Canadian military general says world is increasingly unstable

Increasingly volatile, unstable, and unpredictable, are words used to describe the future according to one of Canada’s top military leaders.

In an interview last week, Lieutenant-General Stuart Beare, says that increasing instability in regions around the world is one thing, but added to that now are new levels of unpredictability and volatility.

He says for those tasked with intervening in conflicts, understanding the situations and variables is becoming increasingly more complex.

Canada presently has about 1500 military personnel stationed in various areas around the world. When Canada wraps up its mission in Afghanistan next spring, that number is expected to drop to around 400.

Lt-Gen.Beare said even after the Afghan mission, the number of countries around the world  where Canadians are stationed  won’t change and in fact may increase. However, he made no comment about any future large scale commitments such as is the case for Afghanistan, saying those remain political decisions

He noted however that rather sudden eruptions like the Arab spring, the situation in Mali, Central African Republic (where French troops have just been deployed), and the evolving threats of trans-national terrorist groups and crime syndicates are examples of his concerns.

Not every problem requires a military solution,” he said. “And not every military intervention internationally requires Canadian forces or will demand Canadian forces. But understanding that is work” he said.

Meanwhile, as Canadians prepare to leave Afghanistan, Major-General Dean Milner, who directs NATO training for Afghan security forces, says Canada has made a big difference in that country.

He cites schools  as an example. Where once they were being blown up or set afire by Taliban, and children, especially girls kept away,  they have been rebuilt by Canadians and are now functioning with millions of boys, and girls in the classrooms.

While he says isolated attacks still occur, the Afghan security forces now control the roads and have been containing the Taliban with limited help from NATO troops.

He add the earlier Canadian fighting mission, and now training role has “really assisted the coalition and the Afghans”.