Canadian takes command in Southern Afghanistan

Canadian Maj.-Gen. Marc Lessard took command Saturday of 12,000 troops operating in Regional Command South in Afghanistan.

"I see two priorities; firstly, to increase security within the region in order to ensure the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan exercises its legitimate authority," said Maj.-Gen. Lessard during the handover ceremony.

"The second priority is to coordinate to the greatest extent, the aspects of governance and development within the overall security framework," the Maj.-Gen added.

"The appointment of Maj.-Gen. Marc Lessard to Commander of Regional Command South demonstrates Canada's commitment to NATO and to the Afghans we are there to help," said Canada's top soldier Gen. Rick Hillier. "Maj.-Gen Lessard's leadership will be of great value as we strive towards greater security and consequent increased development in the South of Afghanistan."

Maj.-Gen. Lessard will be in charge of troops from Canada and 11 other countries operating in six provinces in the south of the country.

The Canadian will be in post for the next nine months, taking over from British Maj.-Gen. Jacko Page.

Here is the article from Canadian Press via Sun Media:

Command of military efforts in southern Afghanistan handed to Canadians

By Stephanie Levitz, THE CANADIAN PRESS

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan - A change in tact and tactics for international coalition efforts in southern Afghanistan is coming with the changing of the guard, according to the Canadian now in control of international military efforts in the region.

Maj.-Gen. Mark Lessard on Saturday took over leadership of Regional Command South, the designation given by the International Security Assistance Force to Afghanistan's six southernmost provinces.

The handover ceremony was attended by both Afghan and international military dignitaries, including both brothers of Afghan President Hamid Karzai and the commanding officer of the entire NATO mission in Afghanistan, Gen. Dan McNeil of the United States.

In Ottawa, Defence Minister Peter MacKay issued a statement congratulating Lessard on his new command, which he said "clearly demonstrates Canada's leadership role within NATO and the international community in bringing peace and stability to Afghanistan."

Eleven countries have a presence in the Regional Command South area of operations, with a total of about 12,000 soldiers on the ground. The biggest contingents come from the Canadians fighting in Kandahar, the British in Helmand, the Dutch in Uruzgan and the Americans.

Lessard takes command of the region at a time where national governments, think-tanks and aid agencies are all questioning the current state of the mission in Afghanistan and many are suggesting it simply isn't working.

"We blocked in 2007," Lessard said of the last year's activities.

"In 2008 we're going on the offensive."

Southern Afghanistan has seen a steady rise in violence over the last year.

Both Kandahar and Helmand provinces have seen significant fighting to halt the Taliban's encroachment at a time when the insurgency has claimed hundreds of lives through a steady campaign of roadside bombings.

"The truth is there has been a 50 per cent increase in incidents, but people are forgetting that it's only at the end of 2006 that we had our full posture in Uruzgan, Helmand, and certain parts of Kandahar," Lessard said.

"So there has been an increase in incidents but what people tend to forget (is that) in every occasion the Taliban were blocked, they didn't achieve any real success."

The major-general, who most recently was assistant chief of land staff, has already broken with one of the traditions set by his predecessor, Maj.-Gen. Jacko Page.

Page never spoke to the media, save for a brief interaction with Afghan media over the summer that was closed to foreign journalists. At the time, he apologized for civilian casualties and promised to do better.

But minutes after taking command, Lessard was out in front of the cameras.

He acknowledged that much of the international community is now questioning the mission.

Two reports from prominent American advisers suggested the war in Afghanistan was being forgotten amid the higher-profile conflict in Iraq and that NATO was fighting a losing battle for control of the country.

In Canada, a recent report by an independent panel suggested Canada's combat effort end unless NATO provided 1,000 more troops and increased air resources in the south.

But Lessard said it's his job to do what he can "with the forces I have here."

"For me the important thing is to communicate what we're doing. It's not what's happening every day but it's to see the trend, how have things evolved in the last three, six or twelve months."

A reoccurring theme from senior officials in Afghanistan is that the situation is not getting worse, it's just different.

Even the head of the Canadian contingent in Kandahar suggested recently that the recent tempo on the battlefield remained the same as during the summer months - a startling observation given that winter is usually a quiet time for the insurgency.

But January has been a deadly month.

Four Canadian soldiers were killed, two from roadside bombs.

More than a dozen Afghans have also been killed by improvised explosive devices in Kandahar and an American aid worker and her Afghan driver were kidnapped. Their whereabouts remain unknown.

Insurgents also sent a suicide bomber into the international community's hotel of choice in Kabul, the Sereena, killing seven people.

In Helmand, a massive suicide bombing there killed the deputy governor of the province, along with five others.

At the change of command ceremony, the chief of staff for the Afghan army acknowledged the mounting death toll for both Afghans and international troops.

"Of course the people of Afghanistan will never forget the sacrifice and the efforts and the hard work of our friends in the international community," said Gen. Bismullah Khan.

"We are doing our best to stop (the losses) and have the Afghan National Army and the Afghan National Security Forces take the lead in the operations that can reduce the sacrifice and loss of our international friends."

Lessard said working closely with the Afghans remains essential but he also promised change was ahead for the way ISAF does business.

"All I will tell you is that where we have operations right now, it will be different six months from now," he said.

But for the moment, Lessard said, his priorities remain clear.

"Firstly, to increase security within the region in order to ensure the government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan exercises its legitimate authority," he said in his official remarks upon assuming command of the region.

"The second priority is to co-ordinate to the greatest extent, the aspects of governance and development within the overall security framework."

DND/Canadian Forces Senior Officer Biograohy:

MAJOR-GENERAL J.G.M. LESSARD, CMM, CD COMMANDER REGIONAL COMMAND (SOUTH)

Major-General Lessard joined the Canadian Forces under the Regular Officer Training Plan and graduated from the Collège Militaire Royal in Saint-Jean with a degree in Business Administration in 1978.

Upon commissioning, he served in a variety of regimental positions with the 1st and 3rd Battalions of the Royal 22e Regiment in Lahr and Valcartier. He also served with the Canadian Airborne Regiment in Petawawa.

From 1992 to 1994, Major-General Lessard commanded the 3rd Battalion and the 1st Battalion of his Regiment. He later commanded the Combat Training Centre as well as Canadian Forces Base Gagetown from 1997-99. As such, he was responsible for the Army's Individual Training. On posting to Kingston, he was appointed as Commandant of the Canadian Land Force Staff College from 1999-2001 and was subsequently appointed as the Deputy Commander, Striking Fleet Atlantic, in Norfolk, USA. During this posting, he was responsible for the preparation and the certification of Striking Fleet Atlantic as NATO's first operational Combined Joint Task Force Headquarters. Major-General Lessard commanded Land Forces Central Area from July 2003 to February 2005. Promoted to his present rank in February 2005 he served as Assistant Chief of the Land Staff from February 2005 to June 2007.

His staff experience includes two postings with the 1st Canadian Division Headquarters in Kingston. He was a member of the Canadian Forces Officer Development Review Board that oversaw training and education for the Canadian Officer Corps. He attended the Canadian Land Force Staff College, British Army Staff College and the US Army War College, during which he completed a Masters degree in Strategic Studies.

Amongst his operational experience, Major-General Lessard served overseas in Cyprus in 1985 as company second in command. He commanded the 1R22eR Battalion Group in Croatia with UNPROFOR in 1993-94. During this time his unit received the Commander UNPROFOR's Unit Commendation for excellence in operations in the Medak, Benkovac, and Obrovac Areas. He returned a second time to ex-Yugoslavia as Deputy Commander 5 Canadian Multinational Brigade in Bosnia with IFOR in 1996.

In June 2007, Major-General Lessard was appointed to be the next Commander Regional Command (South) deploying to Afghanistan in February 2008.

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