O'Connor: 'We have to train Afghan army quickly'

Defence Minister Gordon O'Connor says by the time the 22nd Regiment, known as the Van Doos, takes over the mission in Afghanistan in August, the Canadian military will be shifting from combat to the classroom.

O'Connor, appearing on CTV's Question Period Sunday, said the Van Doos will be training up to four or five battalions of the Afghan army -- about 3,000 soldiers.

A small contingent from the Van Doos began arriving in Kandahar last week. Next month, there will be about 2,500 new Canadian soldiers on the ground -- 2,330 from Quebec.

O'Connor's comments come after new poll numbers emerged last week suggesting Canadians' opposition to the mission is rising.

Nationwide, opposition is at 59 per cent, but the total number of those opposed in Quebec remains higher at 75 per cent.

O'Connor said those numbers are largely due to Canadians' lack of clear understanding of Canada's successes in Afghanistan, as well as the challenges faced there.

He said there is reason to believe that the situation in Afghanistan is improving, and Canada's frontline role will soon be reduced.

O'Connor said Canadian troops recently sponsored an Afghan infantry battalion, providing intense mentorship and training, and as a result the battalion is now conducting its own operations.

He described it as a success that will be used as a model for training other battalions, and will eventually take pressure off the Canadians.

But this could also take pressure off the Conservative government, especially in Quebec where opposition to the mission runs highest.

Amir Attaran, a University of Ottawa professor with expertise on global development and governance issues, says getting the Van Doos out of harm's way is a strategic move.

"The Conservatives want to make sure that nobody out of Quebec dies," Attaran told CTV News. "The Van Doos are going to be protected from casualties even if it means the war isn't won."

NDP Leader Jack Layton, who has been calling for an early end to the mission, was also critical of Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

"I guess Mr. Harper feels he has to beef up his public relations strategy and I think that is unfortunate," Layton said.

O'Connor also renewed his call for other NATO nations to step up their involvement and allow their troops to take part in combat operations in the more volatile regions of the country.

At the moment, most of the heavy lifting is being done by Canada, the U.K., the Netherlands and the United States.

"It would help the situation if more NATO nations sent troops to the south and the east but we can't put all our eggs in one basket. We have to train the Afghan army as quickly as possible and that's what we're doing," O'Connor said.

With a report by CTV Ottawa Bureau Chief Robert Fife

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Marianne Regimbal, Ottawa
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I’m fed up hearing Mr. Layton and Mr. Dion insisting that we bring our military back home now, or no later than February 2009. These young men and women are not politicians, they are well trained soldiers who are doing what they are trained for and love to do and that is to serve their country at home or abroad. Wars and missions in any environment take special people and, yes, in Afghanistan it isn’t UN duty but since 9/11 things have taken another direction and also surprised the whole world by showing things will never be the same as we once knew them.

The numbers have gone up over the last 5 years; from April 18, 2002 to July 4, 2007 they have risen to 66 soldiers who believed strongly in the Afghan mission and who lost their lives for their belief.

If there is something Mr. Dion should be aware of, it is that more people have died in car accidents alone in his home province of Quebec in 2006, where there were 717 fatalities. And Mr. Layton, in the province of Ontario in 2005 there were 476 deaths due to car accidents.

What? You want people to stop driving now because it’s too dangerous for you? or maybe you can put your noses into transport Canada’s backyard, where I’m sure they’ll tell you to take a hike so, the only right thing for you two to do, is do your jobs and let the Canadian Armed Forces do theirs.

Chris
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Support our Troops we MUST. They are not political people only soldiers etc. The people who protest or object should look around and see where and how they got there. Canada has a long history and is a very proud nation, some people including myself are very proud.

Tariq Siddiqui
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I have supported our mission and our troops throughout this campaign. But given that other NATO allies refuse to step into the fray, I see no reason why we should remain indefinitely. I applaud the government's exit strategy. However, as a harbinger, I suspect the barbaric Taliban will again clamour at our gates.

Norm
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I am proud to read many positve comments on what our troops are doing in Afghanistan. These men and women and their families pay a dear price to support these missions ... If nobody did nothing about everything this would be a sad world. P.S. What 50 year old equipment. Do you mean the RJ31 and the LAVS?? Strange they look new to me

Eleanor
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whether Canada leaves
sooner or later is not the issue in my opinion.
The othe nato countries
'not' mentioned need to step up to the plate and do their SHARE of serving
in the dangerous areas, otherwise whats the point of being there??
It should be done on a rotation basis so the troops who are in these zones get a well deserved break and still do the job of training in a less danerous zone.

LRG
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It is very disheartening to here that public support for our troops is dropping. They are over in a very difficult country fighting to make sure that the fight does not come to our door step. I truely believe that it will come and then it will be a different story. You people out there who have no idea about what the fight is about is sickening. We will see what you say when they target something on our home soil, I am sure you will say why didnt the military or the goverenment protect us, when truth be known that is exactly what they are doing now. God bless the soldiers and there families for doing a fantastic job , schools are opened and markets are bustling and the Afgan economy is on the rise. Let me close by saying your negative comments and lack of support effect all soldiers who truely believe they are there for a good cause, the cause that you dont see because the media doesn't feel it is good enough or negative enough to report on. To all those who are there and those whose families who have lost a love one please know that there are those of us who do appreiciate what you are doing or have done and please keep up the good work.God bless you all.

Murray Hall
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The NATO countries could purchase all the opium planted in Afghanistan and use it to alleviate a world shortage of medicinal drugs the opium could produce. In addition, take some of the combined funds and pay the top Taliban leaders salaries equivalent to our top echlon in our armed forces to assist in training an effective Afghanistan armed force and police authourity on the agreeable basis that they would participate and become a part of a democratic type of government. This may solve financial, diplomatic and ego roadblocks. A solution that may have a chance of working ?

Jason Thickett
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We as a people need to support our troops they are doing a job we as a country have asked them to do. If you agree with them being there excellent, if you do not then you don't understand why our soldiers are there so please educate yourelf. We are helping a society that the world has forgotten. If there is a people who deserve peace and stability it's the Afghans. When was the last time you lived in a house made of mud or had no running water or electricity. Can you picture yourself or your children in an environment like that. That and security is what our soldiers are trying to achieve and they are achieving it! There is no higher calling than to be able to help people you don't even know so that they may enjoy even a small piece of what we TOTALLY take for granted.
P.S Previous comment Larry don't even compare our soldiers to the Soviets they were there to conquer and crush we are there to help, maybe the only ones who can!

Dylan
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I have mixed feelings on the current mission, but anyone drawing parallels between Afghanistan and WW I or II is deluded. However I see positives: our armed forces are better equipped and funded than they were in the past to deal with missions like this. Helping a country become democratic is an ideal that I can support. However, the Canadian government is perpetuating a myth on the public to think the Afghan army will be ready to assume control in 6 months. It will take a minimum of two years to see the results promised today. I think the chances for success in Afghanistan are greater than in Iraq, and having said that, the UN and US need to redouble their efforts on rebuilding Afghanistan and use their success their as a blueprint for Iraq.

Peter A
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This mission as i understand it,is so much different than Iraq. We and other nations need to be in Afghanistan, we are making a difference there to people who need help from the outside world. In the future Canada will be looked upon with nothing but respect from the rest of the world for having committed to this mission.
The men and women over there should know how proud the whole entire country is of them,for risking their lives to improve the lives of a whole nation. This is Canada's greatest contribution to freedom and true Canadian values in modern times. People who think we should leave don't understand why we're there in the first place.

Allan Eizinas
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If nothing else, it is very refreshing to see and hear that Hillier and O'Connor agree on something!
By the way, is not training Afghan troops what we were supposed to be doing for the last 4 years?

Vanessa C
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This will happen - it is Canada's responsibility to train now, not the USA, who can't even train themselves. As an ex-servicemember, I can honestly say that we DO train better, and that because of that the Afghan forces WILL be ready within 6 months to a year to take on more. We need to support this mission, it is ESSENTIAL. Those who do not understand it need to realize that for once a force there is NOT taking over, but trying to HELP. And the other NATO forces have to step in, stop being cowards and commit. This all could have been over had the other NATO countries besides the US, Canada, UK, and Dutch been the only ones willing to go after the Taliban. And the MEDIA needs to start reporting more on the GOOD that is being done, not just casualties! It's because they only report the bad that the mission is so misunderstood!

Neal
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Canada is a proud and strong nation. Have we not learned from such battles as Vimy Ridge that we are a determined nation that will stand strong and free. When other nations during WW1 struggled it was Canada that improvised. It soldiers used there skills and shear grit to defeat its enemy. What would our R.I.P. soldiers say from there graves? We fought for freedom and paid with our lives. Canada should realize that these soldiers meant for us to carry on there fight for continued freedom for Canada and the world as a whole.(LEST WE FORGET!!) Pulling our soldiers from Afganistan is not the answer. If we shy now what will our adversary think? ....