Yes It Is Escalation

The deployment of the Leopard Tanks and the mobilization of the Vandoos is an escalation of Canada's mission in Afghanistan. Even those in the Pro-War camp have come to this conclusion. As The Amazing Wonderdog writes:

Nevertheless, one point must be granted the hand-wringers: this does, indeed, reflect a serious escalation in Afghanistan. That's not because, as some have suggested, we're escalating the conflict by sending tanks. On the contrary: we're sending tanks because the conflict has escalated.

The sign of that escalation is the events of the past few weeks, culminating in the battle for control of the Panjawli district. The Taliban, for whatever reason, are now behaving not as an insurgent force, but as a conventional ground force. Their confidence, as recent events have shown, is misplaced, but that's beside the point. The Taliban will be beaten every time they try to stand and fight, and will eventually retreat back into "conventional" insurgent tactics, but this will take time. And all the while, the clock is ticking on hearts and minds.

What the deployment of Leos means is that it's time to ask some serious questions. Not partisan questions, but simple questions about what we're doing. Beginning with, what specific reconstruction goals will we achieve, on what schedule? What is, in short, the new plan?

Uh you can't use tanks for reconstruction. Anymore than you can use bulldozers as Israel has shown. The new plan is the same as the old plan.

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