Canada gains a strategy: With its main conclusions echoing ICOS’s call for Canada to adopt a new overall strategic approach in Afghanistan,
the implementation of the Manley Panel’s recommendations can provide a much
needed road map for Canada’s future role in Afghanistan.
As the Panel observed in its report, Canada’s presence in Afghanistan does matter,
and Canada must not abandon the country prematurely. Canada is in Afghanistan to
counter the threat of terrorism, to ensure that Afghanistan does not again revert to
the status of sanctuary and head office for global terrorism. It is now incumbent on
the Harper Government to provide the political leadership necessary to make the
recommendations reality.
Fulfilling Canada’s commitment in Afghanistan requires the political
energy only a Prime Minister can impart.
No fixed withdrawal date. Achievement of measures of success defines
withdrawal date: Canada should establish clear objectives and corresponding
critical success factors for its humanitarian, stabilisation and reconstruction work in
Afghanistan. The Manley Panel also stated that any withdrawal date should be
dependent on the achievement of defined measures of success. Canada should stay
until the job is done. To leave before would be a fickle abandonment of the
country’s “most significant foreign policy endeavour,” and a sad commentary on the
value of the Canadian lives already sacrificed.
An abrupt departure of Canadian troops, without new ISAF forces to
take their place, would trigger a security collapse in [Kandahar] province.
Recognition of current security realties: its report, the Manley Panel
recognised what the Canadian Government has consistently denied: the security
situation in Afghanistan has seriously deteriorated in the South and East, including
Kandahar province where Canadian Forces are based. The troubling lack of reliable
benchmarks for measuring progress in improving security for the people must be urgently addressed through a unified and coherent security strategy, which imposes
verifiable criteria for gauging and analysing the course of that strategy.
Security generally has deteriorated in the South and East of
Afghanistan, including Kandahar province where Canadian Forces are based
Properly equip and support the military: The Manley panel emphasised the
serious failure of strategic direction in security policy. Its report highlighted the
too-frequent rotation of ISAF commanders and a lack of proper equipment as
important issues that not only require immediate resolution, but which also indicate
the serious need for a stronger, more cohesive strategic direction in Afghanistan, at
the highest levels.
One source of ISAF inefficiencies, cited by senior NATO officers, is the
too-frequent rotation of ISAF commanders.
Engage frankly with Canadians: The Canadian Government has consistently
failed to communicate with Canadians with balance and candour about the reasons
for Canadian involvement in Afghanistan, or about the risks, difficulties and
expected results of that involvement.
The Panel strongly recommends that this information deficit be redressed
immediately in a strategy of open, continuous, and constructive engagement with Canadians.
While public support for Canadian troops is strong, Canadians have
been uncertain about Canada’s evolving mission in Afghanistan.