Kenny, who is also Chairman of the Senate National Defence Security Committee, says his criticism may seem "offensive," but Canadians deserve to know what the government hopes to achieve in Afghanistan before the mission ends in 2011.
~Poppy Farmers
Violence in Afghanistan's volatile south has increased in recent weeks, particularly since a U.S. troop surge and a highly contentious presidential election... the increase in violence makes it clear that Canada's strategy to clear, hold and develop former Taliban strongholds is not working.
"Triple D: defence, diplomacy, development is not working. ...We don't have clear goals in Afghanistan. People are asking in my mail, 'Why doesn't the government tell us what they want to achieve there?'"
Retired Maj. Gen. Lewis Mackenzie responded to Kenny's remarks by saying the increase in violence is in fact a sign that Canadian troops are doing valuable work in Afghanistan.
...the influx of American soldiers has allowed the Canadians to concentrate on a smaller area in their fight against the Taliban. Canada's strategy has been hampered by the fact that NATO failed "to provide the resources necessary to take this thing to a proper conclusion early on."
But Mackenzie said with the American surge and President Barack Obama's renewed focus on combating the Taliban in Afghanistan, the new commander of the International Security Assistance Force, Gen. Stanley McChrystal, will adopt Canada's clear, hold and develop strategy.
I say, there has been No Progress changing the character or mentality of Afghans:
Making my point: Kenny pointed to widespread allegations of voter fraud in last month's presidential election, a thriving drug trade in Helmand and Kandahar provinces and the recent passage of a law that allows for marital rape as signs that the mission in Afghanistan needs to be reevaluated.
Western Politicians seem to believe that with a bit of force and some promises of development will alter hundreds of years of tradition, tribalism and violence.
Economic Imperative:
The Americans made similar promises when Al Qaeda drove the Russians out of Afghanistan. Promises were not kept. Afghans ask 'what is different this time?' Afghan leaders are guilty of selling out to the highest bidder. Poppy crops are just about the only reliable crop in this drought stricken region and they have a ready market to sell into.
The United Nations estimates that half of Ghor's farmers don't earn enough to cover basic needs. So exhortations to plant alternatives seem doomed when a grower can make about $5,200 from an acre of opium but $121 from an acre of wheat.
Throughout Afghanistan, thousands who never grew opium began harvesting their crops in May, taught by experienced poppy farmers who have been traveling to new areas to share their skills.
Afghanistan regained its position as the largest opium country last year, producing 3,750 tons, and this year, production is expected to be as high, according to the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime. Seventy-five percent of the world's heroin, obtained from opium poppies, comes from Afghanistan.
Rensselaer Lee, an expert on the international drug trade, told the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing that the control of drugs has taken a back seat to fighting terrorism, building consensus and strengthening alliances.
"To build these alliances, unfortunately, we've had to make some arrangements, compromises with people who, frankly, may have some history of involvement with the drug trade and may be even currently protecting the drug trade," said Lee, president of Global Advisory Services, a Virginia-based research group.
In early June, Karzai called for $20 billion in foreign aid, warning that without an economic boost, people would have to live on the opium trade.
Afghan Finance Minister Ghani Ahmadzai has also warned that without more international aid, Afghanistan could become reliant on the drug trade and crime - a problem that would be more expensive to fix than giving short-term aid.
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