Wednesday, December 10, 2008

: Canada's casualties Afghanistan mission your PM at work & DND .

First nameLast nameRankUnitProvinceDate of incidentDescending
DemetriosDiplaros Private1st Battalion, The Royal Canadian RegimentOntarioDecember 5, 2008
MarkMcLaren Corporal1st Battalion, The Royal Canadian RegimentOntarioDecember 5, 2008
RobertWilson Warrant Officer1st Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment December 5, 2008
PrescottShipway Sergeant2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light InfantrySaskatchewanSeptember 7, 2008
AndrewGrenon Corporal2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light InfantryOntarioSeptember 3, 2008
ChadHorn Private2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light InfantryAlbertaSeptember 3, 2008
MikeSeggie Corporal2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light InfantryManitobaSeptember 3, 2008
ShawnEades Sergeant1 Combat Engineer RegimentOntarioAugust 20, 2008
StephanStock Sapper1 Combat Engineer RegimentBritish ColumbiaAugust 20, 2008
DustinWasden Corporal1 Combat Engineer RegimentSaskatchewanAugust 20, 2008
ErinDoyle Master Corporal3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light InfantryBritish ColumbiaAugust 11, 2008
JoshRoberts Master Corporal2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light InfantrySaskatchewanAugust 9, 2008
JamesArnal Corporal2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light InfantryManitobaJuly 18, 2008
ColinWilmot Private1 Field AmbulanceAlbertaJuly 6, 2008
BrendanDowney CorporalMilitary Police DetachmentSaskatchewanJuly 4, 2008
JonathanSnyder Captain1st Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light InfantryBritish ColumbiaJune 7, 2008
RichardLeary Captain2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light InfantryOntarioJune 3, 2008
MichaelStarker Corporal15th Field AmbulanceAlbertaMay 6, 2008
TerryStreet Private2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light InfantryQuebecApril 4, 2008
JasonBoyes Sergeant2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light InfantryManitobaMarch 16, 2008
JérémieOuellet Bombardier1st Royal Canadian Horse ArtilleryQuebecMarch 11, 2008
MichaelHayakaze TrooperLord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians)AlbertaMarch 2, 2008
ÉtienneGonthier Corporal5e Régiment du génie de combatQuebecJanuary 23, 2008
RichardRenaud Trooper12e Régiment blindé du CanadaQuebecJanuary 15, 2008
EricLabbé Corporal2nd Battalion, Royal 22e RégimentQuebecJanuary 6, 2008
HaniMassouh Warrant officer2nd Battalion, Royal 22e RégimentQuebecJanuary 6, 2008
JonathanDion Gunner5e Régiment d'artillerie légère du CanadaQuebecDecember 30, 2007
NicolasBeauchamp Corporal5th Field Ambulance, 5 Area Support GroupQuebecNovember 17, 2007
MichelLévesque Private3rd Battalion, Royal 22e RégimentQuebecNovember 17, 2007
NathanHornburg CorporalThe King's Own Calgary RegimentAlbertaSeptember 24, 2007
RaymondRuckpaul MajorArmoured Corps, The Royal Canadian DragoonsOntarioAugust 29, 2007
ChristianDuchesne Master corporal5th Field Ambulance, 5 Area Support GroupQuebecAugust 22, 2007
MarioMercier Master Warrant officer2nd Battalion, Royal 22e RégimentQuebecAugust 22, 2007
SimonLongtin Private3rd Battalion, Royal 22e RégimentQuebecAugust 19, 2007
JordanAnderson Corporal3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light InfantryNunavutJuly 4, 2007
ColeBartsch Corporal3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light InfantryAlbertaJuly 4, 2007
ColinBason Master corporalThe Royal Westminster RegimentBritish ColumbiaJuly 4, 2007
MatthewDawe Captain3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light InfantryOntarioJuly 4, 2007
JeffersonFrancis Captain1st Royal Canadian Horse ArtilleryNew BrunswickJuly 4, 2007
LaneWatkins Private3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light InfantryManitobaJuly 4, 2007
StephenBouzane Corporal3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light InfantryNewfoundland and LabradorJune 20, 2007
ChristosKarigiannis Sergeant3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light InfantryQuebecJune 20, 2007
JoelWiebe Private3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light InfantryAlbertaJune 20, 2007
DarrylCaswell TrooperRoyal Canadian DragoonsOntarioJune 11, 2007
DarrellPriede Master corporalArmy News Team, 3 Area Support GroupOntarioMay 30, 2007
MatthewMcCully Corporal2nd Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group Headquarters and Signal SquadronOntarioMay 25, 2007
AnthonyKlumpenhouwer Master corporalCanadian Special Operations Forces CommandOntarioApril 18, 2007
PatrickPentland TrooperRoyal Canadian DragoonsNew BrunswickApril 11, 2007
AllanStewart Master corporalRoyal Canadian DragoonsNew BrunswickApril 11, 2007
DavidGreenslade Private2nd Battalion, Royal Canadian RegimentNew BrunswickApril 8, 2007
KevinKennedy Private2nd Battalion, Royal Canadian RegimentNewfoundland and LabradorApril 8, 2007
DonaldLucas Sergeant2nd Battalion, Royal Canadian RegimentNewfoundland and LabradorApril 8, 2007
BrentPoland Corporal2nd Battalion, Royal Canadian RegimentOntarioApril 8, 2007
ChristopherStannix CorporalPrincess Louise FusiliersNova ScotiaApril 8, 2007
AaronWilliams Corporal2nd Battalion, Royal Canadian RegimentNew BrunswickApril 8, 2007
KevinMegeney Corporal1st Battalion, The Nova Scotia Highlanders (North)Nova ScotiaMarch 6, 2007
RobertGirouard Chief Warrant officer1st Battalion, Royal Canadian RegimentNew BrunswickNovember 27, 2006
AlbertStorm Corporal1st Battalion, Royal Canadian RegimentOntarioNovember 27, 2006
DarcyTedford Sergeant1st Battalion, Royal Canadian RegimentAlbertaOctober 14, 2006
BlakeWilliamson Private1st Battalion, Royal Canadian RegimentOntarioOctober 14, 2006
MarkWilson TrooperRoyal Canadian DragoonsOntarioOctober 7, 2006
CraigGillam SergeantRoyal Canadian DragoonsNewfoundland and LabradorOctober 3, 2006
RobertMitchell CorporalRoyal Canadian DragoonsOntarioOctober 3, 2006
JoshKlukie Private1st Battalion, Royal Canadian RegimentOntarioSeptember 29, 2006
GlenArnold Corporal2nd Field AmbulanceOntarioSeptember 18, 2006
DavidByers Private2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light InfantryOntarioSeptember 18, 2006
ShaneKeating Corporal2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light InfantrySaskatchewanSeptember 18, 2006
KeithMorley Corporal2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light InfantryManitobaSeptember 18, 2006
MarkGraham Private1st Battalion, Royal Canadian RegimentOntarioSeptember 4, 2006
WilliamCushley Private1st Battalion, Royal Canadian RegimentOntarioSeptember 3, 2006
FrankMellish Warrant officer1st Battalion, Royal Canadian RegimentNova ScotiaSeptember 3, 2006
RichardNolan Warrant officer1st Battalion, Royal Canadian RegimentNewfoundland and LabradorSeptember 3, 2006
ShaneStachnik Sergeant2nd Combat Engineer RegimentAlbertaSeptember 3, 2006
DavidBraun Corporal2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light InfantrySaskatchewanAugust 22, 2006
AndrewEykelenboom Corporal1st Field AmbulanceBritish ColumbiaAugust 11, 2006
JeffreyWalsh Master corporal2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light InfantrySaskatchewanAugust 9, 2006
RaymondArndt Master corporalThe Loyal Edmonton RegimentAlbertaAugust 5, 2006
KevinDallaire Private1st Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light InfantryAlbertaAugust 3, 2006
VaughanIngram Sergeant1st Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light InfantryNewfoundland and LabradorAugust 3, 2006
BryceKeller Corporal1st Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light InfantrySaskatchewanAugust 3, 2006
ChristopherReid Corporal1st Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light InfantryNova ScotiaAugust 3, 2006
FranciscoGomez Corporal1st Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light InfantryAlbertaJuly 22, 2006
JasonWarren CorporalThe Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of CanadaQuebecJuly 22, 2006
AnthonyBoneca CorporalLake Superior Scottish RegimentOntarioJuly 9, 2006
NicholaGoddard Captain1st Royal Canadian Horse ArtilleryAlbertaMay 17, 2006
MatthewDinning Corporal2nd Military Police PlatoonOntarioApril 22, 2006
MylesMansell Bombardier5th (British Columbia) Field Artillery RegimentBritish ColumbiaApril 22, 2006
RandyPayne CorporalCFB/ASU Wainwright Military Police PlatoonOntarioApril 22, 2006
WilliamTurner LieutenantLand Force Western Area HeadquartersOntarioApril 22, 2006
RobertCostall Private1st Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light InfantryOntarioMarch 29, 2006
PaulDavis Corporal2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light InfantryNova ScotiaMarch 2, 2006
TimothyWilson Master corporal2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light InfantryAlbertaMarch 2, 2006
GlynBerry DiplomatDepartment of Foreign Affairs, CanadaWalesJanuary 15, 2006
BraunWoodfield Private2nd Battalion, Royal Canadian RegimentNova ScotiaNovember 24, 2005
JamieMurphy Corporal1st Battalion, Royal Canadian RegimentNewfoundland and LabradorJanuary 27, 2004
RobbieBeerenfenger Corporal3rd Battalion, Royal Canadian RegimentOntarioOctober 2, 2003
RobertShort Sergeant3rd Battalion, Royal Canadian RegimentNew BrunswickOctober 2, 2003
AinsworthDyer Corporal3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light InfantryQuebecApril 18, 2002
RichardGreen Private3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light InfantryNova ScotiaApril 18, 2002
MarcLéger Sergeant3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light InfantryOntarioApril 18, 2002
NathanSmith Private3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light InfantryNova ScotiaApril 18, 2002

Friday, December 5, 2008

100 Thank you Prime Minister Stephen Harper NOT

Deaths of 100 Canadian soldiers turn nation's focus back to Afghan mission


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Do Not give your condolences because it means nothing to you at all.
You do not have anyone in Afghanistan so you don't know the pan


PETAWAWA, Ont. — As he offered condolences to the loved ones of three Canadian soldiers who died Friday in Afghanistan, Prime Minister Stephen Harper made no mention of a grim benchmark - 100 troops killed since the start of the Afghan mission in 2002.
He was there, after all, to spread Christmas cheer, not to dwell on the tragic but inevitable consequences of armed conflict.
But the dark context surrounding Canada's latest military casualties gave extra weight to Harper's words, to the uncharacteristic quaver in his voice, to the taut-faced troops who flanked the podium and to the thunderous ovation they offered their embattled PM.
"I never feel able to put the depths of my feelings at time like this into adequate words," Harper said.
"These are very special people who have put their lives on the line in the service of their fellow human beings and in their devotion to our country.
"It is because of them now and throughout our history that we are able to celebrate our Christmas in such peace and prosperity. It is because of them that we have this wonderful country. It is their gift to us."
The latest deaths, coming as they did in the midst of an unprecedented parliamentary crisis of Harper's own making, are likely to take the focus of a distracted nation back to the progress - or lack thereof - that Canada has made in Afghanistan over the last seven years.
The soldiers - Cpl. Mark Robert McLaren, Pte. Demetrios Diplaros and Warrant Officer Robert John Wilson - were in an armoured vehicle in the Arghandab district, west of Kandahar city, when they struck an improvised explosive device.
Pte. Roch Gauthier, an Ottawa native serving with 2 Service Battalion, said combat deaths are sad and hard, "but it's a job we volunteer to do and we'll push on and make sure that they're never forgotten."
Gauthier said the 100th Canadian military death in Afghanistan may be a milestone for some, "but people grieve differently."
"For people close to them, it will be much more than a milestone. It's a brother."
Cpl. Joel Pruden, 20, from Windsor, Ont., is slated to go to Kandahar in July. He said 100 is just another number.
"You can't really put a number on it," Pruden said. "Everyone's doing their part, everyone's doing their job and it's good to see we're still over there. Even though we have lost a number of soldiers."
"Personally, I don't think there should be a limit to the number of people we lose. One is too many, 100 is too many, but everybody knows the risk."
Military historian Jack Granatstein said he hopes the renewed focus on the Afghan mission prompts Canadians to confront some of the more obvious realities of armed conflict.
"This is a war," Granatstein said. "We simply must expect casualties in war."
Canada sent troops to Afghanistan in a show of solidarity with the Americans after the attacks on the United States on Sept. 11, 2001. Among nearly 3,000 people killed that day were 24 Canadians.
Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida network claimed responsibility for the attacks. The Taliban, an extremist movement that had been in government in Afghanistan, allowed al-Qaida to operate training camps in the country.
"The reason we're in Afghanistan today is that's where the Taliban supported al-Qaida as they hatched up the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States," Bill Graham, a former Liberal foreign affairs and defence minister who played a key role in decisions to deploy Canadian troops, said in an interview early this year.
"We have to help the Americans have a sense that Canada is part of their security solution," Graham said.
But it was not purely an American effort. The UN Security Council condemned the Taliban and supported an international plan to establish a new Afghan government.
While a multinational coalition was being assembled, U.S. forces backed an anti-Taliban alliance in Afghanistan in driving the Taliban from power. While they relinquished the major cities, Taliban militants melted into the population and countryside to fight another day.
After absorbing the bombardment and shelling of the U.S.-led offensive, the Taliban hoped to gradually regroup and reassert their grip on large swaths of the countryside that remained outside the authority of the fledgling Kabul government. They criss-crossed the porous border to get reinforcements and replenishment from the lawless frontier areas of Pakistan.
It was in this context that the first contingent of Canadian troops arrived in Kandahar in February 2002, marking the beginning of Canada's military mission.
Over the years, Canada had twice scaled back its military presence in the country. For a period, Canadians were stationed in Kabul, the capital, as part of NATO's International Security Assistance Force, ISAF.
But at the beginning of 2006, Canada took on the challenging task of leading NATO's effort to establish security in Kandahar province, the spiritual birthplace of the Taliban movement.
The Canadian contingent, involving some 2,500 troops and an increasing array of armoured vehicles, tanks and artillery pieces, launched a series of major offensive to secure insurgent-held areas.
The Taliban proved an elusive and stubborn enemy, frequently retaking lost ground after the Canadians hand it over to Afghan government forces.
The insurgents have clashed head-on from time to time with the Canadians and inflicted some casualties.
But far more often, their weapon of choice has been improvised explosive devices, or IEDs. These are either suicide attackers using speeding, explosives-laden vehicles; or bombs left by the roadside to get at Canadians in their hardened armoured vehicles.
The death toll in Afghanistan is not easily comparable to losses in other wars.
In the First World War, 68,000 Canadian soldiers were killed - at a time when the country's population was only seven million. In the Second World War, Canada lost 42,000 military personnel. Roughly 500 Canadians died in the Korean War.
But those wars of the 20th century pitted large armies against one another on open fields and beaches. Vimy Ridge and D-Day involved valour and bloodshed on a gigantic scale.
In contrast, the 21st century conflict in Afghanistan has largely been an anti-insurgency mission.
It has been waged along the dried river valleys and narrow alleyways among mud walls and poppy fields, against an enemy often unseen or indistinguishable from civilians once as he drops his weapons.
A truer measure of Canada's sacrifice in Afghanistan is against the dozens of coalition countries that also have troops in the country.
Only the United States and Britain have suffered more fatalities - at least 556 Americans and 125 Britons.
But there are 33,000 U.S. troops and 7,800 British soldiers in Afghanistan - compared with Canada's 2,500.