Qw - Cold Warriors

"In space, all warriors are cold warriors."

– Gen Chang – Star Trek: The Undiscovered Country

ALL 4 SOLDIERS IDENTIFIED: 'We will commit ourselves to their memory'

Officials have identified three more Canadian soldiers who were killed with a colleague in Afghanistan, as one of the grieving mothers described her son Tuesday as "very much a soldier."

Cpl. Glen Arnold, one of four Canadian soldiers killed in Afghanistan on Monday, was married and had four children. (Sgt. Ron Hartlen/DND/CP)

Pte. David Byers, 22, was identified after a suicide bomber attacked the soldiers in Kandahar on Monday. On Tuesday, the Department of National Defence said the attack also killed Cpl. Glen Arnold, reportedly based in Canadian Forces Base Petawawa, northwest of Ottawa; and Cpl. Shane Keating of Saskatoon and Cpl. Keith Morley, based at CFB Shilo in Manitoba.

Leona Arnold, who spoke from her home in McKerrow, Ont., said her 32-year-old son was "very much a soldier." She said she would not comment further until after his funeral.

The corporal was married and had four children another relative said earlier in the day. Arnold's parents live only a few kilometres from the home of Byers.

Byers, Keating and Morley were with the second battalion of the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, based in Shilo.

"All three of these men were proud citizens and exceptional examples of the men and women who serve this country, both at home and abroad," said Maj. Stephen Joudrey, acting commanding officer for 2PPCLI at CFB Shilo, on Tuesday.

"They were highly regarded friends and comrades. We will commit ourselves to their memory, and never forget they fell in the service to their country while trying to make the world a better place."

Joudrey said Keating worked as one of his subordinates, describing him as a "very pleasant, a very honest person."

"His peers have said that he was a sergeant in a corporal's body. He was far more mature than his age and his experience would tell you," Joudrey added.

The three Shilo-based soldiers were single, and their families did not live on the base, Joudrey said. They had been in Afghanistan since the end of July and in operations since the beginning of August.

Joudrey said the military is still discussing repatriation of the soldiers' bodies to Canada. As well, the base will hold a memorial service for the three men at a later date.

"For the 2nd Battalion, our efforts now focus on returning Shane, Keith and David to their families with dignity and honour," he said. "They have earned this, and they deserve this. This is our task."

Joudrey said he cannot confirm or deny reports that the men were handing out candy to local children when the attack occured, only saying that they were "conducting patrols in and around with the local population."

'Really good kid' among the victims

Cpl. Shane Keating, along with slain colleagues Pte. David Byers and Cpl. Keith Morley, was with the second battalion of the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, based in Shilo, Man. (Sgt. Ron Hartlen/DND/CP)

Late Monday, Byers's uncle said the family is grieving the loss of a "good kid."

Ian McKay described his nephew as a dedicated soldier, and said the news of his death has left his family overwhelmed with grief in the northern Ontario town of Espanola, west of Sudbury.
"I can't think straight," McKay told the Canadian Press by telephone from his home. "David was a really good kid. He was far too young to die."

McKay said Byers knew the dangers he faced when he was deployed to Afghanistan.
"That's what he went in for. He was prepared for it," he said.

Neighbours said Byers is survived by his parents and two brothers.

Bicyclist bomber got past security perimeter

Cpl. Keith Morley also died, while a number of Canadian troops and Afghan civilians were injured by the suicide bomber. (Sgt. Ron Hartlen/DND/CP)

The four soldiers were killed when a suicide bomber on a bicycle set off an explosive device near troops west of Kandahar. The troops were on foot when the attack occurred.
Canadian military officials told CBC News on Tuesday that there was a security perimeter around the area where the soldiers were mingling with Afghan civilians, but the bomber managed to get past it.

The soldiers who survived said the attacker was much older than the typical suicide bomber in Afghanistan. According to the military's profile of suicide bombers, they apparently tend to be younger men.

A ramp ceremony, in which the bodies of the four soldiers will be loaded onto a Canadian military transport plane for the journey home, is scheduled for Wednesday.

A number of Canadian soldiers were injured in Monday's attack, as well as dozens of Afghan civilians. The Canadian military said 10 of the injured soldiers were to be airlifted to Landsthul, Germany, for medical treatment.

With the latest deaths, 36 Canadian soldiers and one diplomat have been killed since Ottawa began the mission in early 2002. Canada currently has more than 2,000 troops in Afghanistan.

Last Updated Tue, 19 Sep 2006 16:41:09 EDT
CBC News

SUICIDE BOMBER KILLS 4 CANADIAN SOLDIERS, while they were giving out candy

Four Canadian soldiers were killed by a suicide bomber on a bicycle in southern Afghanistan on Monday while the troops were conducting a security patrol, according to the Canadian military.

One of the soldiers has been identified as Pte. David Byers of 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, based in Shilo, Man.

Family members of the three other soldiers who were killed requested that military officials not release their names at this time. The names of soldiers wounded in Monday's attack also haven't been made public.

"Plans are being made to medevac 10 Canadian soldiers who were injured in today's suicide attack to Landsthul, Germany, for further medical treatment," a National Defence release said. "Pending medical assessments, several other soldiers may also be sent to Germany. None of the soldiers have life-threatening injuries."

The bombing injured 27 civilians, including children, according to a statement by NATO. The Taliban has claimed responsibility. The attack occurred at 9:30 a.m. local time, about 30 kilometres west of Kandahar City.

Fraser said the suicide bomber rode his bicycle into a group of soldiers and civilians and detonated the explosive device. The military believes the device was attached to the bicycle.
In the opening session of the House of Commons today, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said the soldiers were handing out candy to children when the bomb exploded.

Fraser said the wounded soldiers were in stable condition and were initially taken by helicopter to military medical facilities in the region, including the Canadian-led multinational hospital at Kandahar airfield.

Two Afghan children injured in the attack were taken to the Canadian Provincial Reconstruction Team's camp in Kandahar City for treatment.

37 Canadians killed since 2002

With the latest deaths, 36 Canadian soldiers and one diplomat have been killed since the Canadian mission to the country began in 2002.

"The Taliban is a bunch of cowards," Fraser told reporters in Kandahar. "The Taliban continue to attack this country. They continue to attack the people. They attacked children today. That's about as cowardly as you can get." Fraser said the troops had been on patrol and were helping Afghan forces to provide a secure environment so that people could return to their homes after a military operation in the area.

The two-week NATO-led operation, known as Operation Medusa, displaced people living west of Kandahar. The bombing occurred in the Panjwaii district of Kandahar province, where the operation against the Taliban ended Sunday.

"This is our main effort right now," Fraser said, "helping the people get back to a normal life, and today, the Taliban attacked that."

Officials said two other bombings in Afghanistan on Monday killed a total of 13 Afghans. The other bombings occurred in Kabul and in the western part of the country.

Reconstruction is 'the overarching goal'

The Department of National Defence in Ottawa condemned the bicycle bombing, saying: "Cowardly Taliban attacks like this are an attempt to undermine Canadian and international efforts to help the Afghan people achieve peace and security."

"Reconstruction of Afghanistan, the overarching goal of Canada and of the international community, is inhibited by insurgency," the department said in a statement. "The Taliban have proven time and time again that they are opposed to the reconstruction of Afghanistan and the improvement of conditions for all Afghans."

NATO spokesman Mark Laity told CBC News earlier that officials were trying to determine the exact number of soldiers and civilians wounded in the first attack, but when suicide bombings occur, sometimes injured Afghan people make their own way to hospital and the exact casualty count is not clear.

"It's a fairly chaotic scene," he said. "We are not yet certain how many civilians were involved. At the moment, the number seems small."

NATO has said its troops killed more than 500 insurgents in the operation and called it a success, even though violence continues in the south.

"After the success of the Operation Medusa, where we pushed the Taliban out of a large area, we are trying to set up the conditions for non-combat rebuilding and reconstruction. So this was not a combat scene," Laity said.

'They are not defeated'

He said the Taliban remain a threat to the region. "They are not defeated. They suffered a significant defeat but they are still there and they are still active."

Canada has more than 2,000 soldiers in Afghanistan, mostly in the Kandahar region. On Friday, the Harper government announced that it was increasing the country's troop commitment to 2,500.

Qari Yousaf Ahmadi, who claims to be a spokesman for Taliban affairs in southern Afghanistan, told the Associated Press that Monday's bomber was an Afghan from Kandahar named Mullah Qudrat Ullah.

Ahmadi, whose ties to the Taliban are not known, said militants will continue attacking U.S., NATO and other coalition forces.

Fraser said Canadian troops will continue their humanitarian efforts, which will include handing out food, tarps and tractors to displaced people in southern Afghanistan.

Last Updated Mon, 18 Sep 2006 09:27:42 EDT
CBC News

QW - Wars Purpose

"The purpose of all war is peace."

- Saint Augustine, 354-430

OPERATION MEDUSA A 'SIGNIFICANT' SUCCESS: NATO

A top NATO general says the alliance's massive, two-week-long anti-Taliban offensive in southern Afghanistan has been "successfully completed."

Lieut.-Gen. David Richards, head of the 20,000 NATO-led force, hailed Operation Medusa in the insurgent stronghold of southern Afghanistan as a "significant success.''

Reconstruction and development efforts will soon begin in three southern areas, said Richards, after insurgents were forced to abandon their positions.

Operation Medusa was launched on Sept. 2 with the aim of clearing out Taliban fighters from a farming district near Kandahar.

NATO said hundreds of militants were killed and many were forced out of the district as a result of that operation.

"This has been a significant success and clearly shows the capability that Afghan, NATO and coalition forces have when they operate together," Richards told a news conference in London.

Convoy attacked

NATO's announcement comes on the same day three Canadian soldiers were slightly wounded and an Afghan civilian was killed when a suicide bomber attacked a military convoy in southern Afghanistan.

The bomber, who also died in the blast, plowed his vehicle packed with explosives into the Canadian convoy west of Kandahar city.

At least eight other civilians were also wounded in the attack. NATO is not releasing the identities of the injured soldiers.

A Canadian military vehicle was slightly damaged in the attack and the bomber's vehicle was destroyed, a reporter with the Associated Press said.

Canada has about 2,200 troops in southern Afghanistan. But that number is about to get higher as Canada prepares to send an additional 450 soldiers and up to 15 tanks to assist in the mission.

"First of all, we want to make sure they're well prepared, well trained and ready to go off to Afghanistan before we send them. So many of the soldiers won't go until later on this fall," Gen. Rick Hillier, chief of defence staff, said Sunday on CTV's Question Period.

"While we're sending those soldiers in, we're reducing the force in place now because we're handing over command of region south, on or about (the first of )November. . . . That means we'll top out at about 2,500 soldiers all together."

Canadians are 'stretched'

With the infusion of troops, Canadians will make up well over 10 per cent of the NATO contingent in Afghanistan.

NATO's top commander last week renewed an appeal for allies to urgently provide up to 2,500 troops for the battle with the relentless insurgents in southern Afghanistan.
Hillier said today that Canadians serving in the region are "stretched" in their resources, yet maintained that the military can "sustain this mission."

He conceded, however, that "one of the things we have to do is use our people -- all the men and women in uniform, air land and sea -- much better."

"In the past decade, I believe that we've done 100 percent of our deployed operations probably using not more than 45 to 50 per cent of the people in uniform. Now what we're going to do is use them all.

"There are many jobs, many tasks and many parts of the mission that don't have to be done by soldiers trained in combat operations."

One way Hillier said this would be accomplished is to address the often-heard complaint that there are too many people fighting the war from behind "desks."

"We're taking people from all those desks right across Canadian forces, out of every headquarters, out of every structured organization, and we're going to use them to sustain the operation," said Hillier, adding that troops will be rotated more efficiently.

"We'll use every single man and woman across the Canadian forces to the extent that we possibly can, better than we've done before, to sustain that mission and still keep the men and women in the forces healthy."

17/09/2006 1:44:57 PM

A SOLDIER'S LIFE - SGT R. STORRING

* Here are some interesting articles by a sergeant who is a signals operator with the CF *

Sgt. Russell Storring

- A Soldier's Life -

Russell Storring is a Sergeant with the Canadian Army, and has been a signals operator for the 15 years he has been in the military. He recently returned from his second tour of duty in Afghanistan, having served there previously in 2003, and with the UN in Rwanda in 1994. His columns give a first-person account from the field and the life of a soldier.

FEATURE COLUMN:September 13, 2006 We have to stay in Afghanistan"Staying the course is the only option. It is what the Afghans need, it is what Canada and the world needs, and it is what our fallen need to ensure their sacrifice was not in vain."

COLUMNS BY SGT. RUSSELL STORRING:
August 18, 2006A new unit, a different pace
July 5, 2006Canada dishonoured
June 19, 2006Preparing to leave Petawawa
May 1, 2006The move that wasn't
March 23, 2006Suck it up and wait
February 14, 2006Canadian soldiers and the cartoon controversy
February 8, 2006A certain pride
December 23, 2005Home again
December 14, 2005Our last days in Kabul
November 17, 2005A convoy to Kandahar
November 11, 2005Remembrance
October 17, 2005A different Afghanistan
August 9, 2005A surprise oasis
August 2, 2005Kabul revisited
July 18, 2005The final weeks
May 30, 2005Return to Kabul
January 26, 2005Memories and a look ahead
November 5, 200486 years for a pardon
August 19, 2004Summer changes
May 18, 2004A Routine of Sorts
April 20, 2004The past and the future
March 19, 2004Daily Life
February 23, 2004Reintegration
February 2, 2004Homecoming
January 15, 2004Leaving Afghanistan
December 30, 2003Christmas in Afghanistan
December 12, 2003Driving to Kabul
December 8, 2003CANCON Show in Kabul
December 2, 2003November Leave
November 10, 2003We'll lay a wreath and remember
October 29, 2003The return to normal
October 7, 2003My first thoughts: 'Who are they?'
September 23, 2003I'll be back on Halloween
September 2, 2003Kindergarten begins and Daddy’s in Afghanistan
August 18, 2003A Soldier's Story: Sleepless in Afghanistan
July 24, 2003A soldier father goes to Afghanistan

THE THIRD WORLD WAR

“In the year of the new century and nine months,
From the sky will come a great King of Terror…
The sky will burn at forty-five degrees.
Fire approaches the great new city…”
“In the city of York there will be a great collapse,
Two twin brothers torn apart by chaos
While the fortress falls the great leader will succumb…
Third big war will begin when the big city is burning”

*

*

- NOSTRADAMUS

*
On September 11th the world changed.

So has War changed.

COMMEMORATION TO THE HEROES OF 9-11

There are many qutoes that could sum up this day but the best two maybe are, "A shot hear around the world" or Franklin D. Roosevelt's speech the day after the attack on Pearl Harbour may suit better,"Yesterday, [September 11, 2002 was] a date which will live in infamy".

8:45 a.m. (all times are EDT): A hijacked passenger jet, American Airlines Flight 11 out of Boston, Massachusetts, crashes into the north tower of the World Trade Center, tearing a gaping hole in the building and setting it afire.

9:03 a.m.: A second hijacked airliner, United Airlines Flight 175 from Boston, crashes into the south tower of the World Trade Center and explodes. Both buildings are burning.

9:43 a.m.: American Airlines Flight 77 crashes into the Pentagon, sending up a huge plume of smoke. Evacuation begins immediately.

11:18 a.m.: American Airlines reports it has lost two aircraft. American Flight 11, a Boeing 767 flying from Boston to Los Angeles, had 81 passengers and 11 crew aboard. Flight 77, a Boeing 757 en route from Washington's Dulles International Airport to Los Angeles, had 58 passengers and six crew members aboard. Flight 11 slammed into the north tower of the World Trade Center. Flight 77 hit the Pentagon.

11:26 a.m.: United Airlines reports that United Flight 93, en route from Newark, New Jersey, to San Francisco, California, has crashed in Pennsylvania. The airline also says that it is "deeply concerned" about United Flight 175.

11:59 a.m.: United Airlines confirms that Flight 175, from Boston to Los Angeles, has crashed with 56 passengers and nine crew members aboard. It hit the World Trade Center's south tower.

On that day the world sat in awe staring at the unimaginable images displayed on their television screens. Some pondered what was ahead. Some worried, while others cried for those who were dead or dying. But today we should stop for a minute to commemerate those who gave their lives attempting to save others. They weren't soldiers but were police officers, fire fighters, nurses and doctors. So, today as you pass by one of these professionals stop and shake their hands or just smile at them and wish them a good day becasue without these people to help our day to day lives our country(s) would not be as great a place to live as they are. So, take the time to thank them for what they do for us because the ones that are gone we cannot thank .

LINKS TO CANADIAN / AFGANISTAN RELATED VIDEOS

Tribute to the Canadian Soldiers in Afghanistan

"A SOLDIERS TRIBUTE"

&

My new Video Canadians in Afghanistan Tribute

AT LEAST SOME CANADIANS ARE BEHIND THE TROOPS.

QW - World War IV

"I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones"

CAVEMEN

by Frank Frazetta

- Albert Einstein

Wounded Canadian soldiers return home

Several Canadian soldiers injured this week in Afghanistan arrived in Ottawa Friday evening.
CBC News

Cpl. Derick Lewis of the Royal Canadian Regiment

arrives at the Ottawa International Airport on Friday.

A Canadian Forces Airbus transported the 11 Canadian soldiers, who either sustained injuries from battle with the Taliban or during a friendly-fire incident. They were scheduled to be taken to the Civic Hospital in Ottawa.

The soldiers had been recuperating at a U.S. military hospital in Landstuhl, Germany.
The long-term prognosis for Pte. Michael Spence, wounded in the friendly fire incident on Monday "is not yet clear," his parents said Friday.

Spence, of Russell, Ont., "has moved his fingers and toes and has even attempted to speak to the doctors," Rick and Christina Spence said in a statement.

"We are very optimistic at this point, however we do realize that Michael has a long road of recovery ahead of him and it is not yet clear what the long-term prognosis is for our son. We can only hope and pray that he continues to recover well. He is young and very strong, and that will bode well for him."

Spence was among the seven Canadians badly wounded when U.S. aircraft mistakenly attacked them in the early morning as they readied to assault a Taliban stronghold near Kandahar. Pte. Mark Anthony Graham was killed in the attack.

Spence was placed in a medically induced coma with a serious head wound on Tuesday and had surgery earlier this week. On Wednesday, his neurosurgeon said Spence was improving.
Two of the approximately 30 soldiers injured recalled the incident for CBC's Carolyn Dunn in Kandahar on Friday.

"It was a light show," said one soldier, Francois. "I mean, you see that thing firing on the ground, it's gonna take some stuff out."

"It's terrifying," another, Jordan, added. "I'm mad. I'm disappointed. It's just part of war, I guess. People make mistakes."

Canadian commanders have said all but five of the wounded are expected to return to duty.
According to the Department of National Defence, the 10 returning to Canada (other than Spence) are:

- Cpl. Bruce Moncur.
- Cpl. Montgomery MacDonald.
- Cpl. Ryan Pagnacco.
- Cpl. Derick Lewis.
- Sgt. Kym Cousineau.
- Maj. Matthew Sprague.
- Master Cpl. Gary Mitchell.
- Pte. Walter Cummings.
- Capt. Michelle Mendes.
- Cpl. Matthew Belear.

08/09/2006 12:37:56 PM

AN AFGAN ODYSSEY; by Cpl. Brian Sanders

A Soldier's Diary from Afghanistan

Part 1: A perfectly designed ambush / July 2006

At home on leave, I had stopped by my local Legion, where an old war veteran asked me about my role in Afghanistan. Then he put his arm around me and told me that now we could share Remembrance Day together, every time the flag is lowered at Parliament.

I remained puzzled by his comments until just a couple weeks ago. Remembrance Day has a new meaning for me now.

Three guys in Ambulance - L-R Sanders, Creelman & Toezer

Every day in Afghanistan starts the same way, and this day had seemed no different. At 9 a.m. I received a warning order for what my superiors were calling "the Big Op," but to me it seemed just another operation, this one three days in the Panjwaii district.

The armoured ambulance I drive rolls at the rear, at least a kilometre away from the action, and normally the only time we go forward is after the fight to clean up and transport the wounded.
Packing for three days is easy: six pairs of socks, six pairs of boxers and two sets of combat fatigues, but also included is some mac 'n' cheese sent by a good friend of mine, an MP3 player, a crossword book, and the New Testament, sent by Josiah, the nine-year-old son of a friend.

As with every operation, I need to make sure this 13-tonne ambulance remains in top order. Oil levels are checked, grease nipples lubed, 48 hours of rations packed, and as much water stored as the vehicle can hold. After that, weapons are oiled and loaded. An ambulance is not meant as a fighting vehicle, but under enemy contact, we need to be as deadly as required.

The medic in the back of the ambulance is Cpl. Toezer, an ex-infantryman who re-enroled as a medic. He has taught me everything from how to insert IVs to dressing an amputation.
After Toezer finished preparing his end of the ambulance, we were greeted by our crew commander Cpl. Creelman. He's another outstanding soldier, a former combat engineer who re-enroled as a medic five years ago. He commands the vehicle and is responsible for the care of casualties from the time they are injured until they are removed via helicopter. Combined, the three of us with over 30 years of combat trade experience make up the most experienced ambulance crew in Afghanistan.

Secondary orders revealed we would not be leaving until 8 p.m. that night under the cover of darkness, providing time to relax and prepare ourselves. I walked over to the Burger King for my traditional pre-operation dinner, and three Whoppers later enjoyed a short nap. But before long I was standing ready by my ambulance. The compound was filled with three companies of vehicles, about 60 vehicles. After a quick radio check it was time to roll.

The trip to Panjwaii took about two hours, one of the quietest drives I've experienced here. The moon was full and cast an odd silhouette from our vehicles, which were driving in blackout mode without lights. The road changed from paved to gravel and then eventually faded into a wadi, or a dried-up riverbed.

A perfectly designed ambush

A couple of kilometres before our staging area, the radio broke silence. Air reconnaissance reported women and children leaving the area we were to occupy, a clear sign Taliban were in the area and prepared to fight. Even before the warning was completed all hell broke loose.

Bloodied stretcher

The light-armoured vehicle just in front of us flashed in silhouette as a rocket-propelled grenade exploded directly ahead. A perfectly designed ambush unfolded, a fury of bullets raining down on our column of vehicles, the sky filled with tracer rounds. A flood of contact reports came over the radio. The enemy, dug in, gave us everything they had.

Our vehicles returned machine-gun fire while soldiers armed with C7 rifles returned shots from the air sentry hatches in the vehicles. The turrets of our light-armoured vehicles, mounted with 25 mm Chain guns, engaged Taliban in bunkers that circled us.

The initial contact lasted about two hours and produced some of the most intense fighting any of us had seen. The sound of bullets whizzing past my head was almost comforting, as I knew they weren't too close. Then the bullets starting cracking, a sound that means they're just missing.
No sooner had I lowered my seat to use the periscopes than bullets began striking our vehicle. I reached for my camera and mounted it outside my hatch to videotape the chaos, thinking it would serve later to remind me of how safe we are in Canada.

It's hard to explain the feelings that passed through me at this time. It was unreal, but 12 years of training and field exercises in Canada designed to prepare me for this day were having their proper effect.

Shortly after the enemy fled into the neighbouring village, reports of injured starting coming in, which meant it was our time to get busy. The only injured were the enemy, proving the value of our armoured vehicles once again. Regardless of which side the injured were fighting on, our job as medics is to sustain life.

In this case the injured enemy was on the other side of a mud wall and could not be easily moved because of seven bullet wounds. Without a second thought, I drove straight through the three-metre wall and came to a rest beside the injured combatant, whose perilous condition suddenly made this fight seem very real.

Toezer jumped out of the back and began to bandage bleeding wounds, but shortly after determined his patient had a collapsed lung. He pulled out a huge needle, fingered down the rib cage and then in a single motion jabbed him with the needle. It was shocking to see, and I asked him what the heck he had just done.

"Ever see the movie Three Kings? Toezer asked, and then I remembered its graphic description of how to treat a collapsed lung. The movies are not always just Hollywood tricks.
A few minutes passed before the injured man was put on a stretcher and moved to the back of the ambulance. A helicopter was ordered and we drove to the landing site.

By this time the first light from a rising sun had begun to show on the horizon, and our battlefield revealed itself. Not even five minutes into the evacuation, the radio was jammed again with contact reports. Above the roar of the vehicle we heard gunshots and explosions. My foot slammed the accelerator to speed delivery of our casualty so we could return to provide assistance.

More casualties: Priority one

Ten minutes passed before we returned to the fight, halting this time near a school destroyed by the Taliban inside the abandoned village. I sat with my head poking out of the driver's hole, listening to the fight 500 metres away, when rounds started coming in at us. More cracking of bullets before I reminded myself to drop my seat and take cover.

Seconds later the radio called for a medical evacuation, which required driving through the firefight to the opposite side of the village to grab our casualties. This time there were four of them, all coalition forces. Over the intercom Creelman instructed me to follow the armoured vehicle in front of us, which would provide our fire support.

Evacuation helicopter

We entered what seemed like a video game come to life — rounds flying everywhere, Apache helicopters firing rockets, and A-10 fighter jets dropping munitions — but this was an experience beyond any simulation. Once through the firefight, and behind the protection of a mud wall, we arrived on the company Sgt. Maj. with the first batch of casualties — some shrapnel wounds, and one Afghan national army soldier (one of the good guys) with a bullet through his neck. How lucky was this guy — the bullet went in and out without hitting anything vital. He was conscious and breathing.

Again the helicopter was ordered and we returned through the firefight to the landing site. By this time the adrenalin was wearing off and fatigue setting in, but I shook it off, just in time to hear we had more casualties — a priority one this time. That's never good, and Toezer prepared for the worst. After driving back through the battle, we arrived at the casualty collection point, but found nobody there yet. Over the radio we were told the casualty was not breathing and had no pulse. They had stopped trying to resuscitate the soldier.

An eerie feeling filled the air as we waited to receive the casualty. Creelman asked if I knew how to get back to the landing site without his guidance. I nodded, and he said he would be in the back with Toezer trying to bring our friend back to life. After what seemed a long wait, our casualty arrived and we were off.

Minutes later we were at the landing site where the helicopter was waiting. I dropped the ramp and jumped out of the ambulance to assist. Creelman and Toezer were working non-stop with CPR and mouth-to-mouth. Within seconds, our fallen comrade was on the bird and whisked away.

Rest in peace my friend, you will be remembered always. I will pay tribute to you every Nov. 11.

Part 2: Here's a straw. Suck it up

Twenty hours had passed since the initial contact, and the sounds of bullets had faded to a familiar background noise. We moved into a staging area 100 metres behind a targeted area, a building where two insurgents refused to give up. We fired artillery, RPGs, 25 mm rounds and even Apache Hellfire rockets into this building, and still they continued to fight. The radio informed us that next they would be dropping something big.

Two more casualties were radioed in, and again we drove to pick up two injured soldiers. "Doc!" one of them screamed, "Are they all right?" Puzzled, we loaded him on a stretcher. "Are they still there?" he yelled again.

Mac and cheese before taking a nap

"What are you talking about?" Toezer asked, and then the casualty exposed his crotch, where he had a small shrapnel wound, but one that missed his children-maker by millimetres. Toezer ensured him everything was intact.

The laughter from our much-relieved casualty was broken by the deafening crack of a 2,000-pound bomb destroying the enemy bunker. Soldiers cleared the area and found a reinforced tunnel inside the building. We took off to the landing site and transferred our casualties.

The battle finally subsided after 34 hours of fighting. We pulled into a wheat field and set up a small medical station to deal with minor ailments. The companies rolled through our resupply point before they headed off to a staging area to replenish supplies and eat. We saw about 20 patients, most of them just dehydrated or with minor shrapnel wounds requiring a bandage — and a straw. When I asked Creelman what the straw was for, he laughed.
"Suck it up and carry on."

Wake-up call

It was now time for some personal maintenance. Mac 'n' cheese and a good read kept me company until I fell asleep on the ground. A few hours later I was woken to provide sentry duty for an hour. When you train in Canada, the enemy is just our guys playing a part. There's no threat of bullets, just embarrassment if they sneak by you. But in Afghanistan the fear of being shot keeps your eyes open better then any cup of Tim Hortons coffee.

As the sun peeked over the horizon, our company moved to a staging area north of Panjwaii, 48 hours into the operation. The enemy was defeated and the local population had reclaimed their village. Creelman left for orders, Toezer filled out a resupply request and I refuelled the vehicle.
An hour later Creelman returned. "I don't know how to tell you this, guys, but we are not going back. The British to the north have been receiving a lot of contacts, and they don't have the resources to resupply. We are going to be out here for a lot longer then we thought. Relax for the next six hours, and then we are pushing about five hours north."

It was a good thing I'd packed for another couple of days. I reached into the ambulance and grabbed our satellite phone. The best thing about our army is that they supply a phone so you can call home and talk to friends. As you are talking, you can close your eyes and imagine yourself sitting on your couch at home, talking on the phone. For a minute, it takes you away from the arid lands of Afghanistan.

I curled up beside the front tire of my ambulance and looked at the stars. Every minute or two, you could spot a falling star, which to anyone else would be spectacular. Here I flinched, waiting for a big boom. If 10 seconds passed without a boom, I knew it was just a star. Finally I caught a little sleep.

MILITARY OFFICIALS IDENTIFY THIRD CANADIAN KILLED ON WEEKEND

Canadian military officials have released the name of the third soldier killed during a massive anti-Taliban operation in Afghanistan on the weekend.

Sgt. Shane Stachnik of 2 Combat Engineer Regiment, based at CFB Petawawa, Ont., was one of four Canadians killed Sunday during a fierce battle with Taliban fighters in southern Afghanistan, officials said on Monday. His age and hometown were not released.

The names of two other soldiers who died were made public on Sunday, while the family of the fourth soldier has asked that the name be withheld.

Warrant Officer Frank Robert Mellish and Warrant Officer Richard Francis Nolan were both members of the 1st Batallion, Royal Canadian Regiment, based in Petawawa.

Mellish, who grew up on Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia, was married with two young children.

Nolan was from Newfoundland and leaves behind his common-law partner Kelly, also a soldier in Afghanistan, along with three school-aged sons and teenaged stepdaughter.

Six other members of the Canadian military were wounded in Sunday's ground assault.

Base struggles to cope with losses

As CFB Petawawa struggled to cope with the loss of three members of its community, they learned of another Canadian death on Monday — the fifth in less than 24 hours.
A Canadian soldier was killed when two U.S. jets mistakenly fired on a Canadian platoon during the same anti-Taliban battle, Operation Medusa. The soldier has not been identified.
Soldiers from Petawawa make up the bulk of the roughly 2,300 Canadians serving in Afghanistan.

Joseph Johns, a chaplain at CFB Petawawa, said soldiers who go to Afghanistan know the dangers they face.

"Since 9/11, those of us who wear the uniform understand that we have a very special responsibility to the country and to the endeavours of our government, especially with regard to maintaining freedom in the world," said Johns.

"That comes with a price."

Last Updated Mon, 04 Sep 2006 20:51:55 EDT
CBC News

NOLAN; Remembered as dedicated Soldier & Father

Flags at the Newfoundland and Labrador legislature are flying at half-mast Tuesday, to honour a Newfoundland soldier killed in battle in Afghanistan.

Warrant Officer Richard Nolan was one of four Canadians killed in combat on Sunday.
Warrant Officer Richard Francis Nolan was killed in Afghanistan on Sunday. (Courtesy DND)He and his common-law partner, who is also serving in Afghanistan, were based at CFB Petawawa in Ontario, where Nolan's mother cared for the couple's four children.

Sarah Proulx, Nolan's next-door neighbour in Petawawa, described him as a dedicated soldier and father, and said the community is in shock.

"I'm still numb. I can't believe that it happened," Proulx told CBC News.
"Rick's been only gone a month. We talked many times about them going over, and they said, 'That's our job. We're soldiers.'"

Nolan was killed while Canadians were battling Taliban fighters during a major offensive aimed at taking control of two dangerous districts in southern Afghanistan. Also killed were Warrant Officer Frank Robert Mellish, Sgt. Shane Stachnik and an unidentified fourth soldier.

Padre Joseph Johns said the atmosphere at the base has been sombre since residents learned of the deaths.

"When events like this occur, it happens to us as a family and we respond to it as a family," Johns said.

"We mourn, we grieve, but we also carry on with the task at hand of caring for each other."
Johns said the base will prepare Tuesday for the repatriation ceremony for the soldiers' remains.

Last Updated: Tuesday, September 5, 2006 7:18 AM NT
CBC News

CANADIAN TROOPS HONOUR FALLEN SOLDIERSIN CEREMONY

Canadian soldiers said goodbye on Tuesday to five comrades killed on Sunday and Monday while taking part in a major offensive in southern Afghanistan.

About Canadian 800 soldiers gathered at Kandahar airfield and a piper played as five flag-draped coffins were carried onto a C-130 Hercules airplane. Some of the pallbearers were crying.

Sgt. Shane Stachnik, Warrant Officer Frank Mellish and Warrant Officer Richard Nolan and an as-yet-unidentified soldier were killed on Sunday during fighting with Taliban insurgents in the Panjwaii district of Kandahar province.

Pte. Mark Graham died on Monday when two U.S. aircraft mistakenly fired on a Canadian platoon during the operation.

All of the identified soldiers were based at CFB Petawawa.

The Canadians are taking part in a major operation aimed at taking control of two dangerous districts west of Kandahar City.

The plane carrying the coffins is expected to arrive at CFB Trenton in eastern Ontario late Wednesday.

Lieut. Grant McDonald, a platoon commander, told the Canadian Press that the deaths of the two warrant officers will affect the troops because warrant officers provide stability, but he said the soldiers are eager to return to the fight against the Taliban.

"The warrant officer is basically like a grandfather to the platoon," he said. "He provides advice and a lot of stability to the platoon and he's someone who the troops look towards as a strong leader."

After the ceremony, Canadian soldiers did return to the fight to clear the Taliban from their strongholds.

"No one wants to sit and wait for anything," McDonald said. "We'd rather get out there and take the fight to the enemy and give them our two cents."

Thirty-one Canadian soldiers have died since Canada first sent troops to Afghanistan in early 2002. Canada has about 2,200 soldiers stationed in Afghanistan, mainly in Kandahar.
In addition to fighting the Taliban insurgency, Canadians are helping to rebuild the country which was left in ruins after decades of war.

The five deaths during the most recent fighting, known as Operation Medusa, are the most sustained by Canada within 24 hours since early 2002.

Last Updated Tue, 05 Sep 2006 07:09:52 EDT
CBC News

CANADIAN KILLED BY FRIENDLY FIRE IN AFGANISTAN

Two U.S. warplanes accidentally strafed their own NATO forces in southern Afghanistan on Monday, killing one Canadian soldier and wounding more than 30 others.
CTV.ca News Staff

Private Mark Anthony Graham,

a member of 1st Battalion,

The Royal Canadian Regiment, based in Petawawa, Ontario

The soldier has been identified as Pte. Mark Anthony Graham, a member of 1st Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment, based in eastern Ontario's CFB Petawawa.

The friendly fire incident occurred around 5:30 a.m. when soldiers trying to seize a Taliban stronghold along the Arghandab River requested air support.

NATO said in a statement that the International Security Assistance Force provided the support but "regrettably engaged friendly forces during a strafing run, using cannons." It later identified the planes as U.S. A-10 Thunderbolts.

NATO spokesman Maj. Scott Lundy said five of the more than 30 wounded soldiers were seriously injured and evacuated out of Afghanistan for medical treatment.

"It was a scene of absolute chaos this morning at the airport near the hospital. We were there as helicopter after helicopter ferried in the wounded," CTV's Matt McClure reported from Kandahar.

Brig.-Gen. David Fraser, the Canadian in charge of NATO forces in southern Afghanistan, said Operation Medusa will continue despite the casualties.

"This has been a tough hit, but Canadians are continuing the fight," he said in a statement released Monday.

CTV News has learned that the United States will launch its own probe into the incident, in addition to a NATO investigation currently underway.

"There has not been any official reaction from the United States government, but CTV News has learned Ambassador David Wilkins -- the U.S. ambassador in Canada -- phoned Prime Minister Stephen Harper first thing this morning," CTV's David Akin told Newsnet.
Wilkins expressed the regret of the U.S. government over the tragedy, and also indicated the government would launch its own investigation.

In Afghanistan, Fraser told reporters that friendly fire incidents are always a risk that soldiers must face.

"We do have procedures, we do have communications, we do have training and tactics and techniques and procedures to mitigate the risk but we can't reduce those risks to zero,'' he said in a news conference at Kandahar Airfield.

"The Canadian forces and the rest of armed forces of the world and the international community wouldn't be here if it wasn't dangerous.''

Monday's friendly fire incident was the second such incident since Canadians began operations in Afghanistan more than four years ago.

Four soldiers were killed and eight others wounded in April 2002 when an American F-16 fighter mistakenly bombed Canadians on pre-dawn training exercise.

The friendly fire death comes just one day after another four Canadian soldiers were killed and six wounded during Operation Medusa, a mission aimed at purging militants from the Taliban stronghold of the Panjwaii district west of Kandahar.

Two of the dead were identified Sunday as Warrant Officer Frank Mellish and Warrant Officer Richard Nolan, both of 1st Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment, based at CFB Petawawa, Ont.
The third was identified Monday as Sgt. Shane Stachnik of 2 Combat Engineer Regiment based in Petawawa.

The name of the fourth was still being withheld at the request of the family.
Mellish was born in the small Nova Scotia town of Truro. The town lost another soldier just last month -- Cpl. Christopher Reid, killed during a battle with insurgents on Aug. 3.
"It's quite a shock," said Truro Mayor Bill Mills. "When I first heard the story this morning ... I had no idea that one of those gentlemen was from our area."

The battle continues

The past two days' deaths occurred as part of Operation Medusa, aimed at purging Taliban insurgents from the dangerous Panjwaii area, the site of intense fighting in recent weeks.
Taliban insurgents put up a stiff fight, using small arms and rocket propelled grenades to defend their positions.

Despite the casualties, NATO officials are maintaining that the offensive has been a success, estimating that 200 Taliban militants had been killed and 80 seized.
But a Taliban leader in south and southeastern Afghanistan rejected those claims as propaganda.

"They are saying that they have killed 200 Taliban but they did not kill even 10," Mullah Dadullah told the Associated Press in a satellite phone call from an undisclosed location.
Dadullah also warned that his fighters would "target" journalists who reported "wrong information."

The latest fatalities came as NDP Leader Jack Layton repeated his call for ending the Afghanistan mission in February 2007.

"Young people have stepped forward to put their lives on the line, fulfilling a mission that they were asked to fulfill," Layton told reporters in Toronto.

"What we as Canadians need to do is consider whether this is indeed the right mission for Canada going forward. Our view is that it is the wrong mission."

Prime Minister Stephen Harper did not address the possibility of a troop withdrawal in a statement on Sunday, in which he offered his condolences to the friends and families of those killed.

"We are proud of these soldiers' contribution to bring stability and hope to the people of Afghanistan," said Harper.

"These soldiers lost their lives in the service of their country. Canada is grateful for that service, and saddened by this loss."

05/09/2006 5:53:26 AM

FRANK MELLISH & RICK NOLAN

My condolences go out to Frank & Rick's friends and family. Frank & Rick were a good men and excellent soldiers...they will be greatly missed.

I have known Frank for a very long time. We first really got to know each other when we served together in Crotia in 94-95 in Recce Platoon.

At the time we refered to him as the most photographed solider in NATO. His previous tour in Africa resulted in a slue of photos of him while on patrol, which were constantly turing up in military and civilian publications a like. But I didn't expect to see these types of pictures of Frank.

Here is Frank Mellish on the cover of a military mag

when he was on patrol in Africa in 1993.

If it appears that Frank is a little disgusted, well he told me later that he was pissed. The camera man that was along for the patrol was getting on his nerves because he was continually taking pictures of him becoming a distraction and a burden.

As for Rick I had not known him for as long. We had done our Small Arms Instructor course together and he struck me as level-head, knowledgeable individual. We never became friends but we would always stop to chat when we happened to bump into each other.

As my Ex-unit headed over to Afganistan I dreaded what was in store for the ones that I had worked with for so long.

4 CANADIANS KILLED; 9 injured in Afghan battle

Four Canadian soldiers have been killed and nine others wounded, one seriously, during a ground assault on an insurgent position as part of a major NATO offensive in southern Afghanistan.

Warrant Officer Frank Robert Mellish, left,

and Warrant Officer Richard Francis Nolan.

Brig.-Gen. David Fraser, the Canadian Forces general who commands the NATO forces in southern Afghanistan, said Sunday that the Canadians died during an air and ground offensive against the Taliban that started in southern Kandahar province a day earlier.

Two of the soldiers have been identified as Warrant Officer Frank Robert Mellish and Warrant Officer Richard Francis Nolan, both members with the 1st Batallion, Royal Canadian Regiment, based in Petawawa, Ont., the Department of National Defence said in a release Sunday.

The military did not say how old they were and would not say when the names of the other soldiers would be released. All of their families have been notified. The families of two soldiers requested that their names not be released at this time, the DND said.

"Let's just have our hopes and prayers with people who are grieving tonight," Fraser said at a news conference in the city of Kandahar.

"They were moving into a position," Fraser said, explaining how the Canadians were killed. "They came under insurgent attacks and during these attacks they succumbed to injuries from the insurgents."

Gordon O'Connor, minister of National Defence, said in a statement that nine others were wounded. Fraser also said one Canadian soldier had been seriously wounded, but the other wounded soldiers are all expected to return to their duties within days.

Fighting was continuing late into Sunday night as U.S. jets and helicopters bombed and strafed suspected Taliban positions, the Canadian Press reported.
Neighbour recalls soldier's 'genuine soul'

A neighbour of Nolan in Petawawa described him as a committed soldier with a "genuine soul" who took the most pleasure in spending hours playing outside with his three school-aged sons and teenaged stepdaughter.

"I'd be out working in my garden, and I would hear him with his children ... just giving them perfect guidance," Sarah Jane Proulx told the Canadian Press Sunday.

Nolan's children are being cared for by his mother who came from his home province of Newfoundland to look after the kids while their parents were overseas, she said.

Both Nolan and his common-law partner Kelly were serving six-month stints in Afghanistan, but were not posted to the same part of the country.

'Serious damage' as 200 Taliban killed

Canada has more than 2,200 troops in NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). In Operation Medusa, which is being led by the Canadians, most of the force's combat units have been fighting alongside troops from Afghanistan, the U.S. and Britain.

The NATO operation aims to drive Taliban militants from their strongholds in the Zhari and Panjwaii districts near the city of Kandahar.

"We will continue operations here. Despite these losses, Operation Medusa will continue," Fraser said. "ISAF is determined to remove the Taliban threat from this region. We're making good progress."

In the first two days of the NATO offensive, 200 Taliban militants were killed and 80 others captured, Fraser said. An additional 180 insurgents were seen fleeing the region.

"This operation, which is continuing on tomorrow, has inflicted severe damage to the Taliban capability," Fraser said.

Soldiers 'surprised' at Taliban resistance

The Canadians moved in with light armoured vehicles in the early morning after NATO forces had pounded enemy positions for more than 24 hours with helicopter gunships, artillery and bombs.

Taliban insurgents put up a stiff fight, using small arms and rocket-propelled grenades to hit back at the Canadians, who later returned to their own stronghold.

Some soldiers expressed surprise at how stubbornly Taliban fighters had defended their ground, near a river valley that cuts a green ribbon through this desert area west of Kandahar city. Others noted NATO commanders had given everyone, including the enemy, a few days of advance notice before starting Operation Medusa in Panjwaii district.

"Truthfully, I was surprised by the resistance they put up," said Maj. Geoff Abthorpe, commander of Bravo Company of Task Force Kandahar and a member of the Royal Canadian Regiment.

"We came at them with what I perceived to be a pretty heavy fist."
The latest deaths bring to 31 the total number of Canadian soldiers killed since the mission in Afghanistan began in 2002.

The last time the Canadian Forces suffered as many deaths in one day was Aug. 3 when two roadside bombings and a hail of rocket-propelled grenades killed four Canadians and injured 10. Most of those casualties occurred near the village of Pashmul within Panjwaii district.

Latest deaths spark calls to end mission

Prime Minister Stephen Harper expressed his condolences on Sunday to the family and friends of the soldiers, and paid tribute to their colleagues who continue their dangerous mission.

"While deeply saddened by this loss, I hope the families may find some solace in the knowledge that they do not grieve alone and that Canada will not forget the heroism of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice," Harper said in a statement released Sunday afternoon.

"They will be sorely missed by their comrades in Afghanistan who carry on with our mission there, serving our country with tremendous professionalism, skill and determination."

NDP Leader Jack Layton, during a news conference in Toronto on Sunday, reiterated his call to get Canadian soldiers out of Afghanistan.

"This is the wrong mission for Canada. It's not balanced. It doesn't represent the equilibrium between humanitarian aid, reconstruction and comprehensive peace process that Canadians would want to see," he said.

Last Updated Sun, 03 Sep 2006 23:02:17 EDT
CBC News

MORE FROM MSN: 4 CANADIANS DEAD

Four Canadian soldiers were killed and six wounded during a major NATO offensive in the volatile district of southern Afghanistan on Sunday.

Brig. Gen. David Fraser speaks at a news conference

announcing the deaths of four Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan.

"I am saddened to announce that four Canadian soldiers were killed during today's operations and a number of others were wounded" in the Panjwaii district, west of Kandahar, said Canadian Brig.-Gen. David Fraser at a news conference.

"All but one of the wounded is expected to return to their duties within the next few days."
Fraser offered his condolences to the families of the victims, but only two of the fallen soldiers have been identified: Both are members of 1st Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment, based in CFB Petawawa in eastern Ontario.

They had been in the Canadian Forces for more than fifteen years and were veterans of several overseas missions. They also leave behind a spouse and children -- Nolan had three sons and one stepdaughter.

"I can tell you first and foremost that Frank and Rick were dedicated fathers to young boys, and I think that is what should define them -- that there core family values were extremely strong," said Maj. Peter Scott.

An official with NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said the soldiers died when they were hit by enemy fire in fighting in Panjwaii district, west of the city of Kandahar.

Of the six wounded soldiers, two reportedly suffered light enough injuries for them to stay on in the combat area.

Fraser said that despite the deaths, the operation was a success.

According to ISAF, "more than 200 Taliban fighters have been killed since the beginning of operation Medusa early Saturday morning" in the Panjwaii district, said Fraser.

Further, he said more than 80 suspected Taliban fighters have been captured by the Afghan national police, and "an additional 180 insurgents were seen fleeing the district."

The major air and ground offensive -- dubbed Operation Medusa -- includes Canadian, British and American troops fighting alongside Afghan forces in Kandahar province.

The goal is to take control of the Taliban stronghold of Panjwaii, which covers an area roughly between 20 and 40 kilometres west of Kandahar city -- an area where Canadian troops have suffered casualties before, during heavy battles with Taliban insurgents in which at least six Canadians have died and 32 wounded.

"Despite these losses, Operation Medusa will continue,'' Fraser said. "ISAF is determined to remove the Taliban threat from this region."

Col. Fred Lewis, commander of the Canadian contingent, said he expected his troops to encounter fierce resistance from Taliban guerrillas during this mission.

"I think we're talking in the neighbourhood of hundreds" of fighters, said Lewis on Saturday. "Certainly not thousands, not tens. Might they just fade away? If they're smart, they will."

NATO said there were no reports of civilian casualties, despite the heavy bombardment in the area. However, Afghan defence officials said earlier that an uncertain number of civilians are dead after two days of fighting in the region.

A NATO statement said forces had gained ground during the operation, which was continuing Sunday.

McClure, the only reporter embedded with Canadian troops during the mission on Saturday, said commanders appeared confident during the heavy offensive.

"In the back of their minds, though, I think they knew that this was not going to be easy," said McClure.

The Taliban fighters "were well dug in, in their defensive positions in those vineyards, in the mud wall compounds and the verdant valley -- one of the rare bits of greenery you find here in Afghanistan -- and that it might come to tough house-to-house fighting, which Canadians have been trained to handle but haven't seen a lot of up until this recent tour."

He added: "As one soldier we're told said on the ground this morning shortly after the incident: 'We had our nose bloodied today."

03/09/2006 11:29:40 PM

QW - A Private Little War

"War isn't a good life, but it's life."

**

– James T. Kirk from "A Private Little War"

CANADIAN TROOPS LAUNCH OFFENSIVE; into Taliban hotbed

Canadian forces launched their latest offensive into a Taliban hotbed west of Kandahar, while there are reports a NATO plane crashed in Afghanistan, killing 14 British troops.

Canadian combat units, along with other NATO and Afghan forces, moved into the area about 30 kilometres west of Kandahar.
"It's in an area where Canadian troops have taken casualties," said CTV's Matt McClure on Saturday from Kandahar, ". . . and where they've also been involved in heavy battles trying to take this territory early this year."
No casualties have been reported so far in the mission, dubbed Operation Medusa.
Canadian battle group commander, Col. Omer Lavoie, told CTV News that his soldiers have gained the upper hand against the militants despite meeting some resistance.
"We were ambushed en route about four o'clock in the morning. But my platoon . . . dealt with the ambush, engaged and destroyed the enemy, and for the rest of it we moved in here with no resistance," said Lavoie.
"We certainly own the dominating ground now in Panjwai district."
Pro-government forces then proceeded to move into the district, backed by artillery and air support as they prepared to move across the Arghandab River into Pashmul area -- known as the heart of the Taliban stronghold.
The commander of the Canadian contingent said fierce fighting is expected with Taliban guerrillas in this latest mission.
"I think we're talking in the neighbourhood of hundreds" of fighters, said Col. Fred Lewis. "Certainly not thousands, not tens. Might they just fade away? If they're smart, they will."
At least six Canadians have died and 32 were wounded in dozens of bomb attacks, ambushes and pitched battles in the area, according to reports compiled by The Canadian Press.
The area was the scene of a major operation at the start of the summer, known as the Battle of Panjwai. Commanders then claimed to have broken the back of the insurgency there, but coalition troops withdrew and the Taliban took over again.
"This time, the Brigadier General David Fraser said it's going to be different, and that they're going to hold this area," said McClure.
"Either Canadian forces and/or Afghan forces are going to be there, they say, in numbers so that the Taliban can't move in."
Lewis said, however, that the bulk of Canadian troops will eventually again withdraw.
"I don't think it will be Canadians" securing the area after Operation Medusa," Lewis said. "I think it will be Afghan led."

02/09/2006 1:19:52 PM

FROM AN AMERICAN: "Thanks, Canada"

On April 22, 2006 four Canadian soldiers were killed in Afghanistan by a roadside bomb.Respects and heartfelt sadness go to the families of those heroes who stand alongside the U.S.in the Long War half a world away. While we focus on the war in Iraq, the fighting continues inAfghanistan where side-by-side the U.S. and one of its most loyal allies, Canada, engage there-emergence of the Taliban.

Canada is like a close uncle who constantly argues, badgers, and complains about what you aredoing, but when help is truly needed, you can't keep him away: he's right there alongside you.We have a unique relationship with Canada. We have different political positions on manyissues, but our unique friendship has weathered world wars, global crises, and theever-so-often neighborhood disagreement.

Canada has been with us since the beginning of the Global War on Terrorism. In February 2006,without fanfare Canada, leading a multinational force combating growing Taliban insurgency,increased troop strength in Afghanistan to 2,300. With the American military stretched thinagainst rising instability in both Iraq and Afghanistan, an ally that increases its troopstrength is inspiring and deserves our respect.
Katrina was another example of our close family-like relationship. Katrina struck the GulfCoast on August 29, 2005. Two days later, the Vancouver Urban Search and Rescue Team rushedfrom British Columbia, Canada to Saint Bernard Parish, Louisiana. In this Parish of 68,000Americans, the first responders were Canadians. Overall, within the devastated Gulf Coast area,it appears Canada was the first responder outside of local efforts. They worked 18-hour days,going door-to-door alongside Louisiana State Troopers, rescuing 119-Americans.
While FEMA ramped up to surge into the catastrophe; while the administration and Louisianafought for the politically correct way to respond; Canadian aid was already at work.
The Canadian Forces Joint Task Group 306 consisting of the warships HMCS Athabaskan, HMCSToronto, NSMC Ville de Quebec, and CCGC William Alexander sailed to the Gulf Coast to deliverhumanitarian supplies. They stayed, working alongside U.S. Navy and Mexican warships, toprovide aid to Katrina victims.

Katrina was not an anomaly of our close relationship. When Hurricane Ivan devastated Pensacola,Florida in October 2004 Canadian humanitarian help was there also. Canadian power trucks roamedthe streets and countryside helping restore electricity where Americans had a unique experienceof running into workmen who only spoke French.

Canada took a lot of undeserved flak for failing to leap into Operation Iraqi Freedom when ouradministration sent us galloping across the desert. But Canada remains one of our staunchestallies in the war. When United States military forces were fighting up the highways inOperation Iraqi Freedom, Canada quietly increased troop numbers in Afghanistan and continuedNaval operations with U.S. warships in the Persian Gulf.

I was at the Pentagon on 9/11, stationed on the Joint Staff. During the early hours after theattack, the United States closed its air space and ordered every aircraft within our borders toland immediately at the nearest airfield. Canada immediately stood up an Operations SupportPost.

With civil aviation grounded, aircraft destined for the United States were forced elsewhere.Most landed in Canada. Re-routed travelers and flight crews were hosted at Canadian Forcesfacilities in Goose Bay, Gander, and Stephenville, Newfoundland; Halifax, Shearwater, andAldershot, Novia Scotia; Winnipeg, Manitoba; and, Yellowknife, Northwest Territories.

Canada rapidly mobilized its forces. Within hours, the Canadian Navy was on alert with shipspreparing to cast off immediately for any U.S. port to help victims of the 9/11 attacks.Canada's Disaster Assistance Response Team prepared to deploy from Trenton, Ontario. Canadadispersed CF-18 fighter aircraft to strategic locations throughout Canada. No politics. Nonegotiating. No questions. They were just there. Canada would have fought any adversary thatapproached the United States that day.

Canada has been such an integral partner with the United States in the Global War on Terrorismthat on December 7, 2004 when President Bush awarded the Presidential Unit Citation toCommander Joint Force South for combat success in Afghanistan, he was also recognizing thesecretive Canadian Joint Task Force 2 commando counter-terrorism unit.
The U.S. Department of Defense has awarded 30 Bronze Star medals for heroism in combat toCanadian Forces personnel. Some of those 30 died in action. Many of the others were wounded.These Canadians earned this American medal for heroism fighting alongside Americans. When werecall our own dead heroes, we must remember that these warriors gave their lives not only forCanada, but also for the United States.

Canada is more than a neighbor. It is a close family member with the gumption to disagree withits brother to the south but always there when disaster strikes and America needs help. Forthat, I salute you, Canada, and extend my respect for the sacrifices given by members of theCanadian Forces.

David Meadows April 27, 2006
Article from Military.Com USA