In his recent speech to officer candidates at West Point, President Barack Obama outlined a new strategy for U.S. forces that included a military surge, a focus on improving civilian institutions and diplomatic pressure on Pakistan. To implement his plan, the U.S. is sending an additional 30,000 troops to Afghanistan. This will help support the Canadian troops who are presently responsible for breaking an insurgency that has engulfed the country's southern regions, and especially in Kandahar city where the troops are stationed.
Though President Obama didn't specifically mention Kandahar, in his speech where most of Canada's 2,850 troops are based, officials say the bulk of the American reinforcements will be posted to southern Afghanistan.
In an effort to regain the initiative in Kandahar, NATO commanders are putting Canada's military command in charge of the tactically vital Arghandab district north of Kandahar city.
As a result, two full battalions of troops already in the country - one American, the other Afghan - will come under the control of Brig. Gen. Dan Menard, the commander of the Canadian contingent known as Task Force Kandahar, by the new year. "The Americans have paid us an enormous compliment," Defence Minister Peter MacKay said of Canada's added responsibilities. "They trust us. They appreciate our expertise."
Under U.S. Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal, NATO has signaled its desire to shift the focus of counter-insurgency efforts to urban areas; Kandahar has been singled out among them.
"We will work toward improved security for Afghanistan and the transfer of responsibility to Afghan security forces as rapidly as conditions allow," McChrystal said.
By hastening the training of both the Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police, Obama hopes to create a sustainable security environment that will allow the U.S. to begin withdrawing its troops in 2011. The timeframe coincides roughly with the planned end of the Canadian combat mission in Afghanistan.
BookCart Learning Activity
ProQuest has created a BookCart learning activity to help teachers provide students with a one-stop collection of resources to learn more about Canada's continuing role in Afghanistan. This BookCart includes student directions, essential questions, and a variety of editor-selected resources to support student success in completing this inquiry-based learning activity.
Teachers or librarians can copy "Canadian Role in Afghanistan" and any other BookCart from the Canadian BookCart collection by using the following procedure:
Click the BOOKCART ADMIN link at the top of the Teacher Edition.
Click the PROQUEST CARTS tab.
Scroll down the folder list on the left and click CANADIAN BOOKCARTS.
Type "Canadian Role in Afghanistan" in the Search box.
Click the COPY icon (middle one) in the ACTIONS column to the right of this title.
Click RETURN TO MY LOCAL CARTS.
Librarians or teachers can edit this BookCart to customize it for their students. To edit this BookCart for your students to use:
Click the first new BookCart Title with the prefix "COPY OF".
Delete "Copy of" and then type your name in the AUTHOR boxes and your initials in EMAIL.
Option: Type any additional ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS in the DESCRIPTION box.
Option: Edit the existing STUDENT DIRECTIONS in the Description box.
Scroll down and click SAVE.
Return to My Local Carts.
This BookCart provides two templates for students to use for both written and presentation reports in the Web Links section.
Traditional Research Activity
Assign students to write a report of at least 150 words or a presentation of at least seven slides that cites at least three resources. Students should address the following essential questions for critical thinking (you may add or substitute others):
What are the arguments for Canada supporting the U.S. in Afghanistan?
What are the arguments against support?
How is the new US strategy in the war affect Canada?
What is your opinion on continued Canadian support and why?
Pathfinder
Select the Advanced Search option > type "Canadian role in Afghanistan" in the Search box > type "Canada OR Afghanistan" in the Title box > Sort by DATE.
Use our custom ProQuest models for written or PowerPoint reports written and PowerPoint-style reports.
