Canadian Bravery: Afghanistan

Prime Minister Harper talking to the troops in Kandahar, Afghanistan.


The Sperwer Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), 161001, launches on its maiden flight in Kabul, Afghanistan. The Sperwer UAV is a target acquisition and surveillance drone deployed with Operation ATHENA in Afghanistan. ++++ The story of C Company




President George W. Bush on Friday heaped praise on Canada's military for routing the Taliban in heavy fighting in Afghanistan earlier this month. "A tactical defeat for the Taliban ...more than 1,000 rebel fighters had been killed." Five Canadian soldiers died during Operation Medusa, a massive battle launched by NATO in the Panjwaii district west of Kandahar in southern Afghanistan. The fighting lasted 18 days and was declared a major success by Canadian commanders.

The U.S. will transfer 12,000 American troops under NATO command as it prepares to assume security operations for all of Afghanistan.

"NATO will stand up to the insurgents and terrorists whose only goal is to wreck the future of Afghanistan" -- NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer. Many believe Afghanistan is NATO's most important mission since it's creation in 1949.

• Canada has assisted in the collection, storage and decommissioning of 10,000 heavy weapons left in Afghanistan including artillery, tanks and rocket launchers, used in decades of conflict in the country.
• Canada has helped clear about one third of the estimated 10 to 15 million mines in Afghanistan.
• Canada has loaned money to over 140,000 people in Afghanistan.
• Canada has helped train the Afghan police and army.