What factors led to Canada’s continued involvement in the US-led military operations in Afghanistan?

“Canada had a real and vital interest in destroying the haven and base that Afghanistan had become from which international terrorists could continue to attack the West, including Canada itself” (Jockel & Sokolsky, 2008). However, Canada continued its military commitment in Afghanistan after the Taliban were removed from power, and various transnational terrorist groups lost their Afghan training camps. This happened in part because the Canadian government was eager to please Americans by demonstrating that Canada is still a good military ally, despite its refusal to participate in US led invasion of Iraq (Jockel & Sokolsky, 2008). CF’s continued action in Afghanistan also took place for other important reasons.

Recent Canadian governments and many Canadians have continued to see terrorism that arises from radical Islam as a threat to Canada and believe that Canada has a significant national interest in stopping it from retaking Afghanistan. ... ‘An increasingly interdependent world has tightened the links between international and domestic security and developments abroad can affect the safety of Canadians in unprecedented ways. Today’s front lines stretch from the streets of Kabul to the rail lines of Madrid to our own Canadian cities.’ (Jockel & Sokolsky, 2008)

Canada’s war in Afghanistan is also closely linked to what is being called the ‘transformation’ of the Canadian military, the personally initiated project of the energetic Chief of the Defence Staff, General Rick Hillier … He has had unprecedented leeway and influence as chief and indeed has seized the moment by using the war in Afghanistan and the government’s commitment there as the occasion to press for major changes and acquisitions which in normal circumstances would have been both delayed and/or scaled back by the political leadership. Hillier’s ‘transformation agenda’ for the Canadian armed forces has included more personnel and equipment, improved infrastructure and changes to training and the command structure. (Jockel & Sokolsky, 2008)

Thus, CF’s continued involvement in Afghanistan can, in part, be blamed on Hillier, who easily succumbed to the typical trappings of a high ranking bureaucratic position, and successfully managed to increase the size of his bureau, its budget, and all the benefits that come with it.

References

Jockel, J. and Sokolsky, J. (2008). Canada and the War in Afghanistan: NATO’s Odd Man Out Steps Forward. Journal of Transatlantic Studies, 6(1):100-115.