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Canadian killed by IED in Afghanistan
A Canadian senior non-commissioned officer in Afghanistan was killed Monday by an improvised explosive device near Kandahar city. Petty Officer 2nd Class Craig Blake, 37, was killed while working in the Panjwai district, approximately 25 kilometres southwest of the city. Brig-Gen. Dan Ménard, the commander of Canadian troops in Afghanistan, said the Simcoe, Ont., native was returning to camp Monday afternoon after successfully disposing of another IED when the blast went off. Blake was serving with the Fleet Diving Unit Atlantic. He had only been in Afghanistan for a few weeks when he was killed. "A navy clearance diver, Craig was most comfortable working under water, yet he effortlessly adapted to the rigours of land operations," Ménard said in a statement. "Incredibly fit, with a backbone of steel, Craig put 100 per cent into everything he did." Blake, married with two children, was a hockey coach and triathlete, Ménard said. His death brings to 143 the number of Canadian troops who have died in the Afghan mission since it began in 2002. "On behalf of all soldiers, airmen, airwomen, sailors and special operators of Joint Task Force Afghanistan, I offer my sincere condolences to his friends and family," Ménard said. ![]() ![]() ![]() With files from The Canadian Press |
#2
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Clearance Divers in the CF have about the biggest Brass Ones of any I know. Not only can they swim and dive like the much-touted US Navy SEALS, but they are all EOD experts as well, on land as well as at sea. That takes a courage which few have.
Unfortunately, PO2 Blake's luck ran out. I guess that's just the way it goes sometimes. I tip my hat to Petty Officer Craig Blake and all his comrades, and extend my deepest condolences to his family. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
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SUNRAY SENDS AND ENDS :remember :support |
#3
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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 |
#4
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Report on CBS on the upcoming battle for Kandahar.
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?...ag=mncol;lst;1 |
#5
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Another one falls...
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SUNRAY SENDS AND ENDS :remember :support |
#6
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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 |
#7
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Cool video on Think Defence about Canadian Armour in Afghanistan
http://www.thinkdefence.co.uk/2010/0...n-afghanistan/ |
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