By KRISTEN SPRUIT
Staff Writer Aside from the headlines splashed across the news of casualties or fallen soldiers, the average Canadian does not know the reality of the situation in Afghanistan.

Dan Jaworski, at the time 19, in his military gear in Afghanistan. He says he weighed more than 380 lbs with all his gear on, as opposed to his usual weight of 200 lbs. Submitted photo

With national security being a threat, the American government launched its controversial war on terrorism in an effort to overthrow the Taliban, which harboured al- Qaeda terrorists responsible for the attacks.

Canadian troops entered Afghanistan in early 2002 as part of a United Nations-sanctioned mission and to support their American allies and NATO, their most important bilateral partner. One of Canada’s significant roles has been its work in Kandahar province since the troops’ redeployment in 2006.

Dan Jaworski, 23, originally of Courtice, Ont., joined the reserves at 18 while in his first year of the physics and quantum mechanics program at the University of Waterloo. He says opportunities to serve with the Canadian Forces were available so he left school and after completing his training, he began his first tour of duty in Kandahar, Afghanistan in August 2006.

“There’s something about military structure, tradition, pride and what you do; it’s a job that not too many people can do. If you have the ability to do something, you should,” says Jaworksi.

As a combat engineer, Jaworski’s role was to “assist friendly forces to live, move and fight, and to deny the same to the enemy regardless of weather and environment.”

Canada’s role in Afghanistan is based on a 3-D approach - diplomacy, defense and development - in an effort to promote Canadian values such as democracy and freedom, and to help build a stable, democratic and self-sufficient society.

“That’s what makes this country awesome; you have upstanding young men and women voluntarily going somewhere, helping people that need it,” says Jaworksi.

Not only is this war complex due to the political history between the Middle East and the United States, but also because of the evolving war tactics.

“The Taliban is always in a state of flux. They don’t have a uniform. It can be organized at times or it can be sporadic,” says Jaworksi.

In late 2005, former Liberal defense minister Bill Graham said, “Canadians should not have illusions: this is a very demanding, and very dangerous mission. The region in Afghanistan where our troops will be deployed is one of the most unstable and dangerous in the country.”

The government has been criticized because of the millions of dollars being spent on the Afghan mission and improving the Canadian military when it already has about $500 billion in debt and is facing serious issues such as education, health care and unemployment at home.

In March 2004, Canada committed $250 million to aid in Afghanistan and an additional $5 million to support the Afghan election. The May 2006 and 2007 budget showed that an increase of $1.1 billion a year would be allocated to core funding in Afghanistan. An additional $200 million was dedicated to reconstruction and redevelopment activities.

According to the Department of National Defence, the government also spent $17.1 billion on new strategic and tactical airlift planes and helicopters, supply ships and transport trucks.

However, in order to foster change and make a lasting difference, troops must first create stability, says Jaworksi. Canada is a country that prides itself on its foreign policy on peacekeeping and promoting humanitarian issues.

“This is what I liked doing best, says Jaworski, “We ran humanitarian ops such as opening schools, making wells function, working on road construction [aside from working to remove the Taliban].”

In a televised interview with CNN in 2009, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said, “My own judgement is quite frankly we are not going to ever defeat the insurgency.

“What has to happen in Afghanistan is we have to have an Afghan government that is capable of managing that insurgency and improving its own governance.”

Jaworski said troops were working in close proximity with the Afghan army and police to train them to eventually take over.

Jeff Brazeau, 38, of Niagara Falls, served two tours of duty in Afghanistan. His first seven-month tour began the summer or 2006 and he was a platoon and company signaler. During his second eightmonth tour, beginning the summer of 2008, he was a company heavy weapons detachment commander.

“I always saw change for the better, which is the biggest part. It’s always good to see people break out of the mold that’s holding them down. “If you only even help one family, it makes it worth it, and it makes an impact.”

In support of the war in Afghanistan, 151 Canadians have died, 90 of which died because of improvised explosive devices.

Niagara Falls Liberal MPP Kim Craitor says “there’s no clear cut to either side of the issue, but since [the Canadian troops] are there, we’re going to support them.

“It’s a challenge to see these young people die though. They had their whole life ahead of them, they had families at home.”

After extending Canada’s pullout date more than once, Harper confirmed that combat troops will return to Canada in December 2011.