General: Canada in Afghanistan 20 years

A Canadian general said the country should be prepared to maintain a military presence in Afghanistan for at least 20 years.

Speaking at a conference north of Toronto, Maj. Gen. Andrew Leslie said the lengthy commitment is necessary to break Afghanistan's "cycle of warlords and tribalism," the Toronto Star reported Monday.

"There are things worth fighting for. There are things worth dying for. There are things worth killing for," Leslie said.

Monday, 43 Canadian soldiers left Fredericton, New Brunswick for Kabul, and by February, some 1,250 Canadian solders will be in Afghanistan.

Accordingly, Leslie said Canadians must expect loss of life.

"Every time you kill an angry young man overseas, you're creating 15 more who will come after you," he said.

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