In todays news it was noted that suicide bombers struck again in Afghanistan. These cowardly taliban were dressed as women. All NATO troops must make life and death decisions in a heartbeat. I must admit I wonder what the taliban Imans think of men crossdressing for the purposes of death. In Saudia you can be beheaded for cross dressing. What a sad world for our troops to try and maintain any semblance of normalcy in their duties and lives. God be with them.
This copy of a Blog from last year is still very pertinent today. Thankyou Captain Fraser Clark
Filed under: Escalation of Force Kandahar City Capt. Fraser Clark
We're going on another foot patrol. But this one will be unusual. For one, it is not taking place in rural Kandahar province where soldiers patrol all the time -- but in Kandahar city itself, where the only glimpse many Afghans have of Canadians soldiers is in an armoured convoy barging through traffic.
A foot patrol on city streets is a relatively rare sight. Soldiers have been conducting dismounted patrols here a few times a week since March but it's a big city and most Kandaharis have yet to meet a Canadian face to face.
This patrol is unusual as well because it will not go as planned. Make sure you've got helmet, body armour, ear plugs, and an escape route.
You're about to witness first-hand what soldiers call an Escalation of Force -- or EOF. Less than two weeks before this patrol, Canadian soldiers accidentally killed two children in an EOF, when the driver of their taxi ignored warnings to stay away and sped at a Canadian armoured convoy. Fearing a suicide attack, a gunner in a moving armoured vehicle opened fire at the speeding taxi, killing the two children.
This patrol starts off like any other. Actually, it's more like a neighbourhood stroll...
They pass average Kandaharis doing average things...like washing a motorbike. These two young men could be friends in a different setting...
In fact, the Canadians are using this patrol to make friends among the locals. Along the way the CIMC (Civil and Military Liaison) officers and Canadian police mentors (with their Afghan interpreters) regularly strike up conversations while regular Canadian army soldiers provide protection...
Everything is going smoothly...when suddenly you hear a Canadian soldier yell Stop!
A local car is driving straight at us. It is not slowing down. This is how suicide bombers attack.
The interpreter yells. The soldier snaps his weapon to his shoulder. Both are screaming at the driver.
Bam! The Canadian soldier fires a warning shot into the road ahead of the car...
The driver abruptly halts...but wary soldiers continue to keep the car in their sights...
The driver gets out...the soldiers move in to search him and ask questions...
This driver is apologetic, saying he didn't notice the soldiers. His son is a commander with the Afghan army, he adds.
Canadian troops question him in detail and take his picture. They make sure he is unharmed by the warning shot and let him go. As if nothing had happened, bystanders go back to their daily chores...
The patrol continues down the street as curious students from a boys' high school come out for a look.
Soldiers go back to interacting with local Kandaharis.
Capt. Fraser Clark makes friends with some children...
Without warning -- Bam! Bam! Bam!
Canadians open fire into a side street just up the road.
You run after them...sweating under the weight of body armour and the dread of what might be awaiting you around that corner...
Whew...It's not a suicide bomber or ambush, but another inattentive driver, this time on a motorbike...
This driver identifies himself as an off-duty Afghan police officer who wasn't watching where he was going and sped at the Canadian patrol without stopping -- until he saw and heard the warning shots.
As they did with the previous driver, soldiers search him, take his picture and ask questions...Then you notice the translator suddenly sprint off down the street.
He's spotted something...
An elderly Afghan man is sitting at the side of the road, his trouser leg soaked with blood. He's been hit by a ricochet from one of the warning bullets fired at the motorbike driver. A Canadian medic hurries over and begins first aid.
Here's a link to a panorama of the scene (you might have to cut and paste it).
http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/photogalleries/ afghan_wounded/index.html
It's a flesh wound. The Afghan is helped to his feet and hobbles his way to a car which takes him to a local hospital for further treatment. Canadians apologize and promise to follow up.
Canadians have set up a cordon and have brought in an armoured vehicle as back up.
Nobody is being allowed down this street until the wounded Afghan is on his way and the patrol can get moving.
Yet -- incredibly -- despite all the troops on the street, waving and signaling, a car still comes speeding at us as if nobody is there...giving troops a split second to react.
Bam! Bam! Bam!
Troops open fire for the third time today, firing warning shots into the ground. The troops, I'm told, don't have to fire warning shots. If they feel threatened, they can fire directly into the vehicle.
This driver is lucky. He screeches to a halt.
The driver is ordered out of the car.
He sheepishly explains he wasn't paying attention. My mind is not present here, he says in English and adds he is a local contractor at a Canadian military base. He was hurrying because he was late for work.
Again, soldiers ask questions, take his photo and, acting like insurance adjusters, take pictures of his car.
The soldiers are checking for damage. Owners have the right to claim for compensation.
Soldiers are also looking for information about the driver. They're well aware some Taliban supporters engage in sharking -- testing the capabilities of Canadian troops by probing their defences.
Having three Escalations of Force in one patrol is unprecedented, I'm told by military officials. The three happened in the space of 30 minutes. No-one is sure why so many occurred on this one patrol.
Thankfully nobody was killed or badly hurt. Canadian troops decide to call it a day and head back to base.
But, continuing with their mission, they will be back out on a dismounted patrol in Kandahar city a few days later.
Our troops must make Split Second decisions whose consequences may lead to their death or the deaths and injuries to others. PLEASE show support for our men and women fighting for Democracy
Nil Sine Labore
Robby
