Afghanistan

Residents of the village of Zangabad continue to return to their homes. This is a makeshift caravan that included many of the ubiquitous Toyota Corolla hatchbacks.


Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers with Charles Company (C Coy) Combat Team, 1st Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment Battle Group (1 RCR BG) roll out of Forward Operating Base Ma’Sum Ghar (FOB MSG) en route to Howz-e-Madad. C Coy Combat Team’s move to Howz-e-Madad is part of a larger operation called Op BAAZ TSUKA, the aim of which is to dislocate the Taliban from the population of the Panjwaii District of Kandahar Province.

Charles Company (C Coy) Combat Team is comprised of an infantry company in LAV III’s, two troops of Leopard C2 Tanks from B Squadron (B Sqn) , Engineering assets, elements of the Afghan National Army and artillery in support. C Coy Combat Team’s task is to secure the town of Howz-e-Madad in order to further disrupt Taliban influence in the Panjwaii District of Kandahar Province. C Coy Combat Team’s task is a part of 1st Battalion The Royal Canadian Regiment Battle Group's (1 RCR BG) role in Op BAAZ TSUKA.


Lieutenant Colonel Omer H. Lavoie, Commanding Officer, 1st Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment Battle Group (1 RCR BG) addresses the members of Charles Company (C Coy) at Forward Operating Base Zettlemeyer (FOB ZL). LCol Lavoie gave out several field promotions and then spoke to C Coy about their upcoming role in Op BAAZ TSUKA.

Joint Task Force Afghanistan (JTF-Afg) is Canada’s contribution to NATO’s International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan. The focus of this mission is to help Afghans rebuild their lives, families, communities and nation. Canadian Forces personnel in Afghanistan are working to improve the quality of life of Afghans by providing a more secure environment in which Afghan society can recover from more than 25 years of conflict. The Canadian Forces (CF) contribution in Afghanistan comprises about 2,500 soldiers, most of who serve in Kandahar province with a smaller number of personnel assigned to Kabul, various military headquarters, and civilian organizations.


Kandahar Provincial Reconstruction Team medical outreach patrol at the Ministry of Women's Affairs for burned and battered women in Kandahar City. The Kandahar PRT consists of Canadian Forces members, a civilian police contingent led by the RCMP, representatives of the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade and the Canadian International Development Agency. The PRT conducts coordinated interdepartmental operations to promote good governance and assist the Government of Afghanistan to extend its authority in the province of Kandahar, to facilitate the development of a stable, secure and self-sustaining environment for the Afghan people.

There will be peace in the valley for me.
Dear Lord I pray...
-- Johnny Cash, "Peace In The Valley"


Somewhere in Iraq...

+ Najaf battle winding down, officials say
+ Palestinian infighting flares despite Saudi plea
+ Israel to buy US bomb kits for $100M
+ International Donors Pressure Sri Lanka to Resume Peace Talks
+ Unknown gunmen kill 5; in restive Somali capital
+ Knesset Cabinet approves first Arab minister
+ Hu to tell Sudan of Darfur concerns