Cdn. general calls for more foreign, Afghan troops to bolster security

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THE CANADIAN PRESS

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KANDAHAR, Afghanistan - Recent military operations have taken a major bite out of the insurgency's ability to plant deadly roadside bombs on the outskirts of Kandahar city but long-term security will require more time and manpower, a Canadian commander said yesterday.

In a speech aimed at showing Afghan civilians that Canadian and Afghan forces have had success beating back the insurgents, Brig.-Gen. Denis Thompson admitted Taliban activities have been "disrupted" but not "eliminated" by the operations in the Maywand and Zhari districts.

"There is combat every day in this province and that isn't going to end any time soon," said Thompson, the top commander of Canadian forces in Afghanistan.

"We are going to stay in the fight and we have to stay active in order to prevail and not lose the initiative to the insurgents."

Noting just one third of the countryside is secure enough for development and reconstruction to take place, Thompson said efforts are underway to boost both the number of coalition troops operating in Kandahar as well as the number of Afghan police and army personnel.

A fourth Afghan army Kandak, or battalion, is expected to be ready next spring.

There are rumours that the Americans could send additional troops, possibly as many as 1,000 more to Kandahar. The Americans are also expected to handle mentoring responsibilities for the new Kandak in southern Afghanistan.

"Do we have enough soldiers and policemen to control this province at this time? The answer is No," Thompson said.

"That's why we're pursuing all these other initiatives."

Thompson said the current security situation is "not all doom and gloom."

While the number of improvised explosive devices, or IEDs, planted year over year has increased, so too has the number of IED discoveries.

For every bomb that goes off, nine are found and safely neutralized, Thompson said.