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Canada's new Chief of Defence Staff is already making headlines.

Enlarge Photo

The Canadian Press

Making headlines: Gen Walter Natynczyk (left), Canada's new Chief of the Defence Staff, addresses soldiers during his first visit with Canadian troops in Kandahar Province in Afghanistan, July 9.

But for all the wrong reasons.

After a five-day visit to Afghanistan earlier this month, Gen. Walter Natynczyk surprised some observers by painting a picture of the area that was positive and cheerful, despite data that suggested otherwise.

Independent analysis from the region reveals a 77 per cent surge in Taliban activity, including a recent attack on a U.S. outpost that saw nine American soldiers killed.

It has even been suggested that the U.S. is now losing more soldiers in Afghanistan than in Iraq.

On top of all this, there was a dramatic break recently from Kandahar's main prison. The escape didn't see just a few prisoners gain their freedom. Instead, about 1,100 inmates escaped, which included nearly 400 pro-Taliban militants.

Vigilant Strategic Services Afghanistan has reported a sharp increase in the number of suicide strikes, assassinations, mine explosions, mortar assaults, kidnappings and bombings by pro-Taliban insurgents this year. From January to July 6, there were 532 incidents compared to 300 last year.

Earlier this month, Canada lost its 87th and 88th soldiers in Afghanistan.

"We're generally along the same lines as we have been the past few years," Natynczyk said during a news conference at Kandahar Airfield. "Looking at the statistics, we're just a slight notch - indeed an insignificant notch - above where we were last year."

On Sunday, Natynczyk, appearing on CTV's Question Period, flip-flopped, acknowledging that insurgent attacks have increased year over year.

Natynczyk's task as Chief of Defence Staff is not only tough, but trying to fill the boots of Rick Hillier, his popular predecessor, must be a challenge.

If there is, in fact, a 77 per cent increase in Taliban attacks in the troubled country, then Natynczyk definitely got off to a bad start by not immediately acknowledging it.

While there have been improvements there, such as reconstruction and economic activity, it is important to be straight with Canadians from the beginning about what is happening with the Taliban and how it may affect our soldiers now and in the future. One hundred local soldiers are set to leave for Afghanistan in late August.

Even though Natynczyk is new on the job, he is an experienced soldier. He joined the Canadian Forces in 1975, spending his formative years on NATO duty in Germany with the Royal Canadian Dragoons in troop command and staff appointments.

In May 1994, Natynczyk began a year-long tour with the United Nations in the former Yugoslavia as Sector South-West Chief of Operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina within HQ 7 (UK) Armoured Brigade, then as the Chief of Land Operations for the United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR) in Zagreb, Croatia. He returned to Bosnia in 1998 as the Canadian Contingent Commander.

Natynczyk also attended the U.S. Army War College and was appointed Deputy Commanding General, III Corps and Fort Hood. In January 2004, he deployed with III Corps to Iraq, serving first as the Deputy Director of Strategy, Policy and Plans and then as the Deputy Commanding General of the Multi-National Corps (Iraq). He was appointed Vice Chief of the Defence Staff on June 28, 2006.

The Afghan mission has never been a popular one with the Canadian public and rosy proclamations in the face of apparent adversity will not make things better.

While a lot of Canadians have grudgingly accepted the Afghan assignment, that tolerance can rapidly evaporate should a perception emerge that things are not being told to us as they should be.

Natynczyk is a good soldier and a respected one. If experience means anything, the next time he gives a report card on Afghanistan, he will tell it as it is.

Michael Staples covers the military for The Daily Gleaner. He can be reached at staples.michael@dailygleaner.com