Canada in Afghanistan

[John McGillivray]

Canadian troops will take lead in Panjwaii offensive: General
By Ethan Baron, Canwest News Service May 5, 2010

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan — Despite a massive U.S. troop buildup in southern Afghanistan, Canada will take the lead in securing the Taliban stronghold in western Panjwaii district, according to the commander of all Canadian troops overseas.
"Definitely Canada will have the major role in that area," Lt.-Gen. Marc Lessard said during a visit to the region. "The Canadian troops are there."
Canadian soldiers in western Panjwaii operate primarily out of two heavily fortified bases, Masum Ghar and Sperwan Ghar.
Lessard's comments came as 1,500 Canadian and allied troops gathered on the tarmac at Kandahar Airfield to honour Petty Officer 2nd Class Craig Blake, killed Monday by a Taliban bomb.
Although NATO's offensive planned to kick off this summer will involve "massive, massive activities," it will focus not just on security operations but on building governance, Lessard said, and while Canadians will undertake combat missions, their main priority will be applying the same tactics they've been using to secure a village area to the east.
"Think about the slow, painstaking tactical activities occurring right now in eastern Panjwaii — Nakhonay — where you have outposts close to the population, you're doing patrolling, you're talking to the elders, you're trying to find out who's pro-(Afghan government), who's a fence sitter, and who's pro-Taliban, and why," Lessard said.
"Will there be tactical encounters? Of course there will be. But it is not a major operation, in fact (that's) the opposite of what we want to do."
The goal for Canada in the offensive will be to turn "fence-sitters" into government supporters, and turn Taliban supporters "at least" into fence-sitters, Lessard said.
As preparations continue, provincial Gov. Tooryalai Wesa insists the offensive will only go ahead only if the province's people wanted it, repeating a statement to Canwest News Service made last month and adding that in any case "it is not a military operation."
Early last month, tribal elders reported that villagers were already fleeing from rural areas into the city in anticipation of violence during the offensive, and that city residents were living in fear with nowhere else to go.
© Copyright (c) Canwest News Service
http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Can...854/story.html

[John McGillivray]

Report on CBS on the upcoming battle for Kandahar.

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?...ag=mncol;lst;1

[Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)]

Another one falls...

Canadian soldier killed by IED in Afghanistan
CTV.ca News Staff
Updated: Fri. May. 14 2010 10:00 AM ET

A Canadian soldier was killed by an improvised explosive device Thursday, just a few days short of the end of his tour of duty in southern Afghanistan.

Pte. Kevin McKay, of the 1st Battalion of the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, died when an explosion erupted around his platoon while on patrol in a village just outside Kandahar City.

The 24-year-old from Richmond Hill, Ont., was on a "presence patrol" in the village of Nakhonay, about 15 kilometres west of Kandahar City, when the IED exploded.

The foot patrols are intended to demonstrate to local Afghans that NATO troops have pushed the Taliban out of the area, part of the volatile Panjwaii district that was the scene of fierce fighting in 2006 and 2007.

Col. Simon Hetherington, the deputy commander of Task Force Kandahar, said McKay embodied the spirit of the Canadian soldier.

"He was the type of soldier that Canadians might think of when they think of their army in Afghanistan -- the tough, courageous infantryman, living in austere conditions and doing incredibly difficult work," Hetherington said from the main coalition base at Kandahar Air Field.

"His platoon brothers and friends will remember Kevin, better known as 'Mickey' to his buddies, as a generous man, dependable, with a quick wit and a great sense of humour that was exemplified by his awesome moustache."

Hetherington, speaking on behalf of task force commander Brig.-Gen. Dan Menard, who is on leave, said that McKay was short in stature but not in the estimation of his comrades.

"While not a tall man, he had no difficulty in poking fun and taunting those less vertically challenged platoon mates," Hetherington said.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper said in a statement that McKay served Canada valiantly, and deserves the gratitude and respect of his nation.

"Canadians are forever proud and grateful for his service and for the contributions of all our men and women in uniform to this UN-mandated, NATO-led mission."

McKay is the 144th Canadian soldier to die in Afghanistan since the mission began in 2002. Two civilians -- diplomat Glyn Berry and journalist Michelle Lang -- have also died.

McKay's death comes as hundreds gather in Halifax to remember the first Canadian sailor to be killed in the Afghan conflict.

A memorial service will be held for 37-year-old Petty Officer 2nd Class Craig Blake, who was killed by an IED on May 3, also in the Panjwaii district.

About 1,000 people are attending the service at 12 Wing Shearwater, a huge aircraft hangar overlooking Halifax harbour.

Blake had 10 years' experience as a clearance diver for the Canadian Forces and was a member of Maritime Forces Atlantic Fleet Diving Unit.
Members of the diving unit carried Blake's remains into the memorial service.

His remains will be placed in the sea at a private ceremony.

[meduffer]

Pte Kevin McKay's dad is a Toronto Fire Services Acting District Chief and a couple of us who sometimes post on MLU have worked with him quite a bit. A good man. I've never met his son but it sure strikes home when you have a connection with one of the fallen.

Mike Snetsinger
TFS

[John McGillivray]

Cool video on Think Defence about Canadian Armour in Afghanistan

http://www.thinkdefence.co.uk/2010/0...n-afghanistan/

[John McGillivray]

Canadian Forces colonel killed in Kabul suicide attack
CTV.ca News Staff
Date: Tue. May. 18 2010 12:50 PM ET
A deadly suicide bombing in Kabul has claimed the life of a Canadian Forces colonel.
Col. Geoff Parker died Tuesday, after a car bomber attacked a NATO convoy, killing 18 people in total, including five U.S. soldiers and 12 civilians.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai said "there were casualties among the NATO forces as well as among civilians -- women, children and schoolchildren."
The deadly blast wrecked nearly 20 vehicles, including five SUVs in the NATO convoy.
Condemning the attack, NATO Secretary-General Andres Fogh Rasmussen said the violence would not deter members from their mission.
"NATO remains committed to its mission to protect the Afghan people and to strengthen Afghanistan's ability to resist terrorism," Rasmussen said in Brussels.
The Canadian Press reports that Parker is the highest-ranking member of the Canadian Forces to die in Afghanistan.
He died in the deadliest attack NATO troops suffered in Kabul this year.
Taliban spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid claimed in a telephone interview with The Associated Press that the bomber was from Kabul and carried 750 kilograms of explosives in his car.
The bomber had been targeting the NATO convoy, Mujahid said.
According to his official Department of National Defence biography, Parker was a career solider who signed up for the military in 1989 when he was a student at the University of Western Ontario.
After graduating from UWO with an undergraduate degree in engineering science, Parker later earned two master's degrees -- one in electrical engineering, the other in defence studies -- from the Royal Military College.
He is married and has two children.
Parker, who is originally from Oakville, Ont., is the 145th Canadian soldier to be killed during the Afghan mission.
Two civilians -- diplomat Glyn Berry and Calgary Herald journalist Michelle Lang -- have also died.
With files from The Associated Press and The Canadian Press
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNew...b=TopStoriesV2

[John McGillivray]

IED blast kills Canadian soldier in Afghanistan
CTV.ca News Staff
Date: Monday May. 24, 2010 2:22 PM ET
A Canadian soldier has been killed by an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan.
Trooper Larry Rudd, 26, was killed at 12:30 p.m. local time Monday near the village of Salavat, about 20 kilometres southwest of Kandahar city.
Rudd is the fourth Canadian to die in Afghanistan in May. On May 5, Petty Officer (second class) Craig Blake, 37, was killed by an IED about 25 kilometres southwest of Kandahar city.
On May 14, Pte. Kevin McKay, 24, was killed by an IED while he was on foot patrol near Kandahar city.
And on May 18, Col. Geoff Parker, 42, was killed alongside five U.S. soldiers and 12 Afghan civilians by a suicide bombing in Kabul.
Rudd is the 146th Canadian soldier to be killed during the war in Afghanistan.
Two civilians, diplomat Glyn Berry and Calgary Herald journalist Michelle Lang -- have also died.

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNew...b=TopStoriesV2