To address the question of why we are still in Afghanistan, the directors of Learn the Facts asked five contributors to argue for a certain viewpoint to explain Canada’s participation in the ongoing war: security, diplomacy, alliances, development or ‘I don’t know.’ The following does not reflect the personal views of the author or those of Learn the Facts. Instead, it is simply meant to encourage discussion.
Members of 5 Combat Engineer Reg. prepare to destroy ammunitions found
We all remember the events that occurred on September 11, 2001. Many of us can probably recall with incredible detail where we were, what we were doing, and who with. “The terrorist attacks of September 11th …” is reprinted time and again in various forms of literature, as that day has had an equally diverse affect on components of our daily lives. For the United States, it taught them an important lesson in security and defence, but what did it mean for Canadians?
The terrorist attacks by Al Qaeda were the first of its kind on North American soil. This awakening into the 21st Century demonstrated that the isolation of North America was no longer sufficient to deter an attack. It also demonstrated the changing nature of conflict; our adversaries might not necessarily include only countries in the future, but a network of individuals bonded by their radical ideologies instead of national identity- terrorist organizations. This is a particularly difficult adversary to encounter as their calling card has no home address; they wear no uniform and use unconventional attack methods. The terrorist attacks could not go unquestioned otherwise it could have risked the beginning of a dangerous precedence. A response to the emerging threat was needed and provides the justification behind Canada’s involvement in Afghanistan.
It was understood at the time, a radical group like Al Qaeda, posed a security threat to not only the United State, but its allies and liberal democracies writ large. This of course, included Canada. The United States and its allies were able to locate the ‘home address’ of Osama bin-Laden and his terrorist organization tracing it back to Afghanistan. The ruling powers of Afghanistan at the time were the Taliban, who allowed Al Qaeda a safe haven to train recruits and plan such attacks as those of September 11th 2001 (among others). In addition, the Taliban had refused international pressure to release Osama bin-Laden or cease his embedment.
The Liberal government under Prime Minster Paul Martin, was the first in Canadian history to explicitly define Canada’s international security policy: Securing an Open Society: Canada’s National Security Policy. The Conservative government under Stephen Harper has continued some of the central themes under this security policy, primarily the threat of failed and fragile states. Failed states can pose a security threat to Canada because some of these failed states, like Afghanistan, become a refuge and safe havens for terrorist organizations intent on attacking Canada and Canadians. Under both Liberal and Conservative governments, Canada acknowledged the threat that the existence of Al Qaeda posed as well as its nexus with the Taliban who provided them territory. This is reinforced by explicit statements made by Osama bin-Laden himself including Canada as an enemy of his radical ideology and organization.
Ships from RCN on there way to the Arabian Gulf
Canadian Forces commanded by Joint Task Force Afghanistan participated in the opening engagements of Operation Enduring Freedom (Op. APOLLO) in February 2002. Since February 2006, Canadian Forces have been redeployed in Regional Command (South) in the province of Kandahar where they remain today. From a security and defence point of view Afghanistan needs to be rebuilt as a stable country, governed by the rule of law with its own national defences and police force. At the request of the Government of Afghanistan (GoA), Canadian Forces are assisting the Afghan National Army and the Afghan National Police combat the insurgent Taliban and extend the democratic authority of the (GoA).
Canadian forces have adopted a posture of counter-insurgency to combat this threat, overseas instead of on Canadian soil. Although anti-terrorism remains an issue of law-enforcement and cannot be ignored domestically, there is a need to prevent and disrupt terrorist organizations from forming and solidifying on foreign grounds. Because of terrorist networks chameleon like capability, once a threat has been identified, it might already be too late to stop. As a result, a forward oriented and offensive posture has been adopted to disrupt and eradicate the development and sustainment of such malicious organizations overseas. A major component of this strategic objective is denying access to territory and a mass population to train and recruit which can be acknowledged by stabilizing the previously failed state of Afghanistan.
