Mission Messaging Mambo: The Latest Guess
We’re hearing that Canadian military bosses have ordered the start of packing of bags in Afghanistan.
And what are we hearing about what’ll be left? Still not so much.
Today’s Globe & Mail has a few guesses in a piece on how the packing will be done, though:
Although the Conservatives have yet to make it clear, it’s expected hundreds of soldiers may need to remain behind to protect reconstruction and development. Retired major-general Lewis Mackenzie guesses up to 500 or 600 soldiers would stay in Afghanistan to keep watch over Canadian development projects or even to train local army and police.
The Harper government has so far been reluctant to spell out how many soldiers are staying behind after the 2011 pullout. During the 2008 election campaign, the Prime Minister acknowledged that not every single soldier will return with the combat pullout, and it’s expected lingering pressure from the Obama administration to help out may lead to a contingent remaining.
Military analysts speculated that Gen. Natynczyk’s decision to draw attention to withdrawal planning this week – his orders to make plans were actually given last summer – may have been an effort to force Ottawa to make clear its post-2011 intentions in Afghanistan.
CanWest News Service quotes the Chief of Defence Staff saying, though, that even though no plan is in place for post-2011, he can deal with that when the time comes:
“It’s still a year-and-a-half away; we’ve launched operations on less than that, but I can’t assume that”
Reinforcing this is messaging coming from the head of Canada’s Provincial Reconstruction Team in Kandahar, via the Canadian Press:
A high – ranking Canadian soldier who is assuming a key role in Afghanistan says Canadians need to temper their expectations ahead of a planned pullout for 2011. Brig.-Gen. Steve Bowes has begun a one-year deployment as the International Security Assistance Force’s deputy chief of plans and projects. He says Canadians shouldn’t have delusions about quick success in Afghanistan.
A little reminder from the the Communications Policy of the Government of Canada:
Ministers are the principal spokespersons of the Government of Canada …. Ministers present and explain government policies, priorities and decisions to the public.
