CIIA Toronto - Past Events

Event Summary:

Summary by
Shakir Rahim

The Struggle for Kandahar:
Canadian Soldiers Making a Difference in Afghanistan

Speaker: Brigadier-General Denis Thompson, Former Commander Task Force Kandahar

Monday March 30, 2009
Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
The Canadian International Council and Borden Ladner Gervais LLP hosted Brigadier-General Denis Thompson on March 30, 2009. BGen Thompson delivered an insightful and incisive analysis of the situation in Kandahar, Afghanistan based on his experience as Commander Task Force Kandahar (May 2008-February 2009). His presentation focused on five components: the insurgency model, mission context, deployment structure, common myths, and the way forward.

BGen Thompson began by describing the main elements of an insurgency to highlight the primary targets of Task Force Kandahar. These included a safe haven in an adjacent country, legitimate or illegitimate routes to enter the country, nodes for tactical operation, and population support. He emphasized that an effective counter-insurgency strategy must address these elements concurrently.

He proceeded to contextualize the mission of Task Force Kandahar by identifying some of the key challenges present in Afghanistan. The Taliban insurgency, he stated, is primarily comprised of Pashtuns. BGen Thompson regarded understanding the composition of the Taliban through this lens as essential to effective operations. He noted that the Afghanistan-Pakistan border is of particular concern because it is porous. This permeable nature contributes significantly to the opium trade and insurgency movement between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Lastly, he mentioned the multiple national governance and security challenges facing Afghanistan. He called attention to understanding the tribal divisions inherent in said challenges in order to address them.

BGen Thompson then provided an operational description of the Canadian Forces in Task Force Kandahar. He described the various types of Canadian divisions stationed in Kandahar, differentiating between military trainers, police, large battle groups, and other units. He also highlighted the integral role of civilians (such as CIDA) and diplomats, and the symbiotic relationship they have with the military in supporting the overall mission. In his description, he noted that troops serve six-month rotations, whereas headquarters staff serves nine to twelve months. This is to minimize disruptions in building relationships with local actors. BGen Thompson praised the coordination of the Canadian Forces with their US and British counterparts.

The Canadian public, he stressed, can receive a distorted view of the situation on the ground due to a multiplicity of factors. Accordingly, BGen Thompson set out to dispel four myths about the mission. He countered that the mission was in a downward spiral. He stressed that whilst the Kandahar population has expressed less confidence in security recently, a strong plurality regard the Afghan government as legitimate. The latter is an important metric in counter-insurgency. He disagreed with the idea that the Taliban operates a shadow government, articulating that it employs brutality to assert control in communities it occupies and does not provide any traditional government services. BGen Thompson, addressing the third of four myths, emphasized the military’s operational independence in Kandahar, and disclaimed the perception that decisions in Kandahar are micromanaged from Canadian-based staff. Lastly, he proudly spoke of the bravery and courage of Canadian soldiers in dealing with injury and death in Afghanistan. He noted the vast majority of soldiers come back to Canada in strong physical and mental health.

In his concluding remarks, BGen Thompson spoke of the way forward in the short and long-term in Kandahar. He highlighted the importance of tangible reconstruction and expanding the Afghan National Army in both of these spheres. He further noted the importance of maintaining effective command and coordination of ISAF, especially considering its competing national agendas and complex structural layout. BGen Thompson underscored that in all the endeavours, caring for the population of Kandahar and Afghanistan should remain a chief priority. Lastly, he noted the Canadian mission ends in 2011 and that sustained success will be contingent on addressing the entrenched regional dynamics of the conflict as a whole.

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