article imageCanada's Top Soldier Says Afghanistan Situation Getting Worse

By Bob Ewing.
Subscribe to author
Published Jul 20, 2008 by  Bob Ewing - 17 votes, 10 comments
Share on Facebook  
Listen - Email - Print
Recipient email:
You can enter up to 10 comma-separated email addresses.
Your email:
optional
Message:
optional

Canada's new Chief of Defence Staff, Walter Natynczyk , says that the overall situation in Afghanistan is getting worse.
Canadian forces have made significant gains in Afghanistan, however, Gen. Walter Natynczyk admitted the country's overall situation is worsening.
Insurgent attacks have increased year over year, specifically in some parts of the country.
"You have a worsening security situation, especially localized in three areas -- the Kabul area, in the Regional Command East, where the Americans are, and in the south where we are with the British forces and the Dutch," Gen. Walter Natynczyk said.
This comment seems to be a reversal from an earlier statement Natynczyk made earlier this month after he completed his first visit to Afghanistan as the Chief of Defence Staff.
On the five-day visit to the region, he put a positive spin on security issues in the war-torn country, which has seen a resurgence of Taliban activity. At that time, Natynczyk, who became the country's top soldier on July 2, had said the increased violence is negligible.
"We're generally along the same lines as we have been the past few years,'' Natynczyk said at a news conference on July 13 at Kandahar Airfield. "Looking at the statistics, we're just a slight notch -- indeed an insignificant notch -- above where we were last year.''
Natynczyk agreed with statistics presented on Question Period that suggested year-to-year violence was up 34 per cent.
"The statistics you cite are absolutely true," he said.
"On the other hand, when I was in Kandahar, from a soldiers' perspective, what they see are localized, fragile signs of success."
the Taliban "is throwing everything against" NATO troops and Afghan security forces in an effort to undermine the government ahead of next year's elections. Natynczyk reiterated the need for more NATO troops to help quell insurgent violence.
"In a counterinsurgency, it is troop intensive. It's not enough just to clear the Taliban out ... you need to have that security blanket to ensure that there is time for police and the army to have that capacity to address their own security," he said.
NATO troops have helped the country make significant improvements and Canadians have helped train police officers who are respected by the local population, and Afghan battalions have increasingly taken on roles to protect major regions of the country.
article:257645:17::0

Virtual goods now a $5-billion global industry

With minutes to go before the end of the day, you visit Facebook and send out a quick birthday cake to a friend. It's $1 for the virtual icon that is simply displayed on their page. Sound silly? Well, these types of transactions are now worth billions.
Published 18 hours ago by  KJ Mullins in Internet | 1 comment

What Facebook, Twitter, PayPal can teach us about going viral Special

Going viral isn't a finger-snap way to achieve mass popularity. In fact, as author Adam L. Penenberg explains to Digitaljournal.com, some of the top tech companies found viral success by creating a product that had to be shared to be useful.
Published 21 hours ago by  David Silverberg in Internet | 1 comment

TopFinds: Investigating Dental Health in U.S., Rihanna Speaks Out

The dental health insurance controversy in the U.S. The shocking mass killing at Fort Hood, Texas. Rihanna breaks her silence about domestic abuse. These are the top stories making headlines around the world.
Published Nov 6, 2009 by  David Silverberg in Internet

Alleged Orlando Shooter Apprehended

According to Orlando police, Orlando shooting suspect Jason Rodriguez has been captured without incident. Rodriguez was captured at his mother's house around 2:20 this afternoon.
Published Nov 6, 2009 by  Joe Gullo in Crime | 1 comment

Figure skater Elvis Stojko marks beginning of music career

Elvis Stojko, a two-time Olympic silver medalist, released the first single from his new album "100 Lifetimes" yesterday. It marks the beginning of the skating champion's music career.
Published Nov 6, 2009 by  Kevin Jess in Entertainment
apis-129186 apis-129159 apis-129155 apis-129156 apis-129148
Email:
Password:
Remember meForgot password?