Canada ends combat mission in Afghanistan
Canada formally ended its combat role in Afghanistan on Thursday, closing a mission that has cost 157 soldiers their lives since 2002.
The move adds to the burden of US and Afghan troops who are trying to prevent
a Taliban rebound in the militants' southern stronghold where Canadian
troops had been fighting in their bloodiest conflict since the Korean War.
Canada is withdrawing its combat units as the sixth largest troop-contributing
nation, behind the US, Britain, Germany, France and Italy. Like Americans
and Europeans, Canadians have grown weary of the war as it ears the 10-year
mark.
While 2,850 Canadian soldiers are going home, 950 others have started
streaming into Afghanistan to help train Afghan security forces to take the
lead role in securing the country by 2014.
Canada passed the responsibility for two districts of Kandahar province to US
forces at Kandahar Air Field during a ceremony held in a hall decorated with
Canadian maple leaf flags. After remarks, handshakes and the exchange of
military paperwork, troops held a moment of silence for their fallen
comrades.
Since 2002, 157 Canadian troops, one diplomat, one journalist and two aid
workers have been killed in Afghanistan.
Canada ends combat mission in Afghanistan - Telegraph
The bodies of all Canadian soldiers who die in Afghanistan are flown to
Ontario and driven to a Toronto morgue before their bodies are returned to
their hometowns. Canadians often line the overpasses of Highway 401 – now
known as the "Highway of Heroes" – to pay tribute to the fallen
soldiers.
Canadian officials said the troop deaths and bodily harm and psychological
wounds suffered by soldiers must be seen in context with the progress they
helped make in Afghanistan.
"We've seen a complete change," Canadian Brig. Gen. Dean Milner,
commander of Joint Task Force Afghanistan, said in a video teleconference
from Kandahar. "I think the Canadians have held the fort here for five
or six years. With the surge of American forces and Afghan forces over the
last year, we were able to accomplish a great deal."
"It's gratifying to see children going to school – schools opening up all
over the place – roads being built, ministry buildings. There's a lot to
speak about."
The United States currently has more than 90,000 troops in Afghanistan, far
more than any other foreign country. President Barack Obama announced last
month that 33,000 American troops will leave Afghanistan by the end of next
summer.
David Cameron announced on Wednesday that Britain will withdraw 500 troops
from Afghanistan by the end of 2012, a move that will reduce the size of the
British contingent to 9,000.
Other top troop-contributing nations are Germany with 4,800, France with 3,900
and Italy with 3,880.
No comments:
Post a Comment