• Abstract and Figures
• Public Full-text

CANADA RETURNS TO AFGHANISTAN Introduction It had been two months since Canadian The decision to return to Afghanistan Focus troops landed in Kabul for the first was not without controversy. When This News in Re- rotation in Operation Athena— Minister of Defence John McCallum view story focuses on the return of Canada’s latest contribution to the war announced the decision on February 12, Canadian troops to on terrorism in Afghanistan. Canadians 2003, the world community was en- Afghanistan. In were assigned to the NATO-led Interna- gaged in a heated debate regarding early February tional Security Assistance Force (ISAF) whether or not to wage war on Saddam 2003, Defence and were growing increasingly accus- Hussein’s Iraq. While U.S. and British Minister John tomed to life in Kabul. Five Canadians politicians were vigorously promoting McCallum an- nounced that in two open-aired vehicles were on a an attack on Iraq, countries like France Canada would send routine patrol about three and a half and Germany were voicing their reser- troops to the war- kilometres from Camp Julien, Canada’s vations. In the middle of the debate was torn nation, effec- home in Afghanistan’s capital. In an Canada, expressing concerns about tively eliminating instant, a road that had been deemed engaging in a war that the United the Canadian army from action in Iraq. safe by engineers less than 24 hours Nations was refusing to sanction while While some criti- earlier turned into an explosive death fearful of the repercussions of not cized Canada’s trap. One of the vehicles struck a supporting their closest ally, the United choice to return to landmine, killing two men, Sergeant States. Sending troops to Iraq became a Afghanistan in- Robert Short and Corporal Robbie non-issue in February because Canada stead of joining the United States in the Beerenfenger, and injuring three others, could not simultaneously participate in war on Iraq, Master Corporal Jason Cory Hamilton, the Iraqi and Afghan military theatres. McCallum, among Corporal Thomas Stirling, and Corporal By the time U.S. and British forces others, pointed to Cameron Lee Laidlaw. All five soldiers landed in Iraq in March 2003, Canadi- the legitimacy of were members of the Royal Canadian ans had confirmed what the commit- an ongoing Cana- Regiment, 3rd Battalion, based in ment to Afghanistan a month earlier dian presence in Afghanistan. Petawawa, Ontario. Investigators had indicated: Canada would not be concluded that one of the Canadian taking part in the war on Iraq. vehicles ran over a landmine that had Military critics claim that Canada YV Sections probably been combined with two other opted for Afghanistan as an excuse not marked with this mines. The explosion of the one mine to take part in the U.S.-led invasion of symbol indicate set off a chain reaction, sending the Iraq. The government responded to the content suitable for younger viewers. vehicle flying and leaving a giant crater accusations with a firm claim to na- in its wake. The tragedy marked the tional sovereignty, stating that an first combat deaths in Canada’s second independent nation did not need an foray into Afghanistan. Canada’s initial excuse not to go to war. Meanwhile, mission to Afghanistan, part of Opera- Defence Minister John McCallum tion Apollo, saw 800 members of the repeatedly cited U.S. Defense Secretary Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Donald Rumsfeld’s sincere appreciation Infantry serve in Kandahar. This time, for Canada’s decision to continue to Operation Athena would see two rota- participate in the war on terror in Af- tions of 1950 troops work with other ghanistan. Criticism was also levied at ISAF forces to secure the capital city of the government regarding the state of Kabul. the Canadian military. Political pundits CBC News in Review • November 2003 • Page 32 pointed to the antiquated equipment of had as many as 10 million landmines Definition the military and the limited number of littered across the country. In short, NATO is the North soldiers available for service. Accord- Afghanistan was not a safe place. In Atlantic Treaty Organization, an ing to the critics, the government had fact, Afghanistan was so volatile that alliance that neglected the military to such an extent some National Defence officials had Canada helped that soldiers were now being put in privately referred to the Afghan venture found in 1949. harm’s way. Once again, the Canadian as “mission impossible,” claiming the Originally focused government struck back, claiming that decision to return to the region on European active Canadian troops would be pro- prompted the resignation of top-level defence, it has recently become vided with the best equipment avail- officer Major-General Cameron Ross more active in able. It would be irresponsible for the (Scott Taylor, The Globe and Mail, global crises. government to put troops in the line of June 10, 2003). fire without providing them with the Is the Canadian landmine tragedy in means to protect themselves. Finally, Kabul an indicator of more violence to Quote some critics wondered about the safety come? Months earlier, in June 2003, “The mission in of a mission to Afghanistan. The new four German soldiers were killed and Afghanistan is fundamental to Afghan government, led by President 29 others were wounded when a suicide Canada’s security. Hamid Karzai, held sway over the area bomber drove his taxi into an armored Even though it is in and around Kabul, but outside the convoy. The Germans were on their not immediately capital the story was quite different. way to the airport, set to head home evident, when our Warlords were teaming up with a after a tour of duty in Kabul. It appears soldiers patrol the resurgent Taliban to control large that more attacks will follow, and streets of Kabul, they are also pockets of southern Afghanistan, par- Canadians, with close to 2000 of the keeping the streets ticularly in areas that border Pakistan. NATO-led 5500 troops in Kabul, may of Canada safe.” Also, it was estimated that Afghanistan become the next targets. — Defence Minister John McCallum, Toronto Star, Questions October 3, 2003 1. What is Operation Athena? 2. What happened early in the operation to put Canadians in Kabul on high alert? 3. Make a point-form list of the concerns and criticisms regarding Canada’s decision to return to Afghanistan. CBC News in Review • November 2003 • Page 33 CANADA RETURNS TO AFGHANISTAN YV Video Review 1. What tragedy demonstrated the dangers that Canadian soldiers face in Please view the Afghanistan? video and answer the questions. 2. What event does the video suggest represents the roots of the current conflict in Afghanistan? 3. Which Afghanis were the hardest-hit once the Taliban came to power? Why? 4. What event prompted the U.S. government to shift its focus to Afghanistan? 5. Who has taken over security patrols in Kabul? 6. What is Canada’s mission in Afghanistan? 7. What theories have investigators uncovered regarding the landmine deaths of Sergeant Robert Short and Corporal Robbie Beerenfenger? 8. What criticisms have been made against the Iltis vehicles? 9. Describe the landscape of Kabul as outlined in Tara Sutton’s report. 10. Have things improved for Afghan women? 11. The video refers to women being “hidden behind the veil.” What does this mean? CBC News in Review • November 2003 • Page 34 CANADA RETURNS TO AFGHANISTAN Two Tours, and Six Fallen Soldiers Operation Apollo Kandahar. Tragically, the bomb killed After the terrorist attacks on the United four Canadians and injured eight others. States on September 11, 2001, Canada The pilots of the F-16 thought they rallied behind the Americans in the were being attacked by the troops on hopes of aiding them in their battle the ground and, despite receiving orders against terrorism. Canada’s main mili- not to fire, did so anyway, claiming tary contribution came in what has self-defence. Minutes later they learned come to be known as Operation that they had bombed their own allies. Apollo—a loosely knit combination of The pilots eventually avoided man- all branches of the Canadian Forces. slaughter charges from the U.S. mili- Operation Apollo provided immediate tary. One received a reprimand while air and naval support for the U.S.-led the other faces a court martial. war on terror. Eventually, Canadian land forces were deployed and fought Operation Athena alongside U.S. troops in battles against Operation Athena was the subject of Taliban and Al Qaeda forces. While controversy from the start. Days after reports of the ability and training of the announcement that Canada would Canada’s soldiers were positive, mili- be sending troops back to Afghanistan tary experts pointed to the signs of in August 2003, Major-General neglect emerging in the ability of the Cameron Ross, a top-level Canadian Canadian Forces to do their job. To officer, resigned from his post. While begin with Canadian soldiers had to be Ross cited “personal reasons” for his airlifted to the Persian Gulf by the U.S. resignation, sources claim that he quit Once they arrived, Canadians baked in because of the dangers inherent in the the desert heat in their dark green Afghanistan mission (The National camouflage uniforms. The Americans Post, February 15, 2003). Despite also provided transportation for Canadi- Ross’s resignation, training began and, ans once they arrived and artillery in August 2003, a force of 1950 Cana- support—including helicopter gun- dian soldiers gathered in Kabul to take ships—for Canadians involved in part in the NATO-led International combat missions. Lt.-Col Pat Stogran, Security Assistance Force (ISAF).

Load more

  15

Copy Link