Canadian Troops Prepare for 'Different Winter'

Josh Pringle
Tuesday, November 3, 2009

The Commander of Canadian troops in Afghanistan suggests “insurgents aren’t leaving this winter.”

Lt. Col. Jerome Walsh says Canadian soldiers are preparing for a “different winter” amid signs that suggest the Taliban will ramp up attacks in Afghanistan in the coming months.

Taliban attacks have usually declined in the winter months due to the logistical challenge of travel.

But the Canadian Press reports a series of open-source intelligence reports suggest Taliban commanders are seeking to exploit wavering levels of international support for the Afghan mission.

The head of the Kandahar provincial council also says Taliban commanders are telling their people to stay in Kandahar and not go to Pakistan.