'Brutal people who do brutal things'Published Friday August 6th, 2010
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Brig.-Gen. Jonathan Vance, a former battalion commander at Canadian Forces Base Gagetown, said the insurgency is seemingly involved in desperate actions - such as killing children - moves that fall below the level of its own code of conduct.
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Vance said it's key to get that message out because there's a tendency in the minds of some to think the insurgency has a sort of redeeming quality to it and that Afghans should be allowed to solve problems by themselves.
"I just utterly reject that argument because, the simple fact is, these are brutal people who do brutal things. Absence the security that we are trying to bring here (and) it would be a bloodbath."
The commander said people need to be reminded that Canadian and other coalition troops aren't dealing with an altruistic movement that's seeking to do anything good.
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With added coalition troops moving into the area, the insurgency is being squeezed, the commander said, and is doing what it can to make as big an impact as possible.
"My overall assessment is that this is kind of a last gasp of the insurgency," Vance said. "I think they realize they are gradually losing ground ... discrediting themselves.
"Every time they turn around, they are killing more civilians than ever.
"I think they're trying to take advantage of what, perhaps, appears as the last opportunity to cause mayhem and havoc. So, they resort to things like suicide bombings on kids, which is sick."
Vance said he believes Canadian troops are making a difference in Afghanistan.
http://dailygleaner.canadaeast.com/front/article/1165328 
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