[chootsonege]

CTV.ca News Staff

Date: Tue. Jul. 5 2011 5:50 PM ET

Kandahar, Afghanistan -- Canada's front-line fighting role in Afghanistan officially ended Tuesday when soldiers of the Royal 22e Regiment handed battlefield combat responsibilities over to the Americans.

Almost all Canadian troops are out of Kandahar's dangerous combat zones, except for a few soldiers who are attached to American platoons for a few more weeks.

Canada's war in Afghanistan is now effectively over after five years of fighting throughout farmland and dusty villages in one of the country's most dangerous areas. It cost Canada the lives of 157 soldiers, one diplomat and one journalist, not to mention the many soldiers left with life-altering injuries.



Canadians transfer Kandahar battle command to Americans - CTV News




The end of Canada’s five year long role has been barely mentioned in the media; the royal visit of William and Katherine leads most Canadian news media. But it is a significant event as the fighting in the Kandahar region, among the fiercest in the country’s civil war, now gets transferred to the Americans, one of, if not the last country to maintain a combat role.

It also appears to be another sticky point in Canada-US relations. Previous accounts following the election of president Barak Obama suggested then that Washington put significant pressure on Ottawa not only to extend its Afghanistan commitment, but to expand it. The war, though, has become increasingly controversial in Canada.

Canada, traditionally a left-of-center country has a Conservative government and there have been growing signs that there has been a further thawing of relations between Ottawa and Washington. After winning a majority government May 2, 2011, Prime Minister Stephen Harper served notice that Canada would begin asserting itself on the world stage. In fact it was he that put the kibosh on Obama’s 1967 Israel’s boundaries proposal at the recent G20 summit.

[Thorwaywhobia]

thank you Canada and the honorable members of their armed forces for your service and sacrifice over the GWOT . Since day one they were there , stood side by side with some of them in the beginning on the perimeter at Kandahar. Great soldiers , good dudes all and warriors that I will never forget.

[xtc2d6u8]

thank you Canada and the honorable members of their armed forces for your service and sacrifice over the GWOT . Since day one they were there , stood side by side with some of them in the beginning on the perimeter at Kandahar. Great soldiers , good dudes all and warriors that I will never forget.

As a Canadian I thank you. Considering our previous government sent them over there with the wrong color fatigues, toy jeeps and no helicopters, our soldiers did well.

[nebrarlepleme]

Thanks Canada. There are Americans that will not forget any commitment of blood and spirit.

[infinkPoode]

Canada has done well in Afghanistan and, as I've said before, has put many European countries to shame (most notable France and Germany)

Despite having a population of only 34 million, it has suffered the third highest number of military fatalities in Afghanistan after the US and UK (is it more than a coincidence that three great Anglo-Saxon nations top the casualities list?), with 154 killed. Germany (pop: 82 million) and France (pop: 62 million) have suffered 112 fatalities COMBINED.

And it's not the first time Canada has excelled itself in war. I think, during WWII, it suffered the greatest number of military fatalities on a per capita basis of any Allied nation.

[milfovoxapl]

The worst think is now the only Tim Horton’s in Afghanistan will be closing.

Just when I got to the south they close the Timmy’s

[Alex]

The question then is why did they decide fighting terrorism is no longer important? Why is supporting their allies no longer important? Shouldnt they be doing their part in NATO until the mission is over?

[OnlineViagraCheapestFREE]

The question then is why did they decide fighting terrorism is no longer important? Why is supporting their allies no longer important? Shouldnt they be doing their part in NATO until the mission is over?

Canada has done more than its share in Afghanistan and extended its original commitment by five years.

You have to remember Canada has one tenth the population than the US.


The Questions Americans should be asking is why hasn't Obama ended it as he said he would? Why have two thirds of the US casualties occurred on his two-and-a-half year watch?

But then Americans seem really reluctant to ask him the tough questions...

[induffike]

Canada has done more than its share in Afghanistan and extended its original commitment by five years.

You have to remember Canada has one tenth the population than the US.


The Questions Americans should be asking is why hasn't Obama ended it as he said he would? Why have two thirds of the US casualties occurred on his two-and-a-half year watch?

But then Americans seem really reluctant to ask him the tough questions...

What is Canadas share?

[Boripiomi]

For most of the conflict we had a higher proportion of our troops in Afghanistan than the US did.

We took more causality per capita and per troop in Afghanistan than did the US.

We were in the heaviest fighting area throughout the entire conflict and did not have significant troop numbers outside of the Helmand/Kandahar areas.

I’d say we did our share and can retire from the field of conflict with honour.

[hojutok]

Canada has done more than its share in Afghanistan and extended its original commitment by five years.

You have to remember Canada has one tenth the population than the US.


The Questions Americans should be asking is why hasn't Obama ended it as he said he would? Why have two thirds of the US casualties occurred on his two-and-a-half year watch?

But then Americans seem really reluctant to ask him the tough questions...

When Bush was in the White House the American troops were killing women and children, bombing civilians, and generally terrorizing the countryside, that is, according to the Democratse and the Left Wing media. Obama gets in and suddenly they're silent, even though the civilian death count goes up. Dirty Communist bastards!

[hitaEtela]

When Bush was in the White House the American troops were killing women and children, bombing civilians, and generally terrorizing the countryside, that is, according to the Democratse and the Left Wing media. Obama gets in and suddenly they're silent, even though the civilian death count goes up. Dirty Communist bastards!

Despite the fact that Canada suffers under socialist government run health care, pushes the homosexual agenda through the destruction of traditional marriage, abandoned its responsibilities in Iraq, and persues a plethera of other anti-US stances, I believe it is unfair to label them "Dirty Communist bastards".

[allmyflights]

For most of the conflict we had a higher proportion of our troops in Afghanistan than the US did.

We took more causality per capita and per troop in Afghanistan than did the US.

We were in the heaviest fighting area throughout the entire conflict and did not have significant troop numbers outside of the Helmand/Kandahar areas.

I’d say we did our share and can retire from the field of conflict with honour.

You don't need to engage in petty number games, man. I think Canada can indeed depart with their heads held high.

[Jimambol]

You don't need to engage in petty number games, man. I think Canada can indeed depart with their heads held high.

Im not sure they can. This isnt about numbers. The mission doesnt end once some number of casualties or deployments is met. What about your allies? What about your comittment to NATO? To the mission that your allies are STILL engaged in and dying for. How does Canada or any other NATO country sit at home and watch their NATO allies die?

NATO-ISAF key priorities in Afghanistan are to:

protect the Afghan people;
build the capacity of the Afghan security forces so they can take lead responsibility for security in their own country;
counter the insurgency; and
enable the delivery of stronger governance and development.

[MediconStop]

Im not sure they can. This isnt about numbers. The mission doesnt end once some number of casualties or deployments is met. What about your allies? What about your comittment to NATO? To the mission that your allies are STILL engaged in and dying for. How does Canada or any other NATO country sit at home and watch their NATO allies die?

I don't think their heart is in the fight anymore. IMO, if that is the case, then they should leave. Forced solidarity is no solidarity at all.

[ireleda]

I don't think their heart is in the fight anymore. IMO, if that is the case, then they should leave. Forced solidarity is no solidarity at all.

They should get out of NATO then too. Do you think US soldiers want to be in Afghanistan? They do it because they made a comittment.

[tsaaapla]

They should get out of NATO then too. Do you think US soldiers want to be in Afghanistan? They do it because they made a comittment.

Right, US service members took an oath and did so of their own free will. I, personally, wouldn't put that in the same class as NATO commitments.

[diplmixxxx]

Right, US service members took an oath and did so of their own free will. I, personally, wouldn't put that in the same class as NATO commitments.

I would. NATO is a treaty. Member nations have committed to its principles and requirements.

The Parties to this Treaty reaffirm their faith in the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and their desire to live in peace with all peoples and all governments.
They are determined to safeguard the freedom, common heritage and civilisation of their peoples, founded on the principles of democracy, individual liberty and the rule of law. They seek to promote stability and well-being in the North Atlantic area.
They are resolved to unite their efforts for collective defence and for the preservation of peace and security. They therefore agree to this North Atlantic Treaty :

Article 3
In order more effectively to achieve the objectives of this Treaty, the Parties, separately and jointly, by means of continuous and effective self-help and mutual aid, will maintain and develop their individual and collective capacity to resist armed attack.

Article 5
The Parties agree that an armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all and consequently they agree that, if such an armed attack occurs, each of them, in exercise of the right of individual or collective self-defence recognised by Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations, will assist the Party or Parties so attacked by taking forthwith, individually and in concert with the other Parties, such action as it deems necessary, including the use of armed force, to restore and maintain the security of the North Atlantic area.
I think its morally wrong and illegal for Canada to abandon its allies.

[Sierabiera]

If Canada were cutting all support for the GWOT I think you would have a point, jviehe. As it stands right now, they aren't. This war is far bigger than Afghanistan.

[koebforfrn]

I would. NATO is a treaty. Member nations have committed to its principles and requirements.



I think its morally wrong and illegal for Canada to abandon its allies.

Morale amongst Canada's troops in Afghanistan has always been good. They are not ending their combat mission because their heart is no longer in it.
The decision was made at the political level a couple of years ago.
Canada is staying in Afghanistan in a training role.