Russo-Ukrainian War 2014-26

[The Minsky Moment]

I don't recall the Canadian withdrawal from Afghanistan having anything to do with accusations of war crimes.  There was an inquiry about alleged Canadian involvement or role in detainee abuse, the report came out in 2012, which was after Canada had already ceased its active combat role, but two years before the withdrawal.   The withdrawal was not really controversial as it followed the broader plan to shift over security responsibilities to the Afghan army in 2014, which resulted in the "official" end of the entire NATO combat mission by the end of that year. 

Zoupa's take is . . . interesting, given that from 2003 - 2014 the Afghan war was a NATO operation so it really should be a "we" not a "you" . . .

From 2016 on, Afghanistan become a US show until the final withdrawal in 2021.  My view was and remains that in the latter 2016-2020 stage, the US reached a point where it was able to stabilize the security situation with a reasonable level of resource commitment and it would have been better to just stay the course.  Afghan governance remained hopeless but that's pretty much par for the course since the days of Alexander.

[Jacob]

Minsky - yes, the operation in Afghanistan was a NATO operation, sure, but my understanding is that strategy and command was primarily (if not exclusively) the purview of the US?

Canadians (and whoever else) are obviously responsible for the conduct of their personnel, including any crimes committed and so on, but the overall direction and duration of the operation (including the decision to engage in it to begin with) sits with American leadership. Is this incorrect?

[crazy canuck]

It was a long time ago, and so people may not remember this, but the very first picture that appeared in the news media of NATO troops apprehending Taliban prisoners in Afghanistan was a picture of Canadian troops, who were amongst the first in theatre.

There was such a rush to deploy that they were still wearing their green camouflage combat gear for Europe, and they did not have time to get desert gear.

[The Minsky Moment]

Minsky - yes, the operation in Afghanistan was a NATO operation, sure, but my understanding is that strategy and command was primarily (if not exclusively) the purview of the US?

Canadians (and whoever else) are obviously responsible for the conduct of their personnel, including any crimes committed and so on, but the overall direction and duration of the operation (including the decision to engage in it to begin with) sits with American leadership. Is this incorrect?

It's a little more complicated than that because ISAF was a truly multi-national force that in the earlier years (2003-2007) usually had a non-US commander, at least on paper, and there were periods of time when the US did not have the dominant force contingent.  At the same time, the US had contractors, special forces and other assets in the area.