CBC News Story
Since the Taliban regime fell in late 2001, Canada has steadily increased its military involvement in Afghanistan.
By 2006, Canada had taken on a major role in the more dangerous southern part of the country as part of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). A battle group of more than 2,000 Canadian soldiers called Operation Athena was based around Kandahar.
For six months ending Nov. 1, 2006, Canada also held the command of one of the main military forces in the area, called Multinational Brigade for Command South. During this time, Operation Medusa, a major offensive against insurgents in Kandahar province, was launched.
The fighting grew fiercer, and the casualty count rose.
A heated debate arose within Parliament, and among Canadians, on the future of the Afghanistan mission. Should troops be pulled out in February 2009 as had been committed? If the mission were to continue, what should be its focus?
In October 2007, Prime Minister Stephen Harper called for an independent panel to study the questions and recommend a way forward. Former Liberal deputy prime minister John Manley led the group.
Manley's recommendations
The Manley panel's report, released Jan. 22, 2008, recommended that Canada's military should remain in Afghanistan beyond February 2009 on two conditions:
An additional battle group of about 1,000 soldiers be assigned to Kandahar by NATO and/or other allies before February 2009.
The government secure new, medium-lift helicopters and high-performance unmanned aerial vehicles for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance before that date.
The non-binding report also said Canada's role must place greater emphasis on diplomacy and reconstruction, and the Canadian military focus must shift gradually from combat to training Afghan national security forces.
"In sum," the report's final draft read, "an immediate military withdrawal from Afghanistan would cause more harm than good."
More than combat
As the Manley report explained, there is more to Canada's commitment in southern Afghanistan. It is what Foreign Affairs calls a "whole-of-government" approach.
While the mission is largely military, the Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) also has personnel from Foreign Affairs, the Canadian International Development Agency and the RCMP. The mandate of the PRT is twofold: providing military security while at the same time working with local leaders on reconstruction efforts.
Canada had provided some limited humanitarian aid, usually about $10 million a year, to Afghanistan even prior to 2001. Canada re-established formal diplomatic relations with the new Afghan government on Jan. 25, 2002, and reopened the embassy in Kabul in September 2003.
At a conference on Afghanistan in Tokyo in January 2002, Canada made a major commitment to assist in the reconstruction of the war-torn country. Foreign Affairs said Afghanistan is now "the single largest recipient of Canadian bilateral aid."
As of 2007, according to the Manley report, Canada had allocated a total of $741 million to Afghanistan, over the fiscal years 2001-02 to 2006-07.
History of the mission
Canada's military mission to Afghanistan began soon after the attacks on the United States on Sept. 11, 2001. A naval task force was deployed to the Persian Gulf in October of that year.
In February 2002, a battle group from the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry was sent to Kandahar for six months. It assisted the United States and other forces in an offensive against elements of the Taliban and al-Qaeda in the rugged southern regions of the country as part of the U.S.-led Operation Enduring Freedom.
From August 2003 to December 2005, Canada's military commitment was largely Operation Athena, based in the capital, Kabul, as part of the International Assistance Force. ISAF had the aim of providing intelligence and security to allow rebuilding of "the democratic process," which eventually led to elections in the fall of 2005.
On July 31, 2006, NATO troops assumed command of all military operations in southern Afghanistan. ISAF already had troops elsewhere in Afghanistan, including the capital Kabul and in the north and the west of the country.
Lt.-Gen. David Richards, a British general, was put in charge of the NATO forces in southern Afghanistan. He announced the deployment of 8,000 NATO soldiers — including 2,200 Canadians —and Afghan units to six southern provinces by mid-September 2006. That deployment was increased to 2,500 in early September.
Other Canadian missions
Heavy weapons cantonment: Helping the Afghan government collect, store and decommission 10,000 heavy weapons left over from decades of war, including artillery, tanks and rocket launchers.
Demining: Foreign Affairs says Canada has a target to clear 500 square kilometres of land in Afghanistan of mines and explosive remnants by 2011.
Microloans: Money from Canada has been used to provide microloans to more than 140,000 people in Afghanistan, 89 per cent of whom are women.
Training: Canada also has a role in training the Afghan police and army. A group of Canadian Forces instructors was in Kabul to train members of the Afghan National Army. That unit remained in Kabul while the rest of the Canadian contingent moved south to Kandahar. Canadian troops are also training Afghan soldiers in Kandahar, and the RCMP has a commitment to train Afghan police officers.
According to the Manley report, the Afghan National Army is growing in strength. It had about 47,000 troops in 2007 and a plan to reach at least 70,000 three years later. The Department of National Defence has also admitted that Canada's secret special forces, Joint Task Force Two, have been operating alongside the American and other special forces units in Afghanistan, but no details about their activities have ever been released.
Seven weeks after the Manley report was released, a confidence motion to keep Canadian soldiers in Kandahar until 2011 passed easily in the House of Commons.
The Conservative motion, which was revised after consultation with the Liberals, called for the mission to be renewed beyond 2009 but with a focus on reconstruction and training of Afghan troops and a firm pullout date that calls for Canadian troops to leave Afghanistan by December 2011. The extension was contingent on whether NATO allies provide 1,000 extra troops and Ottawa secures access to unmanned surveillance drones and large helicopters.
During the fall 2008 federal election campaign, Conservative Leader Stephen Harper emphasized the "end date" for the Afghanistan mission would be 2011, with the bulk of the Canadian military forces withdrawn by that time.
About a month after that statement from Harper, a government report found that the military mission in Afghanistan could cost up to $18.1 billion, or $1,500 per household, by 2011.
The report tabled by parliamentary budget officer Kevin Page also found, however, that a lack of government consistency and transparency make the figures difficult to estimate and said that they likely underestimate the full costs of the mission.
Early in 2009, word emerged of a new NATO order that would see Canadian soldiers targeting opium traffickers and drug facilities when there is proof of direct links to the Taliban.
U.S. President Barack Obama has called on NATO allies to renew their commitment to fight the resurgent Taliban, but extending Canada's mission in Afghanistan beyond 2011 was not discussed when U.S. and Canadian military leaders met in Ottawa in February 2009.
However, Adm. Mike Mullen, chair of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, indicated the U.S. was counting on Canada's military support in Afghanistan over the next couple of years.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Veteran carries Olympic flame for fallen comrades
This story was published in the Montreal Gazette Newspaper
HOPE, B.C. — David Munro was carrying his memories of fallen soldiers with him when he carried the Olympic flame Sunday.
Munro, a 72-year-old Canadian veteran and UN peacekeeper who served in Suez, the Sinai Desert and the Gaza Strip, was one of 120 veterans selected by the Vancouver Olympic organizing committee to be a torchbearer.
The fit and stocky senior with white eyebrows and bright blue eyes, joined the Canadian Forces at 16, and has been active in veterans affairs throughout his life.
He joked and shared his torch in pictures with Hope locals on Sunday morning — Day 101 of the Olympic flame’s cross-Canada journey — before running his 300-metre relay through a long line of residents bearing international flags, to the steps of the city hall.
Hope is about 150 kilometres east of the flame’s final destination — Vancouver — where it will begin the Winter Games on Feb. 12.
A Newfoundland native now living in Chemainus, B.C., Munro did a happy jig on his two torch exchanges.
He was welcomed by about 15 family members who had travelled from across Canada to cheer him on.
When he finished, he said he was filled with emotion.
“We left 40 UN guys buried in Gaza,” Munro said.
“I was thinking of all the veterans and everyone serving in Afghanistan.
“It was such excitement seeing all those people cheering me,” he said.
Sunday’s portion of the torch relay started in Merritt, B.C., at 7 a.m.
About 3,000 spectators had cheered and waved Canadian flags when the torch arrived in Merritt on a chilly Saturday night.
Warren King watched a torchbearer nearly sprint by and snapped a slightly blurred picture for his 12-week-old son, Cannon, who was napping in a stroller.
“We’re here so we can show my son the picture some day,” King said. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime thing.”
HOPE, B.C. — David Munro was carrying his memories of fallen soldiers with him when he carried the Olympic flame Sunday.
Munro, a 72-year-old Canadian veteran and UN peacekeeper who served in Suez, the Sinai Desert and the Gaza Strip, was one of 120 veterans selected by the Vancouver Olympic organizing committee to be a torchbearer.
The fit and stocky senior with white eyebrows and bright blue eyes, joined the Canadian Forces at 16, and has been active in veterans affairs throughout his life.
He joked and shared his torch in pictures with Hope locals on Sunday morning — Day 101 of the Olympic flame’s cross-Canada journey — before running his 300-metre relay through a long line of residents bearing international flags, to the steps of the city hall.
Hope is about 150 kilometres east of the flame’s final destination — Vancouver — where it will begin the Winter Games on Feb. 12.
A Newfoundland native now living in Chemainus, B.C., Munro did a happy jig on his two torch exchanges.
He was welcomed by about 15 family members who had travelled from across Canada to cheer him on.
When he finished, he said he was filled with emotion.
“We left 40 UN guys buried in Gaza,” Munro said.
“I was thinking of all the veterans and everyone serving in Afghanistan.
“It was such excitement seeing all those people cheering me,” he said.
Sunday’s portion of the torch relay started in Merritt, B.C., at 7 a.m.
About 3,000 spectators had cheered and waved Canadian flags when the torch arrived in Merritt on a chilly Saturday night.
Warren King watched a torchbearer nearly sprint by and snapped a slightly blurred picture for his 12-week-old son, Cannon, who was napping in a stroller.
“We’re here so we can show my son the picture some day,” King said. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime thing.”
Afghanistan: A timeline of Canadian involvement post-9/11
Sept. 20, 2007MacKay calls for more NATO help in AfghanistanDefence Minister Peter MacKay leans on reluctant NATO allies to provide more help in Afghanistan, saying it's a cannot-fail mission.
Sept. 18, 2007Karzai urges Canada not to withdraw troops in 2009Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai says his country will fall back in the hands of terrorists if Canadian troops leave.
Sept. 16, 2007Afghan loss equals terrorist win: CIA analystMichael Scheuer, a former CIA official who once headed the Osama bin Laden unit, says the terrorist will score a huge win if the NATO mission fails in Afghanistan.
Sept. 10, 2007MacKay: NATO must succeed or risk 9/11 repeatDefence Minister Peter MacKay and Afghanistan's ambassador to Canada say the world risks more major terror attacks if peace and stability aren't established in Afghanistan.
Sept. 9, 2007No rush on Afghan mission extension vote: HarperPrime Minister Stephen Harper says there will be no vote on extending the Afghan mission unless an opposition party indicates a willingness to support his government's position.
The army declares Operating Keeping Goodwill in Zhari District to be a success.
Sept. 4, 2007Canadian military too focused on Afghanistan: reportA report by a group of retired generals says the Armed Forces' focus on Afghanistan is hurting defence efforts in other important areas.
Sept. 3, 2007Canada should push Afghan peace process: LaytonNDP Leader Jack Layton says Canada should withdraw its combat troops and take a leading role in promoting a comprehensive peace process for Afghanistan.
An Afghan police chief says the Taliban have control of the Panjwaii/Zhari districts west of Kandahar city -- an area where Canadian troops fought pitched battles a year earlier to push the insurgents out.
Sept. 2, 2007MacKay wants Canadians to understand Afghan roleDefence Minister Peter MacKay says a fall parliamentary debate on the Afghan mission should help boost Canadians' understanding of the mission.
August 31, 2007NATO seeks extension of Dutch missionNATO officials lobby the Netherlands to maintain their 1,500 troops in restive Uruzgan province.
August 30, 2007Military force not enough to beat Taliban: U.S.A top U.S. commander in Afghanistan says military force alone won't be enough to defeat the Taliban, and that most insurgencies end through a political resolution.
August 29, 2007Little evidence aid working in Afghanistan: groupThe Senlis Council issues a report that finds Canadian aid money isn't necessarily reaching those who need it most, such as malnourished children in Kandahar's Mirwais hospital.
August 26, 2007Harper skips Afghanistan in Que. byelection speechOn a day when the remains of two Van Doos are returned to Canadian soil, Prime Minister Stephen Harper doesn't use the word "Afghanistan" in a byelection-themed speech in Quebec.
August 24, 2007Highway of HeroesA grassroots effort to honour fallen soldiers by renaming the stretch of the 401 Highway between Toronto and CFB Trenton as the Highway of Heroes gets results. Ontario's provincial government endorses the move.
August 19, 2007First Van Doo casualtyPte. Simon Longtin, 23, dies after a roadside bombing incident. This makes him the first member of the Quebec-based Royal 22nd Regiment to die in Afghanistan since the deployment began in late July.
Three days later, two more Van Doos would die, along with their Afghan interpreter, after another roadside bombing. A Canadian soldier was injured, and a Radio Canada TV cameraman would lose part of his leg due to the injuries he received.
August 14, 2007Cabinet shufflePrime Minister Stephen Harper moves Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay into the defence portfolio, and moves Industry Minister Maxime Bernier into foreign affairs. He shuffles former defence minister Gordon O'Connor to national revenue. The moves are seen as an attempt to put better communicators in charge of delivering the government's message on Afghanistan, particularly in Quebec.
August 12, 2007Afghan army waiting for promised arms from CanadaThe Afghan National Army says it's waiting for modern weapons promised by Defence Minister Gordon O'Connor.
August 9, 2007Colonel says fight against Taliban won't end soonA Canadian colonel says combat operations against the Taliban aren't about to end any time soon, even though the governor of Kandahar province predicted that NATO forces would defeat the Taliban in the not-too-distant future.
August 8, 2007No charges in 'friendly fire' death: army reportA Canadian army report assesses no individual blame in the March 29, 2006 "friendly fire" death of Pte. Robert Costall at FOB Robinson in Helmand province. The opposition accused the government of stalling on the release of reports on the Costall incident and an earlier one.
August 5, 2007Afghan heroin a threat to Canadian streets: RCMPDocuments reveal that the RCMP thinks about 60 per cent of the heroin on Canadian streets originates in Afghanistan.
July 30-Aug. 1, 2007Is there a rift or not?Critics suggest that Gen. Rick Hillier and Defence Minister Gordon O'Connor are not on the same page, especially on the Afghanistan file. O'Connor denied there was a rift. Meanwhile, Brig.-Gen. Guy Laroche officially took command of Task Force Afghanistan, replacing Gen. Tim Grant.
July 29, 2007February handoff would be a 'challenge': HillierGen. Rick Hillier, chief of general staff, seems to contradict Defence Minister Gordon O'Connor when he seemed to downplay the idea that Afghan soldiers would be ready to pick up the bulk of combat duties by February 2008. Gen. Tim Grant, the outgoing commander of Task Force Afghanistan, supported that view.
July 28, 2007NATO helped save 40,000 Afghan children: GrantGen. Tim Grant, nearing the end of his tour as commander of Task Force Afghanistan, describes some of the successes he's observed over his time there. A few days earlier, Grant had a close call when a suicide bomber attacked the convoy he was riding in.
July 27, 2007Reducing troop deaths will be tough: generalBrig.-Gen. Guy LaRoche, who would take command of Task Force Afghanistan on Aug. 1, tells reporters that given the level of insurgent activity, there is little reason to reason to expect a lessening of Canadian casualty levels over the next six months.
July 22, 2007O'Connor: 'We have to train Afghan army quickly'Defence Minister Gordon O'Connor suggests the Canadian mission will shift from combat to training over the course of the Van Doos' six-month tour in Afghanistan.
July 18, 2007NATO must pull together in Afghanistan: HarperPrime Minister Stephen Harper said NATO is the only thing preventing Afghanistan from backsliding. He spoke in reaction to a report by British parliamentarians who said the alliance's work is being undermined by a lack of support from member countries.
A Strategic Counsel poll finds only 36 per cent support amongst Canadians for the mission. About three-quarters of Quebecers are opposed.
July 17, 2007Quebec's Van Doos touch down in AfghanistanThe biggest deployment of Quebec-based soldiers since the Korean War began with the arrival of about 50 Van Doos at the Kandahar air field.
July 14, 20072006 'friendly fire' incident avoidable: reportA "friendly fire" incident that occurred when a U.S. aircraft strafed Canadian troops, killing one, could have been avoided had the pilot been using his equipment properly, a report found.
July 13, 2007PM told to soften up language on Afghanistan A report advised Prime Minister Stephen Harper to hold off on using phrases such as "cut and run" when discussing Canada's options in Afghanistan.
July 12, 2007More Canadians feel too many soldiers lost: pollA Decima Research poll finds that 67 per cent of Canadians believe the casualty cost in Afghanistan is too high a price to pay -- a rise of five percentage points in a month.
Canada announces $8 million in aid for projects aimed at building Afghanistan's justice system. This is in addition to $30 million announced earlier in the month for that purpose.
July 9, 2007Hillier's office blocks requests for detainee infoThe office of Gen. Rick Hillier, Canada's top soldier, is reported to blocking requests made under the federal Access to Information Act for the release of documents pertaining to detainees captured in Afghanistan. DND would later say they are suppressing the information to protect soldier safety.
July 4, 2007Six soldiers die in roadside bombingSix soldiers and an Afghan interpreter die when their RG-31 Nyala vehicle, considered to offer very good protection against explosions, is hit by a massive blast. NDP Leader Jack Layton called for the immediate withdrawal of Canadian troops and the ramping up of peace efforts, while Liberal Leader Stephane Dion repeated that he wanted the combat mission to end in February 2009.
July 3, 2007Canada commits $30M to Afghan legal systemAt a conference in Rome, the government announces funding to help strengthen Afghanistan's legal system.
June 26, 2007Afghan opium production soarsA UN report finds that 2006 opium production in Afghanistan rose by nearly 50 per cent above 2005 levels.
June 25, 2007Board won't probe claims of Afghan abuseThe board of inquiry handling the military probe into Canada's handling of Afghan prisoners won't look into whether detainees were tortured or abused in custody.
June 24, 2007Afghan civilian deaths at coalition's hands surgeAccording to an Associated Press analysis, NATO and U.S. troops have killed 200 civilians so far in 2007, while the Taliban have killed 178. Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai said foreign forces considered Afghan lives to be "cheap."
June 22, 2007PM: No Afghanistan extension without consensusPrime Minister Stephen Harper said the current mission will not be extended past February 2009 without the consensus of opposition parties.
June 21, 2007NATO chief wants Canada to stay in AfghanistanNATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer asks for Canada to stay in Afghanistan past 2009, saying the Afghan people want NATO there.
June 18, 2007Taliban bombing claim alarms Canadian officialsThe Taliban release a video claiming to show a graduating class of suicide bombers to carry out attacks in Germany, Britain, the United States and Canada. Some experts think the video is just propaganda.
The House of Commons defence committee says there should be a debate in 2008 on whether the Afghanistan mission should be extended.
June 14, 2007Report paints grim picture of AfghanistanA government report obtained by The Globe and Mail paints a bleak picture of Afghanistan and is at odds with public statements of progress by the government.
June 11, 2007Majority want Afghan mission over by 2009: pollAbout two-thirds of respondents to a Decima poll say they want Canadian soldiers to leave Afghanistan by February 2009.
June 8, 2007Six claims of torture from detainees: gov'tSince Canada signed a new prisoner transfer agreement, there have been six allegations of torture made by transferred prisoners, the government claimed. Ministers said earlier in the week that there had been four such cases reported.
May 30, 2007Funeral cost controversyLincoln and Laurie Dinning contradict a claim from Defence Minister Gordon O'Connor, who said that the military had paid the full cost of each funeral service for troops killed during his term. Their son Cpl. Matthew Dinning died in 2006. The government would later agree to increase the stipend for funerals.
May 22, 2007Harper visits AfghanistanPrime Minister Stephen Harper travels to Afghanistan, where he met with Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai and defended the mission. He also visited a forward operating base and hinted Canada might be in Afghanistan past 2009.
May 20, 2007Canadians support talks with TalibanA Strategic Counsel poll finds that Canadians support talks with the Taliban by a two-to-one margin.
May 13, 2007Senior Taliban commander killedMullah Dadullah, the brutal, one-legged senior Taliban military commander, is killed by NATO and Afghan troops.
May 6, 2007Poll suggests most concerned about AfghanistanTwo thirds of Canadians think this country's involvement in Afghanistan makes us more likely to be the victim of a terrorist attack.
May 3, 2007Canada signs new prisoner transfer agreementGen. Rick Hillier, the military's chief of staff, says the deal will give Canada more access to transferred prisoners.
April 28, 2007Torture allegations worry NATOJaap de Hoop Scheffer, the secretary general of NATO, said abuse of transferred prisoners is not acceptable, saying NATO is in Afghanistan to promote "unversal human values."
April 27, 2007Tories accused of incompetence in detainee dust-upThe Tories come under fire for mixed messages on the detainees issue.
April 25, 2007Damning report censoredThe Globe and Mail obtains the original copy of a report that shows "The Harper government knew from its own officials that prisoners held by Afghan security forces faced the possibility of torture, abuse and extrajudicial killing." However, after first denying the report existed, the government released a heavily-edited version that removed such references.
April 24, 2007MPs vote down motion seeking Afghan exit date The House of Commons votes down a motion calling on Canadian combat troops to be withdrawn from Afghanistan by February 2009. The Liberals claim this shows the Conservatives want to keep troops there past that date.
April 23, 2007Torture allegations surface about transferred detaineesThe Globe and Mail interviewed 30 Afghan detainees transferred to Afghan authorities by Canada. They alleged to have been tortured.
April 8, 2007Roadside bomb kills six Canadian soldiersSix soldiers riding inside a LAV III armoured personnel carrier die when the vehicle is struck by a roadside bomb. The LAV is considered one of Canada's most secure vehicles.
March 21, 2007Harper takes shot at LiberalsPrime Minister Stephen Harper says in question period that he wished the Liberals would show as much concern for Canadian soldiers as they do for Taliban prisoners.
March 8, 2007Red Cross denies Tory claims about detaineesThe International Committee of the Red Cross denied a claims made by Defence Minister Gordon O'Connor that the aid group is responsible for monitoring the Canada-Afghanistan detainee-transfer agreement. O'Connor would apologize in the House of Commons eleven days later.
Feb. 26, 2007Canada announces $200M in Afghan fundingPrime Minister Stephen Harper announces an additional $200 million in aid for Afghanistan. The money is directed to governance, policing, counter-narcotics, demining and road construction.
Feb. 22, 2007Liberals would end Afghanistan mission in 2009Liberal Leader Stephane Dion said if his party forms the government after the next election, it would end the Afghanistan combat mission in February 2009.
Feb. 21, 2007Groups don't want Canadians to turn over prisonersAmnesty International and the B.C. Civil Liberties Association ask the Federal Court to stop the transfer of prisoners to foreign governments until the court reaches a decision on the practice's constitutionality.
Feb. 13, 2007NATO commander wants more troops in AfghanistanGen. John Craddock, NATO's top general, issued a plea to boost the number of soldiers from member countries serving in Afghanistan.
Feb. 4, 2007U.S. General to lead NATO forces in AfghanistanGen. Dan McNeill, one of only 11 four-star generals in the U.S. Army, takes over as commander of the International Security Assistance Force.
Jan. 30, 2007No plan to extend mission: O'ConnorDefence Minister Gordon O'Connor says there is no plan to keep Canadian troops in Afghanistan past February 2009, despite a document suggesting they might be kept there until 2011.
Jan. 19, 2007Afghanistan troop level at its limit: GauthierLt.-Gen. Michel Gauthier, commander if the Canadian Expeditionary Force, said Canada is likely to continue to boost its military commitment in southern Afghanistan over the coming months but will not be increasing troop numbers.
Jan. 16, 2007U.S. warns Taliban are planning spring offensiveU.S. military officials said they thought the Taliban were planning a major spring offensive to take the city of Kandahar.
Jan. 15, 2007Canadian diplomat's death remembered year laterCanadian diplomat Glyn Berry was remembered, a year after he was killed by a roadside bomb in southern Afghanistan.
Jan. 10, 2007Pakistan must help keep out Taliban, Fraser saysBrig.-Gen. David Fraser, the former Canadian commander of NATO troops in southern Afghanistan, said the mission is making headway. But insists Pakistan must help shut down the Taliban.
Jan. 7, 2007MacKay paints rosy picture of Afghan missionForeign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay pushed the message that the Afghanistan mission is going well and Canada's support is firm during an unannounced visit to that country.
Jan. 3, 2007NATO admits too many Afghans killed by forcesNATO said Wednesday that it killed too many Afghan civilians during fighting last year against resurgent Taliban militants, but that the Western alliance was working to change that in 2007. The statement came one day after President Hamid Karzai's latest plea for foreign forces to use maximum caution following the deaths of two civilians, reportedly involving NATO troops.
Jan. 2, 2007Commander says Baaz Tsuka offensive a successBrig.-Gen. Tim Grant said it was successful in disrupting the Taliban in the Panjwaii-Zahre district.
Jan. 1, 2007Afghanistan tops poll on story of the yearEditors and broadcasters across decided that Afghanistan was the biggest story of the year, topping even the election of the first Conservative government in 13 years.
Dec. 25, 2006Canadian Soldier chosen CP Newsmaker of 2006Editors and broadcasters across decided that Canadian soldiers serving in Afghanistan and elsewhere deserved the designation because the conflict had dominated the headlines and newscasts over the year.
Dec. 23, 2006Duceppe denies government-toppling threatBloc Quebecois Leader Gilles Duceppe said he never suggested that he would try to bring down the minority Conservative government early in the new year unless the military mission in Afghanistan is refocused.
Dec. 20, 2006PM ready to risk election defeat over AfghanistanPrime Minister Stephen Harper said in an exclusive CTV News interview that he would not "cut and run" on the Afghanistan mission even if it means losing the next election.
Dec. 18, 2006Canadian troops prepare to join Afghan offensiveCanadian troops join their NATO comrades in Operation Baaz Tsuka, a "soft" operation to push the Taliban out of parts of the Panjwaii district.
Dion won't use Afghanistan to topple ToriesLiberal Leader Stephane Dion pronounced himself confused by Bloc Quebecois Leader Gilles Duceppe's position on Afghanistan.
Dec. 13, 2006Harper accuses Bloc of political opportunismPrime Minister Stephen Harper blasted the Bloc Quebecois' Gilles Duceppe for threatening to table a non-confidence motion in Parliament over the Afghanistan mission.
Dec. 11, 2006NATO must 'get real' about the Taliban: HowellsBritain's foreign minister Kim Howells said all NATO countries must pull their weight in the fight against the resurgent Taliban.
Dec. 5, 2006Canadians ill-informed about mission: FraserBrig.-Gen. David Fraser, who commanded NATO troops in southern Afghanistan, says Canadians don't have all the facts on the mission. He blamed the media for focusing on the casualty count.
Nov. 13, 2006Militant attacks rising in Afghanistan: reportAbout 3,700 lives were lost in Afghanistan to militant violence, a report by the Joint Co-Ordination and Monitoring Board found. The board is made up of Afghan and international representatives. The report also warned about the rising drug trade.
Nov. 1, 2006Change of command in southern AfghanistanCanada's Brig.-Gen. David Fraser hands over command of NATO forces in southern Afghanistan to the Netherlands' Maj.-Gen. Ton Van Loon.
Oct. 24, 2006Group calls for refocus of the Afghan missionThe Senlis Council issues a report on Afghanistan saying the Taliban are winning both the military battle and the one for Afghan hearts and minds in Kandahar province. The report urged more of a fight on poverty in the province.
Oct. 22, 2006International Co-operation minister makes Afghanistan visitAfter the Conservative government came under fire for the slow pace of reconstruction, International Co-operation Minister Josee Verner made a surprise visit to Afghanistan to make some aid announcements.
Oct. 11, 2006Canada, NATO general issue warningsDefence Minister Gordon O'Connor said other NATO countries have to contribute combat troops in Afghanistan, while Gen. David Richards, NATO's top commander in Afghanistan, warned that NATO had six months to make improvements in the lives of ordinary Afghans or they would cast their lot with the Taliban.
Oct. 5, 2006Casualties the price of leadership: HarperDuring a speech in Calgary, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said mounting casualties is the price Canada must play to be a more influential player on the world stage.
Oct. 2, 2006Defence officials critical of Tory gov't on communications effort: CPThe Canadian Press reported that top officials within the Dept. of National Defence were critical of Conservative government efforts over the summer to defend the Afghanistan mission. They noted that over the summer, Defence Minister Gordon O'Connor told media in Australia and New Zealand that military victory wasn't achievable.
Oct. 1, 2006Canadians pessimistic about Afghan mission: pollA Decima Research poll had 59 per cent of respondents agreeing with the statement that Canadian soldiers "are dying for a cause we cannot win."
Sept. 29, 2006Hillier admits victory in Afghanistan is elusiveGen. Rick Hillier, during a visit to Afghanistan, admitted that the pace of reconstruction has been slow, in part because of the resurgent Taliban.
Sept. 28, 2006NATO ministers agree to expand Afghan missionNATO defence ministers, meeting in Portoroz, Slovenia, agreed to expand the Afghan security mission to the entire country. This brought 12,000 U.S. troops under NATO command.
Sept. 24, 2006Karzai completes Canadian visitAfghanistan's President Hamid Karzai completed a three-day visit to Canada in which he met with political leaders and thanked this country for its sacrifices.
Sept. 22, 2006Harper says Afghanistan will test UN's relevanceIn his first speech to the United Nations, Prime Minister Stephen Harper told the general assembly the global body must do more to address reconstruction and security in Afghanistan.
Sept. 18, 2006Afghanistan on agenda as Parliament opensThe Conservative government took questions about the mission as four more Canadians died in a suicide bombing in the Panjwaii District of Afghanistan's Kandahar province. A Strategic Counsel poll found 42 per cent of Canadians supporting the mission, versus 49 per cent opposed.
Sept. 17, 2006NATO declares 'Operation Medusa' a successA two-week battle in the Panjwaii District west of Kandahar city is described by NATO as a success. Canadian troops battled large formations of Taliban in some of the heaviest combat for the country's troops since the Korean War.
Sept. 11, 2006Harper's 9/11 speechPrime Minister Stephen Harper used the fifth anniversary of 9/11 to build the case for the Canadian mission in Afghanistan.
Sept. 8, 2006NATO calls for 2,000 more troops in AfghanistanNATO's defence ministers called for more combat troops for Afghanistan to battle what was termed as surprisingly stiff Taliban resistance.
Aug. 13, 2006NDP calls for withdrawal of Canadian troopsNDP Leader Jack Layton said the Canadian mission in Afghanistan had no clear objectives and no exit strategy.
July 31, 2006NATO assumes control in southern Afghanistan NATO troops take command of military operations in southern Afghanistan, with their first priority to suppress the recent resurgence of Taliban attacks.
July 19, 200656 per cent oppose Afghan missionThe Strategic Counsel finds that 56 per cent of people say they oppose the decision to send Canadian troops to Afghanistan. Thirty-nine per cent of respondents support the decision.
June 9, 200648 per cent back sending troops to AfghanistanThe Strategic Counsel finds total support for sending troops is at 48 per cent while 44 per cent oppose the idea.
May 17, 2006MPs narrowly vote to extend Afghanistan missionMPs narrowly passed a motion to extend Canada's mission in Afghanistan by two years in a 149-145 vote in the House of Commons.
May 6, 2006Most Cdns. oppose deployment: pollA poll, which was conducted by The Strategic Counsel for CTV and The Globe and Mail, found 54 per cent of Canadians are against the deployment of troops. Of those, 23 per cent are strongly opposed.
April 10, 2006Canadians split over mission: pollA poll, conducted by Decima Research, shows that 46 per cent of Canadians think the mission is a bad idea, compared to 45 per cent who feel the opposite is true.
March 12, 2006PM makes surprise visit to troops in AfghanistanPrime Minister Stephen Harper has makes surprise visit to Afghanistan to show support for what he says is Canada's most important mission abroad.
March 8, 2006Cdn. troops embark on dangerous Afghan missionCanadian troops in Afghanistan launch their biggest mission yet -- a drive to root out Taliban insurgents from rural areas around Kandahar.
Hillier whisked away after roadside bombingCanada's top soldier was helping with work on the ground in Afghanistan Friday when a roadside bomb went off just 800 metres from where he was chatting with a village elder.
February 26, 2006Canadian takes command in southern AfghanistanBrig.-Gen. David Fraser takes charge of a new multinational force, including 2,200 Canadians, that will patrol six provinces in the southern part of Afghanistan.
February 24, 2006Canadian troops start takeover in AfghanistanCanadian troops have officially started taking over from their American allies on the front lines of Kandahar province in Afghanistan.
January 23, 2006Conservatives form minority governmentThe Conservatives end 13 years of Liberal rule by forming a minority government. Stephen Harper becomes prime minister.
November 29, 2005Last Canadians leave Kabul's Camp Julien The last Canadians leave Camp Julien and much of its infrastructure to the Afghan government.
September 20, 2005JTF2 captured, killed enemies in Afghanistan: DND The Chief of Staff for Canadian Forces operations confirms that Canadian soldiers have engaged Taliban and al Qaeda fighters in Afghanistan, in an unprecedented look at the secretive commando unit.
August 22, 2005Civilians prepare to join Canadian mission in KandaharRCMP officers and government development personnel are set to arrive in Kandahar to bolster an experimental force that mixes civilians, the police and military.
July 29, 2005Kandahar mission right thing to do: MartinPrime Minister Paul Martin responds to criticism that sending troops to Afghanistan will endanger Canada, saying that fighting terrorism is the government's responsibility. His comments follow reports that a jihadist website has mentioned Canada's mission to Afghanistan in an effort to alert al Qaeda fighters to their presence.
July 19, 2005More Canadian soldiers depart for AfghanistanThe next wave of Canadian soldiers leave for Afghanistan for a six-month mission described by Canada's Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Rick Hillier, as dangerous but necessary.
July 14, 2005Canada's JTF-2 to hunt al Qaeda in AfghanistanGen. Rick Hillier announces that Canada's elite JTF-2 soldiers will be heading to Afghanistan to join the fight.
June 29, 2005Canadian soldiers begin deploying to KandaharNearly 200 Canadian soldiers head to Afghanistan's violent Kandahar region to establish a base for a reconstruction team that will depart shortly thereafter. It is the first time Canada has deployed a provincial reconstruction team or PRT, made up of soldiers, Mounties, members of the Canadian International Development Agency and Foreign Affairs personnel.
February 10, 2005NATO to expand mission in AfghanistanNATO defence ministers, including Canada's Defence Minister Bill Graham, agree on a major expansion of the alliance's peacekeeping mission in Afghanistan.
November 29, 2004Canadian troops in Kabul overburdened: watchdogMilitary ombudsman Andre Marin says the troops are exhausted and overworked. Because of a decision that slashed the number of troops deployed to Afghanistan by almost two-thirds, Marin says the remaining soldiers are being forced to do double duty.
August 7, 2004More Canadian soldiers return from AfghanistanAbout 140 Canadian soldiers return from a six-month stint in Afghanistan. They are part of the 700 soldiers from the Vandoos Regiment, based in Valcartier, Quebec, to return. The Canadian troops are replaced by about 600 troops from Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry's 3rd Battalion based in Edmonton.
August 5, 2004Canada turns Kabul operations over to EuropeansCanadian troops conduct their last patrols around the Afghan capital before their commanding officer turns over their area of operations to a Norwegian-led battle group.
July 26, 2004Six-hundred Canadian troops head to AfghanistanSix-hundred troops from across Western Canada leave to replace a battalion from the Quebec-based Royal 22nd Regiment. Soldiers from the military unit that was mistakenly attacked in Afghanistan by a U.S. fighter jet in 2002 are part of the group.
July 19, 2004New Canadian contingent arriving in KabulClose to 2,000 soldiers begin to wrap up their tour soon to be replaced by 700 Canadians and more than 1,000 Belgians, Hungarians and Norwegians.
April 14, 2004Troops to remain in Afghanistan until mid-2005Prime Minister Paul Martin announces Canada will keep about 600 troops and 200 air force personnel in Afghanistan to play a reconnaissance role until 2005.
February 9, 2004Canadian takes command of NATO force in KabulCanadian Lieutenant-General Rick Hillier officially takes command of the NATO-led forces in Afghanistan. A ceremony officially marks Hillier's transfer as head of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). He replaces Lt.-Gen. Goetz Gliemeroth, of Germany.
February 4, 2004Martin says 500 troops will stay after Canada relieves commandPrime Minister Paul Martin announces that about 500 Canadian troops will remain in Afghanistan after Canada turns over command of the international peacekeeping forces in August, 2004.
August 7, 2003Canada opens embassy in AfghanistanThe Canadian embassy opens in Afghanistan with the appointment of Christopher Alexander as ambassador.
July 17, 2003Canada takes charge of Afghanistan peacekeeping Canada takes command of the force of international peacekeepers in charge of maintaining security in Afghanistan's war-battered capital.
February 12, 2003Canada announces that 1,000 soldiers will return to AfghanistanDefence Minister John McCallum announces in the House of Commons that Canada will send troops back to Afghanistan to take part in a UN-mandated International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).
May 13, 2002First wave of Canadian personnel return from AfghanistanThe first wave of personnel from 8 Wing Trenton return from their mission supporting Canadian troops in Afghanistan. The eight people were part of the 40-member deployment from the Strategic Airlift Detachment which included pilots, cargo handlers and maintenance workers.
February 2, 2002First 25 Canadian troops land at Kandahar A transport plane carrying 25 Canadian troops lands in Kandahar, Afghanistan. The troops are the first of a force of 750 Canadian soldiers sent to Afghanistan in February, 2002.
January 25, 2002Ottawa re-establishes diplomatic ties with Kabul Canada and Afghanistan are diplomatic partners once again. Deputy Prime Minister John Manley announces re-established diplomatic relations with Afghanistan.
January 14, 2002Canadian soldiers hit the ground in AfghanistanThe first 20 members of a new military mission arrive in Afghanistan.
December 19, 2001Canadian commandos in Kandahar: Eggleton Defence Minister Art Eggleton announces that 40 members of Canada's elite anti-terrorist group, Joint Task Force 2, are on the ground near Kandahar. The ultra-secretive unit was deployed since December, 2001 but their exact location had never been disclosed until the announcement.
October 8, 2001Canada pledges 2,000 troops to U.S.-led campaignDefence Minister Art Eggleton announces that Canada is sending six naval ships, six air force planes, special forces soldiers, and more than 2,000 Canadian troops in a mission dubbed "Operation Apollo."
October 7, 2001Chretien: Canadian troops 'will do Canada proud'Prime Minister Jean Chrétien addresses the nation after the United States launches military attacks in Afghanistan. Chrétien orders the Canadian military on full alert and offers the United States "certain commitments" that include "military humanitarian, diplomatic, financial, legislative and domestic security initiatives."
Sept. 18, 2007Karzai urges Canada not to withdraw troops in 2009Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai says his country will fall back in the hands of terrorists if Canadian troops leave.
Sept. 16, 2007Afghan loss equals terrorist win: CIA analystMichael Scheuer, a former CIA official who once headed the Osama bin Laden unit, says the terrorist will score a huge win if the NATO mission fails in Afghanistan.
Sept. 10, 2007MacKay: NATO must succeed or risk 9/11 repeatDefence Minister Peter MacKay and Afghanistan's ambassador to Canada say the world risks more major terror attacks if peace and stability aren't established in Afghanistan.
Sept. 9, 2007No rush on Afghan mission extension vote: HarperPrime Minister Stephen Harper says there will be no vote on extending the Afghan mission unless an opposition party indicates a willingness to support his government's position.
The army declares Operating Keeping Goodwill in Zhari District to be a success.
Sept. 4, 2007Canadian military too focused on Afghanistan: reportA report by a group of retired generals says the Armed Forces' focus on Afghanistan is hurting defence efforts in other important areas.
Sept. 3, 2007Canada should push Afghan peace process: LaytonNDP Leader Jack Layton says Canada should withdraw its combat troops and take a leading role in promoting a comprehensive peace process for Afghanistan.
An Afghan police chief says the Taliban have control of the Panjwaii/Zhari districts west of Kandahar city -- an area where Canadian troops fought pitched battles a year earlier to push the insurgents out.
Sept. 2, 2007MacKay wants Canadians to understand Afghan roleDefence Minister Peter MacKay says a fall parliamentary debate on the Afghan mission should help boost Canadians' understanding of the mission.
August 31, 2007NATO seeks extension of Dutch missionNATO officials lobby the Netherlands to maintain their 1,500 troops in restive Uruzgan province.
August 30, 2007Military force not enough to beat Taliban: U.S.A top U.S. commander in Afghanistan says military force alone won't be enough to defeat the Taliban, and that most insurgencies end through a political resolution.
August 29, 2007Little evidence aid working in Afghanistan: groupThe Senlis Council issues a report that finds Canadian aid money isn't necessarily reaching those who need it most, such as malnourished children in Kandahar's Mirwais hospital.
August 26, 2007Harper skips Afghanistan in Que. byelection speechOn a day when the remains of two Van Doos are returned to Canadian soil, Prime Minister Stephen Harper doesn't use the word "Afghanistan" in a byelection-themed speech in Quebec.
August 24, 2007Highway of HeroesA grassroots effort to honour fallen soldiers by renaming the stretch of the 401 Highway between Toronto and CFB Trenton as the Highway of Heroes gets results. Ontario's provincial government endorses the move.
August 19, 2007First Van Doo casualtyPte. Simon Longtin, 23, dies after a roadside bombing incident. This makes him the first member of the Quebec-based Royal 22nd Regiment to die in Afghanistan since the deployment began in late July.
Three days later, two more Van Doos would die, along with their Afghan interpreter, after another roadside bombing. A Canadian soldier was injured, and a Radio Canada TV cameraman would lose part of his leg due to the injuries he received.
August 14, 2007Cabinet shufflePrime Minister Stephen Harper moves Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay into the defence portfolio, and moves Industry Minister Maxime Bernier into foreign affairs. He shuffles former defence minister Gordon O'Connor to national revenue. The moves are seen as an attempt to put better communicators in charge of delivering the government's message on Afghanistan, particularly in Quebec.
August 12, 2007Afghan army waiting for promised arms from CanadaThe Afghan National Army says it's waiting for modern weapons promised by Defence Minister Gordon O'Connor.
August 9, 2007Colonel says fight against Taliban won't end soonA Canadian colonel says combat operations against the Taliban aren't about to end any time soon, even though the governor of Kandahar province predicted that NATO forces would defeat the Taliban in the not-too-distant future.
August 8, 2007No charges in 'friendly fire' death: army reportA Canadian army report assesses no individual blame in the March 29, 2006 "friendly fire" death of Pte. Robert Costall at FOB Robinson in Helmand province. The opposition accused the government of stalling on the release of reports on the Costall incident and an earlier one.
August 5, 2007Afghan heroin a threat to Canadian streets: RCMPDocuments reveal that the RCMP thinks about 60 per cent of the heroin on Canadian streets originates in Afghanistan.
July 30-Aug. 1, 2007Is there a rift or not?Critics suggest that Gen. Rick Hillier and Defence Minister Gordon O'Connor are not on the same page, especially on the Afghanistan file. O'Connor denied there was a rift. Meanwhile, Brig.-Gen. Guy Laroche officially took command of Task Force Afghanistan, replacing Gen. Tim Grant.
July 29, 2007February handoff would be a 'challenge': HillierGen. Rick Hillier, chief of general staff, seems to contradict Defence Minister Gordon O'Connor when he seemed to downplay the idea that Afghan soldiers would be ready to pick up the bulk of combat duties by February 2008. Gen. Tim Grant, the outgoing commander of Task Force Afghanistan, supported that view.
July 28, 2007NATO helped save 40,000 Afghan children: GrantGen. Tim Grant, nearing the end of his tour as commander of Task Force Afghanistan, describes some of the successes he's observed over his time there. A few days earlier, Grant had a close call when a suicide bomber attacked the convoy he was riding in.
July 27, 2007Reducing troop deaths will be tough: generalBrig.-Gen. Guy LaRoche, who would take command of Task Force Afghanistan on Aug. 1, tells reporters that given the level of insurgent activity, there is little reason to reason to expect a lessening of Canadian casualty levels over the next six months.
July 22, 2007O'Connor: 'We have to train Afghan army quickly'Defence Minister Gordon O'Connor suggests the Canadian mission will shift from combat to training over the course of the Van Doos' six-month tour in Afghanistan.
July 18, 2007NATO must pull together in Afghanistan: HarperPrime Minister Stephen Harper said NATO is the only thing preventing Afghanistan from backsliding. He spoke in reaction to a report by British parliamentarians who said the alliance's work is being undermined by a lack of support from member countries.
A Strategic Counsel poll finds only 36 per cent support amongst Canadians for the mission. About three-quarters of Quebecers are opposed.
July 17, 2007Quebec's Van Doos touch down in AfghanistanThe biggest deployment of Quebec-based soldiers since the Korean War began with the arrival of about 50 Van Doos at the Kandahar air field.
July 14, 20072006 'friendly fire' incident avoidable: reportA "friendly fire" incident that occurred when a U.S. aircraft strafed Canadian troops, killing one, could have been avoided had the pilot been using his equipment properly, a report found.
July 13, 2007PM told to soften up language on Afghanistan A report advised Prime Minister Stephen Harper to hold off on using phrases such as "cut and run" when discussing Canada's options in Afghanistan.
July 12, 2007More Canadians feel too many soldiers lost: pollA Decima Research poll finds that 67 per cent of Canadians believe the casualty cost in Afghanistan is too high a price to pay -- a rise of five percentage points in a month.
Canada announces $8 million in aid for projects aimed at building Afghanistan's justice system. This is in addition to $30 million announced earlier in the month for that purpose.
July 9, 2007Hillier's office blocks requests for detainee infoThe office of Gen. Rick Hillier, Canada's top soldier, is reported to blocking requests made under the federal Access to Information Act for the release of documents pertaining to detainees captured in Afghanistan. DND would later say they are suppressing the information to protect soldier safety.
July 4, 2007Six soldiers die in roadside bombingSix soldiers and an Afghan interpreter die when their RG-31 Nyala vehicle, considered to offer very good protection against explosions, is hit by a massive blast. NDP Leader Jack Layton called for the immediate withdrawal of Canadian troops and the ramping up of peace efforts, while Liberal Leader Stephane Dion repeated that he wanted the combat mission to end in February 2009.
July 3, 2007Canada commits $30M to Afghan legal systemAt a conference in Rome, the government announces funding to help strengthen Afghanistan's legal system.
June 26, 2007Afghan opium production soarsA UN report finds that 2006 opium production in Afghanistan rose by nearly 50 per cent above 2005 levels.
June 25, 2007Board won't probe claims of Afghan abuseThe board of inquiry handling the military probe into Canada's handling of Afghan prisoners won't look into whether detainees were tortured or abused in custody.
June 24, 2007Afghan civilian deaths at coalition's hands surgeAccording to an Associated Press analysis, NATO and U.S. troops have killed 200 civilians so far in 2007, while the Taliban have killed 178. Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai said foreign forces considered Afghan lives to be "cheap."
June 22, 2007PM: No Afghanistan extension without consensusPrime Minister Stephen Harper said the current mission will not be extended past February 2009 without the consensus of opposition parties.
June 21, 2007NATO chief wants Canada to stay in AfghanistanNATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer asks for Canada to stay in Afghanistan past 2009, saying the Afghan people want NATO there.
June 18, 2007Taliban bombing claim alarms Canadian officialsThe Taliban release a video claiming to show a graduating class of suicide bombers to carry out attacks in Germany, Britain, the United States and Canada. Some experts think the video is just propaganda.
The House of Commons defence committee says there should be a debate in 2008 on whether the Afghanistan mission should be extended.
June 14, 2007Report paints grim picture of AfghanistanA government report obtained by The Globe and Mail paints a bleak picture of Afghanistan and is at odds with public statements of progress by the government.
June 11, 2007Majority want Afghan mission over by 2009: pollAbout two-thirds of respondents to a Decima poll say they want Canadian soldiers to leave Afghanistan by February 2009.
June 8, 2007Six claims of torture from detainees: gov'tSince Canada signed a new prisoner transfer agreement, there have been six allegations of torture made by transferred prisoners, the government claimed. Ministers said earlier in the week that there had been four such cases reported.
May 30, 2007Funeral cost controversyLincoln and Laurie Dinning contradict a claim from Defence Minister Gordon O'Connor, who said that the military had paid the full cost of each funeral service for troops killed during his term. Their son Cpl. Matthew Dinning died in 2006. The government would later agree to increase the stipend for funerals.
May 22, 2007Harper visits AfghanistanPrime Minister Stephen Harper travels to Afghanistan, where he met with Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai and defended the mission. He also visited a forward operating base and hinted Canada might be in Afghanistan past 2009.
May 20, 2007Canadians support talks with TalibanA Strategic Counsel poll finds that Canadians support talks with the Taliban by a two-to-one margin.
May 13, 2007Senior Taliban commander killedMullah Dadullah, the brutal, one-legged senior Taliban military commander, is killed by NATO and Afghan troops.
May 6, 2007Poll suggests most concerned about AfghanistanTwo thirds of Canadians think this country's involvement in Afghanistan makes us more likely to be the victim of a terrorist attack.
May 3, 2007Canada signs new prisoner transfer agreementGen. Rick Hillier, the military's chief of staff, says the deal will give Canada more access to transferred prisoners.
April 28, 2007Torture allegations worry NATOJaap de Hoop Scheffer, the secretary general of NATO, said abuse of transferred prisoners is not acceptable, saying NATO is in Afghanistan to promote "unversal human values."
April 27, 2007Tories accused of incompetence in detainee dust-upThe Tories come under fire for mixed messages on the detainees issue.
April 25, 2007Damning report censoredThe Globe and Mail obtains the original copy of a report that shows "The Harper government knew from its own officials that prisoners held by Afghan security forces faced the possibility of torture, abuse and extrajudicial killing." However, after first denying the report existed, the government released a heavily-edited version that removed such references.
April 24, 2007MPs vote down motion seeking Afghan exit date The House of Commons votes down a motion calling on Canadian combat troops to be withdrawn from Afghanistan by February 2009. The Liberals claim this shows the Conservatives want to keep troops there past that date.
April 23, 2007Torture allegations surface about transferred detaineesThe Globe and Mail interviewed 30 Afghan detainees transferred to Afghan authorities by Canada. They alleged to have been tortured.
April 8, 2007Roadside bomb kills six Canadian soldiersSix soldiers riding inside a LAV III armoured personnel carrier die when the vehicle is struck by a roadside bomb. The LAV is considered one of Canada's most secure vehicles.
March 21, 2007Harper takes shot at LiberalsPrime Minister Stephen Harper says in question period that he wished the Liberals would show as much concern for Canadian soldiers as they do for Taliban prisoners.
March 8, 2007Red Cross denies Tory claims about detaineesThe International Committee of the Red Cross denied a claims made by Defence Minister Gordon O'Connor that the aid group is responsible for monitoring the Canada-Afghanistan detainee-transfer agreement. O'Connor would apologize in the House of Commons eleven days later.
Feb. 26, 2007Canada announces $200M in Afghan fundingPrime Minister Stephen Harper announces an additional $200 million in aid for Afghanistan. The money is directed to governance, policing, counter-narcotics, demining and road construction.
Feb. 22, 2007Liberals would end Afghanistan mission in 2009Liberal Leader Stephane Dion said if his party forms the government after the next election, it would end the Afghanistan combat mission in February 2009.
Feb. 21, 2007Groups don't want Canadians to turn over prisonersAmnesty International and the B.C. Civil Liberties Association ask the Federal Court to stop the transfer of prisoners to foreign governments until the court reaches a decision on the practice's constitutionality.
Feb. 13, 2007NATO commander wants more troops in AfghanistanGen. John Craddock, NATO's top general, issued a plea to boost the number of soldiers from member countries serving in Afghanistan.
Feb. 4, 2007U.S. General to lead NATO forces in AfghanistanGen. Dan McNeill, one of only 11 four-star generals in the U.S. Army, takes over as commander of the International Security Assistance Force.
Jan. 30, 2007No plan to extend mission: O'ConnorDefence Minister Gordon O'Connor says there is no plan to keep Canadian troops in Afghanistan past February 2009, despite a document suggesting they might be kept there until 2011.
Jan. 19, 2007Afghanistan troop level at its limit: GauthierLt.-Gen. Michel Gauthier, commander if the Canadian Expeditionary Force, said Canada is likely to continue to boost its military commitment in southern Afghanistan over the coming months but will not be increasing troop numbers.
Jan. 16, 2007U.S. warns Taliban are planning spring offensiveU.S. military officials said they thought the Taliban were planning a major spring offensive to take the city of Kandahar.
Jan. 15, 2007Canadian diplomat's death remembered year laterCanadian diplomat Glyn Berry was remembered, a year after he was killed by a roadside bomb in southern Afghanistan.
Jan. 10, 2007Pakistan must help keep out Taliban, Fraser saysBrig.-Gen. David Fraser, the former Canadian commander of NATO troops in southern Afghanistan, said the mission is making headway. But insists Pakistan must help shut down the Taliban.
Jan. 7, 2007MacKay paints rosy picture of Afghan missionForeign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay pushed the message that the Afghanistan mission is going well and Canada's support is firm during an unannounced visit to that country.
Jan. 3, 2007NATO admits too many Afghans killed by forcesNATO said Wednesday that it killed too many Afghan civilians during fighting last year against resurgent Taliban militants, but that the Western alliance was working to change that in 2007. The statement came one day after President Hamid Karzai's latest plea for foreign forces to use maximum caution following the deaths of two civilians, reportedly involving NATO troops.
Jan. 2, 2007Commander says Baaz Tsuka offensive a successBrig.-Gen. Tim Grant said it was successful in disrupting the Taliban in the Panjwaii-Zahre district.
Jan. 1, 2007Afghanistan tops poll on story of the yearEditors and broadcasters across decided that Afghanistan was the biggest story of the year, topping even the election of the first Conservative government in 13 years.
Dec. 25, 2006Canadian Soldier chosen CP Newsmaker of 2006Editors and broadcasters across decided that Canadian soldiers serving in Afghanistan and elsewhere deserved the designation because the conflict had dominated the headlines and newscasts over the year.
Dec. 23, 2006Duceppe denies government-toppling threatBloc Quebecois Leader Gilles Duceppe said he never suggested that he would try to bring down the minority Conservative government early in the new year unless the military mission in Afghanistan is refocused.
Dec. 20, 2006PM ready to risk election defeat over AfghanistanPrime Minister Stephen Harper said in an exclusive CTV News interview that he would not "cut and run" on the Afghanistan mission even if it means losing the next election.
Dec. 18, 2006Canadian troops prepare to join Afghan offensiveCanadian troops join their NATO comrades in Operation Baaz Tsuka, a "soft" operation to push the Taliban out of parts of the Panjwaii district.
Dion won't use Afghanistan to topple ToriesLiberal Leader Stephane Dion pronounced himself confused by Bloc Quebecois Leader Gilles Duceppe's position on Afghanistan.
Dec. 13, 2006Harper accuses Bloc of political opportunismPrime Minister Stephen Harper blasted the Bloc Quebecois' Gilles Duceppe for threatening to table a non-confidence motion in Parliament over the Afghanistan mission.
Dec. 11, 2006NATO must 'get real' about the Taliban: HowellsBritain's foreign minister Kim Howells said all NATO countries must pull their weight in the fight against the resurgent Taliban.
Dec. 5, 2006Canadians ill-informed about mission: FraserBrig.-Gen. David Fraser, who commanded NATO troops in southern Afghanistan, says Canadians don't have all the facts on the mission. He blamed the media for focusing on the casualty count.
Nov. 13, 2006Militant attacks rising in Afghanistan: reportAbout 3,700 lives were lost in Afghanistan to militant violence, a report by the Joint Co-Ordination and Monitoring Board found. The board is made up of Afghan and international representatives. The report also warned about the rising drug trade.
Nov. 1, 2006Change of command in southern AfghanistanCanada's Brig.-Gen. David Fraser hands over command of NATO forces in southern Afghanistan to the Netherlands' Maj.-Gen. Ton Van Loon.
Oct. 24, 2006Group calls for refocus of the Afghan missionThe Senlis Council issues a report on Afghanistan saying the Taliban are winning both the military battle and the one for Afghan hearts and minds in Kandahar province. The report urged more of a fight on poverty in the province.
Oct. 22, 2006International Co-operation minister makes Afghanistan visitAfter the Conservative government came under fire for the slow pace of reconstruction, International Co-operation Minister Josee Verner made a surprise visit to Afghanistan to make some aid announcements.
Oct. 11, 2006Canada, NATO general issue warningsDefence Minister Gordon O'Connor said other NATO countries have to contribute combat troops in Afghanistan, while Gen. David Richards, NATO's top commander in Afghanistan, warned that NATO had six months to make improvements in the lives of ordinary Afghans or they would cast their lot with the Taliban.
Oct. 5, 2006Casualties the price of leadership: HarperDuring a speech in Calgary, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said mounting casualties is the price Canada must play to be a more influential player on the world stage.
Oct. 2, 2006Defence officials critical of Tory gov't on communications effort: CPThe Canadian Press reported that top officials within the Dept. of National Defence were critical of Conservative government efforts over the summer to defend the Afghanistan mission. They noted that over the summer, Defence Minister Gordon O'Connor told media in Australia and New Zealand that military victory wasn't achievable.
Oct. 1, 2006Canadians pessimistic about Afghan mission: pollA Decima Research poll had 59 per cent of respondents agreeing with the statement that Canadian soldiers "are dying for a cause we cannot win."
Sept. 29, 2006Hillier admits victory in Afghanistan is elusiveGen. Rick Hillier, during a visit to Afghanistan, admitted that the pace of reconstruction has been slow, in part because of the resurgent Taliban.
Sept. 28, 2006NATO ministers agree to expand Afghan missionNATO defence ministers, meeting in Portoroz, Slovenia, agreed to expand the Afghan security mission to the entire country. This brought 12,000 U.S. troops under NATO command.
Sept. 24, 2006Karzai completes Canadian visitAfghanistan's President Hamid Karzai completed a three-day visit to Canada in which he met with political leaders and thanked this country for its sacrifices.
Sept. 22, 2006Harper says Afghanistan will test UN's relevanceIn his first speech to the United Nations, Prime Minister Stephen Harper told the general assembly the global body must do more to address reconstruction and security in Afghanistan.
Sept. 18, 2006Afghanistan on agenda as Parliament opensThe Conservative government took questions about the mission as four more Canadians died in a suicide bombing in the Panjwaii District of Afghanistan's Kandahar province. A Strategic Counsel poll found 42 per cent of Canadians supporting the mission, versus 49 per cent opposed.
Sept. 17, 2006NATO declares 'Operation Medusa' a successA two-week battle in the Panjwaii District west of Kandahar city is described by NATO as a success. Canadian troops battled large formations of Taliban in some of the heaviest combat for the country's troops since the Korean War.
Sept. 11, 2006Harper's 9/11 speechPrime Minister Stephen Harper used the fifth anniversary of 9/11 to build the case for the Canadian mission in Afghanistan.
Sept. 8, 2006NATO calls for 2,000 more troops in AfghanistanNATO's defence ministers called for more combat troops for Afghanistan to battle what was termed as surprisingly stiff Taliban resistance.
Aug. 13, 2006NDP calls for withdrawal of Canadian troopsNDP Leader Jack Layton said the Canadian mission in Afghanistan had no clear objectives and no exit strategy.
July 31, 2006NATO assumes control in southern Afghanistan NATO troops take command of military operations in southern Afghanistan, with their first priority to suppress the recent resurgence of Taliban attacks.
July 19, 200656 per cent oppose Afghan missionThe Strategic Counsel finds that 56 per cent of people say they oppose the decision to send Canadian troops to Afghanistan. Thirty-nine per cent of respondents support the decision.
June 9, 200648 per cent back sending troops to AfghanistanThe Strategic Counsel finds total support for sending troops is at 48 per cent while 44 per cent oppose the idea.
May 17, 2006MPs narrowly vote to extend Afghanistan missionMPs narrowly passed a motion to extend Canada's mission in Afghanistan by two years in a 149-145 vote in the House of Commons.
May 6, 2006Most Cdns. oppose deployment: pollA poll, which was conducted by The Strategic Counsel for CTV and The Globe and Mail, found 54 per cent of Canadians are against the deployment of troops. Of those, 23 per cent are strongly opposed.
April 10, 2006Canadians split over mission: pollA poll, conducted by Decima Research, shows that 46 per cent of Canadians think the mission is a bad idea, compared to 45 per cent who feel the opposite is true.
March 12, 2006PM makes surprise visit to troops in AfghanistanPrime Minister Stephen Harper has makes surprise visit to Afghanistan to show support for what he says is Canada's most important mission abroad.
March 8, 2006Cdn. troops embark on dangerous Afghan missionCanadian troops in Afghanistan launch their biggest mission yet -- a drive to root out Taliban insurgents from rural areas around Kandahar.
Hillier whisked away after roadside bombingCanada's top soldier was helping with work on the ground in Afghanistan Friday when a roadside bomb went off just 800 metres from where he was chatting with a village elder.
February 26, 2006Canadian takes command in southern AfghanistanBrig.-Gen. David Fraser takes charge of a new multinational force, including 2,200 Canadians, that will patrol six provinces in the southern part of Afghanistan.
February 24, 2006Canadian troops start takeover in AfghanistanCanadian troops have officially started taking over from their American allies on the front lines of Kandahar province in Afghanistan.
January 23, 2006Conservatives form minority governmentThe Conservatives end 13 years of Liberal rule by forming a minority government. Stephen Harper becomes prime minister.
November 29, 2005Last Canadians leave Kabul's Camp Julien The last Canadians leave Camp Julien and much of its infrastructure to the Afghan government.
September 20, 2005JTF2 captured, killed enemies in Afghanistan: DND The Chief of Staff for Canadian Forces operations confirms that Canadian soldiers have engaged Taliban and al Qaeda fighters in Afghanistan, in an unprecedented look at the secretive commando unit.
August 22, 2005Civilians prepare to join Canadian mission in KandaharRCMP officers and government development personnel are set to arrive in Kandahar to bolster an experimental force that mixes civilians, the police and military.
July 29, 2005Kandahar mission right thing to do: MartinPrime Minister Paul Martin responds to criticism that sending troops to Afghanistan will endanger Canada, saying that fighting terrorism is the government's responsibility. His comments follow reports that a jihadist website has mentioned Canada's mission to Afghanistan in an effort to alert al Qaeda fighters to their presence.
July 19, 2005More Canadian soldiers depart for AfghanistanThe next wave of Canadian soldiers leave for Afghanistan for a six-month mission described by Canada's Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Rick Hillier, as dangerous but necessary.
July 14, 2005Canada's JTF-2 to hunt al Qaeda in AfghanistanGen. Rick Hillier announces that Canada's elite JTF-2 soldiers will be heading to Afghanistan to join the fight.
June 29, 2005Canadian soldiers begin deploying to KandaharNearly 200 Canadian soldiers head to Afghanistan's violent Kandahar region to establish a base for a reconstruction team that will depart shortly thereafter. It is the first time Canada has deployed a provincial reconstruction team or PRT, made up of soldiers, Mounties, members of the Canadian International Development Agency and Foreign Affairs personnel.
February 10, 2005NATO to expand mission in AfghanistanNATO defence ministers, including Canada's Defence Minister Bill Graham, agree on a major expansion of the alliance's peacekeeping mission in Afghanistan.
November 29, 2004Canadian troops in Kabul overburdened: watchdogMilitary ombudsman Andre Marin says the troops are exhausted and overworked. Because of a decision that slashed the number of troops deployed to Afghanistan by almost two-thirds, Marin says the remaining soldiers are being forced to do double duty.
August 7, 2004More Canadian soldiers return from AfghanistanAbout 140 Canadian soldiers return from a six-month stint in Afghanistan. They are part of the 700 soldiers from the Vandoos Regiment, based in Valcartier, Quebec, to return. The Canadian troops are replaced by about 600 troops from Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry's 3rd Battalion based in Edmonton.
August 5, 2004Canada turns Kabul operations over to EuropeansCanadian troops conduct their last patrols around the Afghan capital before their commanding officer turns over their area of operations to a Norwegian-led battle group.
July 26, 2004Six-hundred Canadian troops head to AfghanistanSix-hundred troops from across Western Canada leave to replace a battalion from the Quebec-based Royal 22nd Regiment. Soldiers from the military unit that was mistakenly attacked in Afghanistan by a U.S. fighter jet in 2002 are part of the group.
July 19, 2004New Canadian contingent arriving in KabulClose to 2,000 soldiers begin to wrap up their tour soon to be replaced by 700 Canadians and more than 1,000 Belgians, Hungarians and Norwegians.
April 14, 2004Troops to remain in Afghanistan until mid-2005Prime Minister Paul Martin announces Canada will keep about 600 troops and 200 air force personnel in Afghanistan to play a reconnaissance role until 2005.
February 9, 2004Canadian takes command of NATO force in KabulCanadian Lieutenant-General Rick Hillier officially takes command of the NATO-led forces in Afghanistan. A ceremony officially marks Hillier's transfer as head of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). He replaces Lt.-Gen. Goetz Gliemeroth, of Germany.
February 4, 2004Martin says 500 troops will stay after Canada relieves commandPrime Minister Paul Martin announces that about 500 Canadian troops will remain in Afghanistan after Canada turns over command of the international peacekeeping forces in August, 2004.
August 7, 2003Canada opens embassy in AfghanistanThe Canadian embassy opens in Afghanistan with the appointment of Christopher Alexander as ambassador.
July 17, 2003Canada takes charge of Afghanistan peacekeeping Canada takes command of the force of international peacekeepers in charge of maintaining security in Afghanistan's war-battered capital.
February 12, 2003Canada announces that 1,000 soldiers will return to AfghanistanDefence Minister John McCallum announces in the House of Commons that Canada will send troops back to Afghanistan to take part in a UN-mandated International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).
May 13, 2002First wave of Canadian personnel return from AfghanistanThe first wave of personnel from 8 Wing Trenton return from their mission supporting Canadian troops in Afghanistan. The eight people were part of the 40-member deployment from the Strategic Airlift Detachment which included pilots, cargo handlers and maintenance workers.
February 2, 2002First 25 Canadian troops land at Kandahar A transport plane carrying 25 Canadian troops lands in Kandahar, Afghanistan. The troops are the first of a force of 750 Canadian soldiers sent to Afghanistan in February, 2002.
January 25, 2002Ottawa re-establishes diplomatic ties with Kabul Canada and Afghanistan are diplomatic partners once again. Deputy Prime Minister John Manley announces re-established diplomatic relations with Afghanistan.
January 14, 2002Canadian soldiers hit the ground in AfghanistanThe first 20 members of a new military mission arrive in Afghanistan.
December 19, 2001Canadian commandos in Kandahar: Eggleton Defence Minister Art Eggleton announces that 40 members of Canada's elite anti-terrorist group, Joint Task Force 2, are on the ground near Kandahar. The ultra-secretive unit was deployed since December, 2001 but their exact location had never been disclosed until the announcement.
October 8, 2001Canada pledges 2,000 troops to U.S.-led campaignDefence Minister Art Eggleton announces that Canada is sending six naval ships, six air force planes, special forces soldiers, and more than 2,000 Canadian troops in a mission dubbed "Operation Apollo."
October 7, 2001Chretien: Canadian troops 'will do Canada proud'Prime Minister Jean Chrétien addresses the nation after the United States launches military attacks in Afghanistan. Chrétien orders the Canadian military on full alert and offers the United States "certain commitments" that include "military humanitarian, diplomatic, financial, legislative and domestic security initiatives."
Canada's Airpower - CF-18 Hornets
A collection of CF-18 video clips from all over the internet. The song is "Bombshell" by Powerman 5000.
Canada's Most Lethal Weapons
A tribute to the quiet, stealthy, and extremely talented professional that is the Canadian sniper. The song is the Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter Theme.
Military Blog Site - with Robby McRobb
This Chap Robby NcRobb has a great military blog site, and its posted almost on a daily basis basis in the Prince Edward Island Newspaper, THE GUARDIAN. It's always a good read.
Here the below url links to a just a few of the many articles he has written and posted.
An ode to our Invisible Army 10/02/10 8:20 AM
A Veteran Journalist's description of a Canadian Soldier 09/02/10 12:12 AM
TV documentaries on HMCS Fredericton and Canada's dart team 08/02/10 7:49 AM
Canadian Military thrives with adversity. 06/02/10 2:15 PM
Sadly another Apprentice, moves on to the advance party Terry Firman.RIP 5 05/02/10 8:58 AM
Groundhogs say 6 more weeks ....and Canadians still carry on 1 03/02/10 9:01 AM
Ready Aye Ready...."We fight (and help) as One " HMCS Athabaskan 1 02/02/10 12:48 AM
My thoughts on the weeks news. 1 30/01/10 1:36 PM
Red Friday Pls show your support for our troops. Congratulations Canadian medics. 29/01/10 12:29 PM
Readers give us great information regarding Veterans 2 27/01/10 1:03 AM
Here the below url links to a just a few of the many articles he has written and posted.
An ode to our Invisible Army 10/02/10 8:20 AM
A Veteran Journalist's description of a Canadian Soldier 09/02/10 12:12 AM
TV documentaries on HMCS Fredericton and Canada's dart team 08/02/10 7:49 AM
Canadian Military thrives with adversity. 06/02/10 2:15 PM
Sadly another Apprentice, moves on to the advance party Terry Firman.RIP 5 05/02/10 8:58 AM
Groundhogs say 6 more weeks ....and Canadians still carry on 1 03/02/10 9:01 AM
Ready Aye Ready...."We fight (and help) as One " HMCS Athabaskan 1 02/02/10 12:48 AM
My thoughts on the weeks news. 1 30/01/10 1:36 PM
Red Friday Pls show your support for our troops. Congratulations Canadian medics. 29/01/10 12:29 PM
Readers give us great information regarding Veterans 2 27/01/10 1:03 AM
Canadians craft over 20,000 valentines for vets
OTTAWA — Canada’s veterans living in long-term care facilities will be feeling the love from across the country with the delivery of special valentines created by fellow Canadians.
More than 20,000 valentines were received by Veterans Affairs Canada for its annual Valentines for Vets program.
The idea started in 1989 when the late newspaper columnist Ann Landers encouraged readers to create special valentines for veterans in care facilities throughout North America.
Veterans Affairs Canada became involved with the program in 1996.
Veterans Affairs spokeswoman Heather MacDonald says many of the valentines are created by schoolchildren, and were sent to their head office in Charlottetown to be sorted for distribution in time for Valentine’s Day.
MacDonald says the valentines are sent to about 2,000 long-term care facilities.
“It really just shows how Canadian schoolchildren are remembering veterans not just during Veterans Week and Remembrance Day but all year long and especially on Valentine’s Day,” she said.
This story was also published in the Toronto Sun Newspaper
More than 20,000 valentines were received by Veterans Affairs Canada for its annual Valentines for Vets program.
The idea started in 1989 when the late newspaper columnist Ann Landers encouraged readers to create special valentines for veterans in care facilities throughout North America.
Veterans Affairs Canada became involved with the program in 1996.
Veterans Affairs spokeswoman Heather MacDonald says many of the valentines are created by schoolchildren, and were sent to their head office in Charlottetown to be sorted for distribution in time for Valentine’s Day.
MacDonald says the valentines are sent to about 2,000 long-term care facilities.
“It really just shows how Canadian schoolchildren are remembering veterans not just during Veterans Week and Remembrance Day but all year long and especially on Valentine’s Day,” she said.
This story was also published in the Toronto Sun Newspaper
Chief of defence urges troops to 'stand proud'
CFB TRENTON — Canada's chief of defence staff told the troops at Canada's largest air base "to stand tall and to stand proud" Wednesday after their leader was charged with two murders and two sexual assaults earlier this week.
This article was printed in the Toronto Sun Newspaper
This article was printed in the Toronto Sun Newspaper
New aerial photos of 9/11 attack released
New aerial photos of 9/11 attack released A trove of aerial photographs of the collapsing World Trade Center was widely released this week, offering a rare and chilling view from the heavens of the burning twin towers and the apocalyptic shroud of smoke and dust that settled over the city.AP
St. Andrews students connect with Canadian soldiers
This story was published in the Saint John Telegraph Journal Newspaper, click for story before it becomes outdated, and put into their Archives.
ST. ANDREWS - A soldier from Grand Manan went all the way to Afghanistan to meet a new friend in St. Andrews.
Enlarge Photo Derwin Gowan/Telegraph-JournalVincent Massey Elementary School students, from left, Max Richards, Naomi Sullivan and Quincey Griffin with teacher’s aide Cindy Groom. Students at Vincent Massey Elementary School sent letters as part of a project to support Canadian troops in Afghanistan. A handful of students got letters back, including Naomi Sullivan whose new pen pal signed his name "Sapper O'Neill."
"I was surprised to hear that it was someone from Grand Manan," the Grade 6 student said in an interview at the school Monday - just a drive to Blacks Harbour and a trip on the ferry away.
A couple of telephone calls confirmed that Trevor O'Neill, son of Phillip and Cathy O'Neill of Grand Manan, wrote the return letter to the St. Andrews school student.
He graduated from Grand Manan High School in 1995. He fished with his father and did other work before joining the Canadian Armed Forces three years ago, his mother said Monday.
He is a combat engineer - the reason he signs his name "Sapper" O'Neill - based at CFB Gagetown until the armed forces sent him to Afghanistan in October. Combat engineers are commonly referred to as sappers.
These letters began with a school project by teacher's aide Cindy Groom.
Last year, she read a newspaper story about a project by Brenda Daigle at the New Brunswick Community College in Miramichi to send shoe-box care packages to the soldiers.
Groom decided Vincent Massey Elementary should support this project. In November, students and school staff donated items for care packages: granola bars, toiletries, candy and juice crystals, among other things.
"We had four big boxes that we filled," she said.
Students from Grades 1 to 6 each wrote a letter. The kindergarten class composed a single letter.
The letters, about 190 in all, went out with the boxes to be distributed to Canadian troops in Kandahar. They addressed the letters to "Dear Soldier." Each had a return address.
"And a few of the students got letters back from the soldiers," Groom said. "And the students were delighted, and me, too."
O'Neill wrote to Naomi about "some weird bugs that are very big" and, further, "Lizards are all over the place. They run away very fast so that we do not step on them and squish them."
He told Naomi that at least three people from Grand Manan, and one person from Deer Island, serve with Canada's forces in Afghanistan.
"I found out that over in Afghanistan it's very dangerous, and I found out in the letter that it gets pretty chilly at night," Grade 5 student Quincey Griffin said.
A soldier named John wrote the letter to Quincey, telling her the weather is "nothing like back home in New Brunswick."
"They have a Tim Hortons," Grade 4 student Max Richards said, referring to what the soldier who returned his letter wrote.
"It was like tearful to know that you can write to somebody in Afghanistan and make them happy," Naomi said. "I think it was good for me to send a letter because it feels a little weird because they don't get to come home for Christmas."
"If they are in Afghanistan I think they'll be really happy to get a letter from home and make them very happy," Max said.
Groom has ideas for other projects to support Canadian troops. "I would like to do a banner for them. I would like to do sections and have each one of them sign it," she said referring to Vincent Massey students.
She plans to do the banner project within the next month. She has another plan to send thank-you notes, and another project she is not ready to talk about yet.
ST. ANDREWS - A soldier from Grand Manan went all the way to Afghanistan to meet a new friend in St. Andrews.
Enlarge Photo Derwin Gowan/Telegraph-JournalVincent Massey Elementary School students, from left, Max Richards, Naomi Sullivan and Quincey Griffin with teacher’s aide Cindy Groom. Students at Vincent Massey Elementary School sent letters as part of a project to support Canadian troops in Afghanistan. A handful of students got letters back, including Naomi Sullivan whose new pen pal signed his name "Sapper O'Neill."
"I was surprised to hear that it was someone from Grand Manan," the Grade 6 student said in an interview at the school Monday - just a drive to Blacks Harbour and a trip on the ferry away.
A couple of telephone calls confirmed that Trevor O'Neill, son of Phillip and Cathy O'Neill of Grand Manan, wrote the return letter to the St. Andrews school student.
He graduated from Grand Manan High School in 1995. He fished with his father and did other work before joining the Canadian Armed Forces three years ago, his mother said Monday.
He is a combat engineer - the reason he signs his name "Sapper" O'Neill - based at CFB Gagetown until the armed forces sent him to Afghanistan in October. Combat engineers are commonly referred to as sappers.
These letters began with a school project by teacher's aide Cindy Groom.
Last year, she read a newspaper story about a project by Brenda Daigle at the New Brunswick Community College in Miramichi to send shoe-box care packages to the soldiers.
Groom decided Vincent Massey Elementary should support this project. In November, students and school staff donated items for care packages: granola bars, toiletries, candy and juice crystals, among other things.
"We had four big boxes that we filled," she said.
Students from Grades 1 to 6 each wrote a letter. The kindergarten class composed a single letter.
The letters, about 190 in all, went out with the boxes to be distributed to Canadian troops in Kandahar. They addressed the letters to "Dear Soldier." Each had a return address.
"And a few of the students got letters back from the soldiers," Groom said. "And the students were delighted, and me, too."
O'Neill wrote to Naomi about "some weird bugs that are very big" and, further, "Lizards are all over the place. They run away very fast so that we do not step on them and squish them."
He told Naomi that at least three people from Grand Manan, and one person from Deer Island, serve with Canada's forces in Afghanistan.
"I found out that over in Afghanistan it's very dangerous, and I found out in the letter that it gets pretty chilly at night," Grade 5 student Quincey Griffin said.
A soldier named John wrote the letter to Quincey, telling her the weather is "nothing like back home in New Brunswick."
"They have a Tim Hortons," Grade 4 student Max Richards said, referring to what the soldier who returned his letter wrote.
"It was like tearful to know that you can write to somebody in Afghanistan and make them happy," Naomi said. "I think it was good for me to send a letter because it feels a little weird because they don't get to come home for Christmas."
"If they are in Afghanistan I think they'll be really happy to get a letter from home and make them very happy," Max said.
Groom has ideas for other projects to support Canadian troops. "I would like to do a banner for them. I would like to do sections and have each one of them sign it," she said referring to Vincent Massey students.
She plans to do the banner project within the next month. She has another plan to send thank-you notes, and another project she is not ready to talk about yet.
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