firm EKOS and released Thursday exclusively to the CBC, found 36 per cent of respondents supported the mission, though only 28 per cent would be amenable to prolonging it. The survey, which also inquired about federal voter intentions, asked two questions on the Afghan deployment: 'Do you support or oppose Canadian military participation in Afghanistan?' and 'Do you oppose or support Canada extending its mission in Afghanistan?' Opposition to the mission echoes results from last summer, when an EKOS poll found 54 per cent of respondents didn't want Canadian troops in the central Asian country. Since then, the federal government has been embroiled in questions about whether it knew that many detainees captured by the Canadian Forces were being tortured once handed over to Afghan troops."

 
Read the full story.

Related articles:
Canada to send training troops to Afghanistan, CBC News, 8 April 2010
Military investigators say they didn't see "torture reports" from Afghan detainees, Montreal Gazette, 8 April 2010

Related resources:
EKOS poll results [pdf], CBC / EKOS, 8 April 2010
EKOS data tables [pdf], CBC / EKOS, 8 April 2010

Related posts:
US to press for Canada to keep troops in Afghanistan, 25 March 2010
Canada releases its seventh quarterly report, 18 March 2010
About half of Canadians OK with civilian mission post-2011, 23 October 2009

Afghan Torture Hearings Resume in Private

Afghan Torture Hearings Resume in Private, Toronto Star, 7 April 2010

EXCERPT: "The Conservative government is using obstructionist courtroom theatrics to deny Canadians a front-row seat at a probe into the handover of war prisoners in Afghanistan, critics say. The Military Police Complaints Commission barred journalists, government officials and the general public from sitting in on its proceedings until Thursday as government lawyers demanded that matters of national security be kept behind closed doors. The commission is investigating complaints that Canadian military police did not properly investigate officers responsible for directing the transfer of detainees to Afghan authorities, allegedly at the risk of torture. According to a statement by the commission, government counsel raised security issues with respect to some evidence under the National Defence Act, and the Afghanistan Public Interest Hearing rules and made a request to hear a portion of the hearing in private or in camera."

Read the full story.

Related articles:
MPs slam private Afghan detainee hearing, CBC News, 7 April 2010
No proof soldiers knew of torture danger to detainees, lawyer says, Vancouver Sun, 7 April 2010
Tories alerted to Afghan secret police legal "risk", CBC News, 6 April 2010

Related posts:
Afghan security blocked Canadian detainee access, 1 April 2010
Afghans routinely executed detainees: Soldier, 26 March 2010
FM office received ICRC warnings about detainees, 26 November 2009
Canada rejects call for public inquiry into torture, 19 November 2009

Afghan Security Blocked Canadian Detainee Access

Afghan Security Blocked Canadian Detainee Access, CBC News, 1 April 2010

EXCERPT: "Afghanistan's security service blocked Canadian efforts to get a human rights group's access to Afghan jails for three months in 2007, according to uncensored documents obtained by CBC News. A version of the same document released by the federal government was heavily blacked out, but the uncensored version was leaked on Wednesday. The Afghan human rights agency was appointed by Canada to be its eyes and ears in Afghan prisons at the time. The rights group was supposed to help ensure the safety of detainees who had been transferred from Canadian troops to the Afghans. The Afghan security service, the NDS, took those detainees from the Canadians. The uncensored version of the document states there were '... five failed attempts to access Kandahar NDS facilities in 2007.' The document says the NDS response on detainee access was often, 'You have your law, we have ours.' It says Afghan human rights experts "discussed the access problem with [Afghan] President [Hamid] Karzai ... however, this did not help.'"

Read the full story.

Related articles:
Tories table thousands more Afghan files, Toronto Star, 1 April 2010
Canada in Afghanistan: Document war, The Economist, 31 March 2010
Military brass refused to help detainee monitoring, diplomat says, The Globe and Mail, 31 March 2010
Differing views at Commons committee meeting on Canada's Afghan mission, Montreal Gazette, 31 March 2010

Related posts:
Afghans routinely executed detainees: Soldier, 26 March 2010
Canada hoped Afghan army would take over prisoner watch in 2006, 12 March 2010
Detainee torture risk raised in 2005: Diplomat, 10 March 2010
Canada rejects call for public inquiry into torture, 19 November 2009