I watched a great clip on the TV over the weekend. It was all about Kandahar and the troops from various countries. Whether Azerbaijani or Turkish. Troops of 43 countries come together at Kandahar airfield. A mix of Western and European cultures as well as a fair share of Islamic countries. The Chapel in Kandahar airfield doubles as a Mosque, a Lutheran Church, Catholic Church and indeed synagogue. This proves to me that we can live together in peace.
The troops play recreational sport in mixed teams, volleyball, ball hockey etc. This is an important part of forging bonds and ties within the allies. The coffee shops, exchange shops and even the Parisian Bakery that the French contingent has opened are all well used by troops. The down time they have is limited so they enjoy it as much as possible. Military Comradeship unbeatable.
I must apologise to readers that for some reason the Blog reference, Sharia law was taken down. I must admit I have read and re-read it a dozen times and find nothing that is not truthful and nothing that Canadians should not be aware of. Apparently Censorship is alive and well.
I also have, as Michael Caine named his book a fresh piece of news. Caines book is titled Not a lot of people knew that
Well I was surprised to find that the Afghan National Army has a female General with 26 years service under her belt.
General Khatool Mohammadzai is Afghanistans first ever female paratrooper, and she is currently, the most senior female officer in the Afghan National Army. She has been in the Afghan Army for 26 years, and through out all these years, shes made more than 500 parachute jumps.
This is certainly a Major Achievement for a woman withing the ranks of the Afghan National Army, she must have some stories to tell and I would love to meet her and speak with her, regarding her achievements in a country torn by war over her entire lifetime.To View Interview please go to:http://www.goodafghannews.com/
aid=4068
General Daniel Menard a soldier's soldier accidently discharged his weapon while loading. He has reported the incident to the NIS as is protocol in these matters. I feel that this shows how dedicated to the military he is. General Menard wishes to have the incident brought to light, to see if his weapon malfunctioned or if he was thinking of something else, and not quite paying enough attention to a task that he has done thousands of times. CBC News
Brig.-Gen. Daniel Mnard, left, would likely be fined a hefty amount if he's court-martialled and found guilty of accidentally firing his weapon. (Colin Perkel/Canadian Press)
The commander of Canadian troops in Afghanistan has ordered a special investigation into his own actions.
Brig.-Gen. Daniel Mnard, the head of Joint Task Force Afghanistan, announced Saturday that he has summoned the military's National Investigation Service to probe the unintended discharge of his gun.
Mnard said he was loading his C8 carbine at Kandahar Airfield on March 25, something he said he has done thousands of times, when it went off. No one was injured and nothing was damaged, but the National Defence Act makes it an offence to accidentally discharge a weapon.
The military police probe will determine whether the general's weapon was fired accidentally or negligently, or whether it malfunctioned.
If it was an accidental or negligent incident, Mnard would likely face a court martial. The penalty for a guilty finding in such cases is often as low as $10 or even a reprimand, but because of Mnard's rank and position, he would probably be fined a much heftier amount.
Mnard said he felt compelled to relate the information in the name of openness.
Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2010/04/17/menard-afghanistan-investigation-rifle-discharge.html#ixzz0lRorcISu
As General Menard faces this investigation, his concerns for his troops increase with stories like this in Newsweek magazine. Best of Luck General Menard you are a brave and forthright soldier, Canada is proud of you.
By KATHY GANNON
updated 3:49 p.m. ET April 18, 2010
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan - The Taliban are moving fighters into Kandahar, planting bombs and plotting attacks as NATO and Afghan forces prepare for a summer showdown with insurgents, according to a Taliban commander with close ties to senior insurgent leaders.
NATO and Afghan forces are stepping up operations to push Taliban fighters out of the city, which was the Islamist movement's headquarters during the years it ruled most of Afghanistan. The goal is to bolster the capability of the local government so that it can keep the Taliban from coming back.
The Taliban commander, who uses the pseudonym Mubeen, told The Associated Press that if military pressure on the insurgents becomes too great we will just leave and come back after the foreign forces leave.
That says it all, we will leave and come back after the foreign forces leave. Such is the style of war against these cowardly taliban insurgents.
http://www.newsweek.com
So as Monday appears in Afghanistan and around the world. I wish our troops well, the Afghan people well and to our allies Chimo
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Robby
