Canadians protecting Afghanistan in the name of freedom

"I want Canada to remember that we are here, dying, protecting Kabul in the name of freedom - something we all take for granted back home. Canada rocks, and these men rock the house. Let's remember that. God be with us in these tough times." Right on, corporal, we're not forgettin', and there's good cause to believe Canada's defense establishment is not forgettin' either.

October 30, 2005

A heart-pumping e-mail was sent by Canadian Forces (CF) Cpl. Christian Ella back in October 2003. Ella was serving in Afghanistan at the time, grieving over the loss of two colleagues, Master Sgt. Rob Short, 42, a paratrooper and master sniper, and Cpl. Rob Beerenfenger, 29. The two were killed when their vehicle truck was struck by an explosive device. In that e-mail to a friend, which has since been made public, Ella said:

"I want Canada to remember that we are here, dying, protecting Kabul in the name of freedom - something we all take for granted back home. Canada rocks, and these men rocked the house. Let's remember that. God be with us in these tough times."

This report aims to remember, by seeking to highlight Canadian participation in the war on terrorism. We'll also use this report to acquaint our readers with Canada's military forces.

The start-date is September 11, 2001, when forces hostile to the United States attacked it in New York City, Washington, D.C., and over the skies of Pennsylvania.

Not many of us would think of Canada's first response, because most of us were so terrified by the attack. But if you recall, there were a lot of airplanes in the air when the 9-11 attacks began occurring. The Canadians advised the US that relevant civil aircraft could land at CF facilities in Goose Bay, Labrador; Gander and Stephenville, Newfoundland; Halifax, Shearwater and Aldershot, Nova Scotia; Winnipeg, Manitoba; and Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. Let's take a look at the breadth of that permission. Canada's large size made it a great emergency recovery location given the scenario that unfolded.

Our information is that there were 4,546 aircraft aloft at the time US Transportation Secretary Mineta ordered all aircraft to land immediately at the nearest possible airport. Actually, there was a cascading effect of orders to clear the skies, beginning almost immediately at New York Center, and then ending up in nation orders from the FAA and the US Transportation secretary. The order is known as, "Air Traffic Control zero," or to be quicker, "ATC zero." It is worth noting this had never been attempted before. Even the order from just New York Center reverberated throughnout all North America, as controllers everywhere had to start adjusting.

It is our understanding that about one hour after the first aircraft struck the World Trade Center, a federal order was given that all international flights airborne at the time were told to land in Canada. About an hour later, all inbound transatlantic aircraft flying into the US were being diverted to Canada. Yet another hour later, all airports in Canada except the military airfields were shut down.

Alan Levin, Marilyn Adams and Blake Morrison, writing, "Terror attacks brought drastic decision: Clear the skies," for USA Today, said this:

"The skies have never been emptied before, and controllers, pilots and aviation officials have never faced such pressure. Rerouting so many flights seems a logistical nightmare with no margin for error. And no one knows how many terrorists might still be in the air."

Goose Bay is the home of 5 Wing, Canadian Air Force and, along with nearby Gander, Newfoundland, is situated perfectly to handle aircraft on the Great Circle Route between North America and Europe.

A CF-18A from 433 Squadron leads two USAF F-16C Fighting Falcons from the 174th Fighter Unit in Syracuse, New York during a NORAD exercise. Canadian and American fighter squadrons regularly train together in order to maintain a high level of interoperability. Photo credit: Mike Reyno, presented by Canada's Air Force.

Furthermore, Goose Bay has a detachment of CF-18 fighter aircraft under the operational control of the North American Air Defense (NORAD), a combined Canadian-US command responsible for air defense of North America. Additionally, several NATO air forces use the base frequently for training, most notably the Germans and Italians. Had other air threats been coming our way following 9-11, this base might have been invaluable.

It should also be noted that, in response to 9-11, CF-18 fighters were re-deployed to strategic bases throughout the country to enhance their responsiveness to NORAD requirements.

CH-149 Comorant search and rescue helicopter, presented by Canada's Air Force.

The 9 Wing at Gander, Newfoundland, is a major search and rescue base hosting the 103 Search and Rescue Squadron, equipped with the Cormorant helicopter. It is also ideally suited to accept aircraft coming from Europe. This wing might have played a big role had NORAD forces been instructed to shoot down or force down incoming commercial aircraft. It has rescue helicopters on 24 hour alert. Our information is that 39 commercial aircraft landed at Gander. The number of passengers handled by Gander is 6,579; the town has a population of only 10,400! The people of Gander and near environs (about a 75 km radius) took good care of their guests for at least two days, when aircraft began departing.

A Delta Airlines flight crew member who landed at Gander on 9-11 has written this:

"We found out that Gander and the surrounding small communities, within a 75 Kilometer radius, had closed all the high schools, meeting halls, lodges, and any other large gathering places. They converted all these facilities to a mass lodging area. Some had cots set up, some had mats with sleeping bags and pillows set up. All the high school students had to volunteer taking care of the "Guests".

The 12 Wing at Shearwater hosts more helicopters and 14 Wing at Greenwood hosts the EP-3 surveillance aircraft for longer range search and rescue.

The 17 Wing at Winnepeg was a terrific location for all those commercial aircraft transiting the American Midwest, including those making the transcontinental flight that happened to be in that area. The base at Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories was well situated for aircraft transiting to and from Asia and for providing assistance to any aircraft forced down in the northern areas.

By the end of the day, it is our understanding that a total of 240 flights were rerouted to Canada.

The Canadians were thinking as the dust was settling from the attacks in the US. They immediately increased their level of emergency preparedness so they could respond quickly to calls for help from the US. You must remember, immediately following the 9-11 attacks, no one really knew what was likely to happen in the hours and days ahead.

The replenishment ship HMCS Preserver, the destroyer HMCS Iroquois and the frigate HMCS Ville de Québec were placed at a heightened state of readiness and prepared to sail to any U.S. port if required to help victims of further attacks.

Members of the Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) load luggage on October 16, 2005, before for leaving form Canadian Forces Base Trenton on route Kashmir, Pakistan, in response to the earthquake there. DART has responded to hurricanes, tsunamis, and earthquakes in the past. The teams have produced 5 million liters of clean water, treated 20,000 patients, got hospitals and schools running again, and provided shelter and help for many. They also saved lives that might have been lost to exposure, dehydration, disease and injury. Photo credit: Sgt Roxanne Clowe, Canadian Forces Combat Camera, presented by Canadian Forces.

The Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART), which is trained and organized to provide emergency humanitarian support in the event of a disaster, was made ready to deploy from 8 Wing Trenton, Ontario. Trenton's 8 Wing forms the heart of Canada's airlift and mobility forces. It was more than capable of responding to calls for help from the US had that been required, and the wing was ready to deploy.

During the period following 9-11, there were a series of resolutions and votes taken by both the UN Security Council (UNSC) and the North Atlantic Council of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). We are not going to explore those in this report. These need to be the subject of a separate examination.

We will only say that the UNSC passed a resolution on September 12 and the North Atlantic Council passed one on October 4. With regard to the latter, reports assert that the North Atlantic Council invoked Article 5 of the Treaty of Washington which states that any attack on a NATO nation launched from outside that nation shall be interpreted as an attack on all the NATO nations. The term "invoked" is misleading. The statement was conditional, saying, "If it is determined that the attack was directed from abroad against the US, it shall be regarded as an action covered by Article 5." We'll leave it there for now.

On September 20, 2001, Canada's Minister of National Defense Art Eggleton authorized more than 100 CF members serving on military exchange programs in the US and other all nations to participate in operations conducted by their host units in response to the attacks on the US. They were not recalled.

But Canada's next major actions organized "Operation Apollo" under the Commander, Canadian Joint Task South West Asia (CA JTFSWA), headquartered in Ottawa, with 60 CF members co-locating with the US Central Command (CENTCOM) in Florida. As a result of Operation Apollo, Canada was the first coalition nation after the US to deploy a naval task group into the CENTCOM area of responsibility (AOR), stretching from the Horn of Africa to Central Asia.

It is hard to track down the politics, but as far as we can determine, Operation Apollo was a unilateral Canadian action supportive of the US. This was not a UN or a NATO action; it was a Canadian action, though it did occur against the backdrop of supportive UNSC and NATO resolutions.

Given this reality, we want to make two significant points:

• The Canadian Apollo naval deployment was to the North Arabian Sea, at the mouth of the Persian Gulf, close to the action, an area where the US feared international terrorists might make their way out of Afghanistan and into Africa, or vice versa. It is true that NATO organized naval "Operation Active Endeavor," but this operation deployed to the eastern Mediterranean Sea and later to the Straits of Gibraltar, more in the European area of concern than close to the action in Southwest Asia. The NATO naval forces were already engaged in Exercise Destined Glory 2001 offshore southern Spain, and, on or about October 6, simply broke out of the exercise and re-deployed. It is our understanding that, initially, naval ships from Germany, Greece, Great Britain, Italy, the Netherlands, Turkey and the US participated in this operation. Canada sent a ship later, and then re-deployed that ship to the Arabian Sea to be with the Americans.
• It took until December 20, 2001 for the UNSC to authorize creation of a 5,000-strong military force to proceed to Afghanistan; the UN called it the "coalition of the willing." US and British attacks against the Taliban government in Afghanistan began on October 7, the Taliban government had surrendered in Kandahar in early December, and its remaining forces who wanted to fight had taken to the hills to carry on. In typical UN fashion, the Security Council created a peacekeeping force, not a peace-making force. It created the International Security Assistance Force, ISAF, "to assist the Afghan Interim Authority in maintaining security in Kabul and its surrounding areas, so that the Afghan Interim Authority as well as the personnel of the United Nations can operate in a secure environment." Eighteen countries contributed forces. A British officer was placed in command. Canada, Jordan, Malaysia and Argentina were told their offers of troops were not needed at that time. Canada would join later, when NATO took over this UN operation.

So, Operation Apollo was a unilateral Canadian action to directly support the US in its war against terrorism. Canada has traditionally avoided this kind of thing, preferring to participate with the UN or NATO, not just the US. But in this instance, the Canadian government reversed that course and Americans should be grateful.

Operation Apollo, The Golden Age of the Canadian Navy in the war against terrorism, by Richard Gimblett. Presented by Canada's Ministry of Defense Public Affairs.

Let's take a brief look at Canadian "Operation Apollo." By the time it ended, two years after it started, Canada had committed practically its entire navy, sixteen of 18 major warships, some 4,000 sailors (95 percent of her sea-going force), many helicopter and fixed wing surveillance aircraft racking up nearly 11,000 flight hours, and special commandos. The Canadians were the third largest contributor after the US and Britain, with as many as six warships, five air detachments and 1,500 troops committed at any given time. The missions included force-protection operations, fleet-support operations, leadership interdiction operations, and maritime interdiction operations. The interdiction operations were to prevent Al-Qaeda and Taliban members from escaping the area of operations in merchant ships and fishing boats operating from Pakistan and Iran, and prevent the movement of equipment and supplies used by or destined for these same enemies. The Canadians accounted for 50 percent of the coalition's total boardings of suspicious vessels.

This operation was established in support of the US attack on and invasion of Afghanistan, nicknamed "Operation Enduring Freedom." The defense ministry announced on October 8 that the initial naval deployment had begun, a contribution greater than any Canada had made since WWII. The following ships were among the first to go: HMCSs Halifax, Iroquois, Preserver, Charlottetown, Vancouver and Toronto. You've seen Preserver; she is a replenishment ship.

The Halifax, Charlottetown, Vancouver and Toronto are all Halifax-class multi-role frigates, known as FFHs, of which Canada has 12. We'll show you what one looks like, the HMCS Halifax (FFH 330).

HMCS Halifax (FFH 330) multi-role frigate. Presented by Naval-Technology.com

Briefly, the Halifax-class frigate has surface-to-surface missiles, guns, torpedoes, various sensor suites, and a platform to accommodate one helicopter and a hangar to handle another one.

HMCS Iroquois (DDG 280) Area Air Defense Destroyer. Presented by Canada's Navy.

The Iroquois-class of ships is smaller than the Halifax-class, and there are fewer of them (four). But, this class of ships packs surface-to-air missiles, several different types of guns, torpedoes, and the capacity again to handle two helicopters.

One of the great advantages of Operation Apollo was that the Canadian Navy has, since 1998, integrated its ships with US aircraft carrier battle groups. HMCS Ottawa, a Halifax-class ship, was the first to integrate into an American carrier battle group, making Canada the first country since the Korean War to have that kind of interoperability with the US Navy. We'll talk more to this in a moment, because this kind of integration is no trivial thing.

On October 8, 2001, the Halifax was ordered to leave her Atlantic duties with NATO's Standing Naval Force Atlantic and "proceed with all haste" to the Arabian Sea where she joined the USS Carl Vinson Carrier Battle Group. There are at least two reasons this was significant.

• While we do not know all the politics that went with the decision, the fact is Canada ordered a ship it had committed to NATO to leave that force to join with an American force that was involved in bilateral US-UK British combat operations; to wit, NATO had technically lost a naval asset to the Americans and British.
• Halifax integrated with an American Carrier Battle Group. To underscore the complexity of such an integration, the Vinson Battle Group had seven surface ships, mostly destroyers, two submarines, and a three-ship Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) with a Marine Corps Expeditionary Unit of about 2,000 combat Marines and fliers embarked. It is a great credit to the Canadian and US navies to become proficient in this kind of integration, and a credit to the good relations that exist between the two countries, even though the two do not always agree on everything, and one is so more powerful than the other. At sea, they operated as a combat team. It is also a reflection of how a small navy can enhance the capabilities of a larger navy, and do that exceedingly well --- it's called "value added."

"On October 17, 2001, the Canadian Warships, Iroquois, Charlottetown, and Preserver slipped their lines to begin the long journey to the Arabian Sea, to join HMCS. Halifax in support of the war against terrorism. Canada's fleet, in the largest wartime deployment since WWII, departed in defence of the freedoms Canadians hold dear. On an overcast, windy fall day in Halifax, the crews said goodbye to family, friends, and those thousands lining the shores of Halifax and Dartmouth, as is the tradition in this old navy city." Operation Apollo, Departure...Canada responds.

Then, on October 17, the Iroquois, Preserver and Charlottetown left Halifax, arriving in the Arabian Sea on November 30. This group was tasked to defend a US Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and conduct interdiction operations.

An Amphibious Readiness Group (ARG) cruises in close arrowhead formation in the Arabian Sea in January 2002. From top left: HMCS Charlottetown; HMCS Iroquois; USS Bataan, an American amphibious assault ship with about 2,000 Marines aboard plus aircraft; USS Decatur; and HMCS Halifax , a Canadian patrol frigate. Photo credit: Cpl Shawn M. Kent, presented by Canada's Navy.

The US and Britain attacked Afghanistan on October 7, 2001. The Vinson Battle Group arrived in September, relieving the USS Enterprise Group. The Enterprise's ARG remained with the Vinson until the Vinson's ARG arrived in mid-October. The Halifax joined up with them all shortly after the attacks had begun.

The USS Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Battle Group arrived the Arabian Sea on October 15 with nine surface ships and two submarines. Its ARG joined it in mid-November. The USS Kitty Hawk Battle Group left Japan on September 30 with six surface ships and one submarine.

HMCS Vancouver boarding ship in Arabian Sea. Canada's Department of National Defense photo, presented by Wikipedia.

Finally, the USS Stennis Carrier Battle Group left California in November and arrived the Arabian Sea in December. The HMCS Vancouver departed British Columbia in late October 2001 and integrated with the Stennis.

HMCS Toronto (foreground) in formation with the USS Jarrett (background) and a ship from the Navy of Bahrain, all on patrol in the northern Arabian Sea. Canada's Department of National Defense photo, presented by Canada's Navy

The HMCS Toronto deployed for the eastern Mediterranean Sea to join up with NATO's Operation Active Endeavor and then later re-deployed to the Arabian Sea to participate in Operation Apollo. Operation Apollo terminated in October 2003, after two years of constant Canadian ship rotations in and out.

HMCS Toronto flies her Sunday pennant (large Canada Flag) while she sails in the Arabian Gulf. HMCS Toronto is taking part in Operation Altair, joining the USS George Washington Aircraft Carrier Task Group to help monitor shipping in the Arabian Gulf region. Photo credit: MCpl Colin Kelley, Formation Imaging Services

The Canadians continued on, however, with a new operation named Altair, which was, and remains, a single-ship deployment to integrate with the appropriate US Carrier Group. The Toronto was the first ship to sail under Operation Altair. She integrated with the USS George Washington.

So we'll end our discussion of Canadian naval participation here, only to make one more point. While Canada chose not to join the US in its war against Iraq, Canadian ships involved in the anti-terrorism interdiction efforts described thus far did board ships bound for Iraq and did find suspicious cargo, such as patrol boats, that appeared to violate sanctions against Iraq. Furthermore, the Canadian naval presence in the Arabian Sea freed US ships to directly support combat operations in Afghanistan.

Operation Apollo, as a naval operation, was significant. But you know Americans; they like boots on the ground. So we'll move on to Canada's "boots on the ground" commitments to the war on terror, specifically with regard to the war in Afghanistan. It is our understanding thhat the Canadians viewed their initial land force commitments to be part of Operation Apollo. Once again, that means Canadian ground forces came to the area in firect support of US Operation Enduring Freedom.

In mid-November 1991, a few weeks before the Taliban government surrendered Kandahar and the remnants of its warriors fled to the hills, the US asked Canada and others for help to secure Kabul, so US forces could concentrate on taking down the fleeing Taliban, and those who might have dug in up in the mountains. Furthermore, the US wanted to chase down and destroy Osama bin Laden and his network in this region.

In response, Canada placed 1,000 troopers of its Immediate Reaction Force (Land) on 48 hour alert to deploy. The troops were drawn mostly from the Edmonton- and Winnipeg-based battalions of Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, the PPCLI, "Once a Patrica, always a Patricia!" Formed prior to WWI, the PPCLI has fought in WWI, WWII, and Korea, and served in Germany during the Cold War, with peacekeeping forces throughout the world, and in the former Yugoslavia.

The Regiment today consists of two Mechanized Battalions (First and Second) and a Light Battalion (Third), which has an airborne capability. The First and Third Battalions are located at Garrison Edmonton, Alberta. The Second Battalion is stationed in Kapyong Barracks, Winnipeg, Manitoba.

We mentioned earlier that on December 20, 2001 the UNSC created a military peacekeeping force authorized to proceed to Afghanistan, named the International Security Assistance Force, ISAF. The mission was "to assist the Afghan Interim Authority in maintaining security in Kabul and its surrounding areas, so that the Afghan Interim Authority as well as the personnel of the United Nations can operate in a secure environment." Canada offered to participate, but was refused.

Events changed on the ground between November and December 2001, so Canada was able to reduce its ground commitment from 1,000 to 750. The force was drawn from the 3rd Battalion, PPCLI. It was ordered to join with the US 187th Infantry Regiment, known as the "Rakkasans." As background, the 187th is also known as the 3rd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division. The regiment derives its name "Rakkasans" from the Japanese during WWII. Loosely translated, "Rakkasans" means, "falling down umbrella man," which refers to them as paratroopers.

We simply cannot overemphasize that the Canadian commitment of the 3 PPCLI fell under Operation Apollo, which meant it was a unilateral Canadian commitment to join with a US force in the war on terrorism, in this case, in Afghanistan itself. In both instances, the Canadians were directly support US Operation Enduring Freedom. Much like was the case with the HMCS Halifax, the PPCLI is part of NATO's Immediate Reaction Force (IRF). So, once again Canada took forces that were committed to NATO to instead directly support the US. Americans need to feel very good about that.

Lt. Col. Pat Stogran, commander, 3rd Battalion, Princess Patrica's Canadian Light Infantry. Photo credit: Cpl. Lou Penney, CF, presented by CBC News Analysis and Viewpoint

The 3 PPCLI sent what it called a "battle group," consisting of two rifle companies (commander later asked for a third, and we believe he got it), a reconnaissance squadron and combat service support elements. It arrived at Kandahar, Afghanistan in January 2002, which is about the same time the 187th arrived. The battle group fully integrated with the 187th and took some 100 Afghans aboard. While the original commitment was 750, it is our understanding they were reinforced by about 130 more on March 7. The Canadians were commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Patrick Stogran. Stogran and his troopers came to Afghanistan to do business. This was the first time since the Korean War that Canada had committed to ground combat operations. Interviewed by CBC News in early February, Stogran said the following:

"The troops are really excited to be here, finally. They've been looking forward to deploying to the region now for several months, and they've been training extremely hard. So, as you can imagine, it feels good for them to be here."

Operation Anaconda Map, from "Operation Anaconda, a day-by-day guide to the first week of fighting," presented by Time magazine on-line.

On March 14, 2002, the Canadian forces were engaged in fierce offensive combat during Operation Anaconda, designed to destroy Taliban and Al-Qaeda forces dug in to the Shah-i-Kot mountains of eastern Afghanistan, close to Pakistan. The overall operation was commanded by Major General Franklin L. Hagenback from the US 10th Mountain Division, employing elements of that division, the 187th Regiment and the 3 PPCLI, US special forces including Navy SEALs, Australian special forces, and Afghan allies along with USAF B-1, B-52 and B2 bombers, F-15 fighters and AC-130 gunships along with helicopters. The ground force consisted of about 2,000 troops.

Canadian snipers Master Cpl. "Warren" left, Cpl. "Ed" center, and Master Cpl. "Alex" watch over Canadian troops in Afghanistan. Photo credit: Stephen Thorne, Canadian Press, presented by snipercountry.com

Canadian Corporal Landon Perry, described his feelings as he was shuttled by helicopter into the combat zone:

"It was a little unnerving. But once you hit the ground and see the number of troops out there and the massive air support, your confidence builds pretty quickly, and you feel fairly secure in what you're doing."

Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, Afghanistan, presented by militaryphotos.net

Canadian Private Shane Schofield was among the soldiers dropped along the Whaleback ridge. He described the mission as follows:

"Our mission was to clear caves and ravines and things like that, which is what we did. We (walked) up and down the mountains. (With) any potential caves or what we thought were potential enemy locations, we physically cleared them to make sure they were clear and conducted a few patrols and things like that through the mountains."

Soldiers from the U.S. Army's 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), scan the ridgeline for enemy forces during Operation Anaconda. Elements of the 3 PPCLI were integrated with the 187th in this battle. Photo credit: Spc. David Marck Jr., 314th Press Camp Headquarters, USA. Presented by Defend America.

There has been some controversy about how well this operation was conducted, which we do not want to address here. There were far more enemy in the area than had been expected, the attacking force was combined and in a new environment, and fighting was intense. US General Tommy Franks, the commander of the US Central Command, terminated it on March 18 and said it was a success. It was most surely the largest ground operation in the Afghanistan campaign of Operation Enduring Freedom, and it was the largest combat air assault since Operation Desert Storm. It was a very difficult operation, enemy resistance was very stiff, and some of that resistance remained after the force withdrew. Osama bin Laden was not captured. All that notwithstanding, General Franks commented:

"It is the stuff of which heroes are made."

We will also add, that based on the reports from the troops that we have seen, the US and Canadian forces worked exceedingly well together. Many US soldiers commented particularly on the professionalism of the Canadian snipers, striking targets with pinpoint accuracy from 1,700 to 2,400 meters out. One Canadian sniper (names are protected), said, after getting his first hit:

"All I thought of was Sept. 11th and all those people who didn't have a chance and the American reporter who was taken hostage, murdered and his wife getting the videotape of the execution; that is my justification."

The Canadians later commanded Operation Harpoon, from March 14-17, 2002, a mission to flush out enemy fighters from mountain caves. Canadian Lt. Col. Stogran led that operation of about 500 Canadian and 100 American troops.

Operation Harpoon. Photo credit: Cpl. Lou Penney, CF, presented by CBC News Analysis and Viewpoint

Canadian Commodore Jean-Pierre Thiffault, commander of the Canadian Joint Task Force South West Asia, commented on the operation this way:

"The area assigned to the task force on the whale back feature overlooking the Shahico valley southwest of Gardez was cleared of pockets of Al Qaeda and Taliban. More than 30 caves and bunkers were destroyed and exploited for sensitive information that could be of considerable intelligence value. While encounters with Al Qaeda and Taliban members in this operation were few, the number of arms caches and weapons found were considerable. They were all destroyed and the bunker complexes rendered unusable."

Col. Stogran would lead another operation of about 400 Canadian troops in the Tora Bora region of Afghanistan, nicknamed Operation Torii, May 4-6, 2002. Their mission was to find Taliban and Al-Qaeda cave complexes, gather information about terrorist operations in the area, and destroy the cave complexes to prevent terrorists from using them in the future.

Regrettably, a month earlier, on April 17, an USAF F-16 pilot mistakenly dropped a 500-lb laser guided bomb (LGB) on Canadian Forces engaged in a live-fire exercise at Tarnak Farms, Afghanistan. Four Canadian soldiers were killed, and eight wounded.

We prefer not to go into the issues associated with this incident, or the punishment that was administered, or the following actions now in train. Further, we do not wish to address reactions in Canada. That said, while writing this report, the Illinois Air National Guard major who dropped the ordnance, Harry Schmidt, has just recently spoken out on the subject for the first time and, amongst other things, said this:

"I can tell them (the families of the Canadians who died as a result of his action) that I'm terribly sorry that the accident happened. I can't even begin to feel their pain. I don't take it lightly, and I just truly hope that in their heart of hearts they understand that it was an accident, that it was nothing malicious. There was no glory involved in that. There is no glory in war. Glory is what historians make of wartime acts. You don't think of that while you're out there in the heat of the moment."

On June 21, 2002, the Canadian government announced it was withdrawing the 3 PPCLI after six months service, and would not replace them. They returned home in late July.

The loss of the 3 PPCLI was felt by American forces in Afghanistan, especially those who had been fighting with them. The Canadians had acquitted themselves with valor and distinction, and had earned the respect of the Americans with whom they fought.

You will recall earlier mention of a 5,000-strong military force created by the UN Security Council (UNSC) on December 20, 2001, called the ISAF, or International Security Assistance Force. This force's activities were limited to the Kabul area, which was useful to the Americans because they could then concentrate on chasing down the remaining Taliban and Al Qaeda in eastern and southern Afghanistan. You will also recall that Canada's offer to participate with ISAF was initially rejected. The evolution of the ISAF is a study by its own. We simply wish to point out that early on, the lead nations, including Britain, Turkey, Germany and Netherlands, wanted increased NATO involvement, dissastisfied with the UN arrangements that had so few ties to the Americans.

Finally, on August 11, 2003, NATO took over the ISAF force from the UN. While Canada had withdrawn its ground forces in July 2002, her government had indicated publicly as early as February 2003, just six months later, that it was willing to send a battalion group and a brigade headquarters to serve with ISAF. The Canadians were serious, and started issuing deployment warning orders to various Canadian units that month. Furthermore, Camada sent several assessment teams and advanced planning forces to Kabul between March and July 2003 to assess requirements and issues.

Then, in August 2003, Canadian ground forces arrived in Kabul to participate with the NATO ISAF. The Canadians continue their participation to this day. Throughout, they have rotated their forces in and out, generally on six month tours, numbering each rotation, and nicknaming the rotations: "Rotos."

For the most part, the Canadians used Camp Julien, just outside Kabul. They are now in the process of moving south to Kandahar

We'd like to briefly introduce you to Camp Julien, and then to each "Roto," and conclude with some current photography of the Canadian forces in action. But before we do that, we have to introduce you to a place, somewhere in Southwest Asia, named Camp Mirage.

The Canadian government has openly said that she has been operating transport and patrol aircraft for some time out of a place called Camp Mirage, which the government has described as its "Persian Gulf air base." This makes good sense, since Canada has to have a logistics line to its forces in the region. Since August 2003, which is when Canada joined the NATO ISAF, Canadian CC-130s have flown more than 3,000 sorties from this base, according to its embassy in Washington.

Reaching 5000 hours is a group effort as seen by this photo on the flight line at Camp Mirage. Photo presented by Canada's Air Force.

The problem is that the Canadian government will not identify where this base is. The Guardian has said that it is not in Afghanistan, but instead is at Minhad Air Force Base in the desert south of the port city of Dubai, one of seven emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates, on the Persian Gulf. The report said that Canada has been using a portion of Minhad AFB for some time, and simply wanted to get a section of the base on a more permanent basis. At present, the UAE Air Force has been operating helicopters and Hawk T61 fighters from this base. USAF F-16s used the base during Desert Storm.

The Canadian government has had tight lips on this report, but press and blog reports say this Dubai base will, in the main, become a permanent Canadian air base operating CC-130 Hercules transport aircraft to and from Kabul, giving Canada a long-term military presence in the region. Lending some credence to the idea that the base is not in Afghanistan is a Canadian Air Force release about Camp Mirage that says, "In preparation for the missions into Afghanistan..." This same report has said "the flight from Camp Mirage to Kabul is like driving from Toronto to Montreal...with the exception that prior to descent into Kabul, all crew and passengers don flak vests, helmets and assume a combat posture because of the potential risk of insurgent groups targeting the aircraft." And finally, again in this same report, the Canadian Air Force says "Every day, the CC-130 Hercules are readied for their flights into Afghanistan. Arguing against at least the name of the base are reports about hockey players visiting the troops in Afghanistan that say they went to Camp Mirage, Afghanistan. We'll just have to wait to see this all sort out.

At Camp Julien, Canadian soldiers live in a vast tent city overshadowed by the giant – but now destroyed – Queen’s Palace. The tents provide minimal protection against the elements. The nighttime temperature always drops below the freezing mark in these winter months. Photo credit: David Common CBC News, presented by CBC News, "A day at Camp Julien."

Camp Julien was built in early 2003, and opened in August 2003 to house NATO-commanded ISAF forces, up to 2,000.

Now let's turn to the "Rotos," the rotations. (Editor's note: We highlight the main units in each rotation, but are unable to identify all the units participating. Our apologies to those not mentioned).

Rotation 0, Roto 0. August 2003 - February 2004.

Members of the 3 RCR on patrol, Kabul, Afghanistan. Roto 0. Presented by 3 RCR Paratroop Company.

"Hello, darlin'." 3 RCR tanker, Afghanistan. Roto 0. Presented by 3 RCR Paratroop Company.

On August 21, 2003, just over a year after Canada's withdrawal from providing direct support to the US Operation Enduring Freedom, the Canadian 3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment (3 RCR) Battalion Group was declared operationally ready under NATO ISAF command, separate from the US Operation Enduring Freedom.

Canadian Major General Andrew Leslie took command of Canada's Task Force Kabul (TFK), and became deputy commander, ISAF. The Canadian Task Force took control of Kabul West.

Between then and October, Canadian commanders reassessed requirements, more armored vehicles and crews were requested. This initial deployment of the 3 RCR was known as Rotation 0, or "Roto 0," and lasted until February 2004.

Roto 1: February - August 2004

3rd Battalion, Royal 22nd Regiment, the "Vandoos," on patrol in Kabul. Presented by CBC News.

Then, Canadian Lt. General Rick Hillier took command of the entire ISAF force, Colonel Alain Tremblay took command of Canada's TFK, and a battalion group based on the 3rd Battalion, Royal 22nd Regiment, along with a Brigade Headquarters based on the 5 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group were fully in place on Roto 1. The 3 RCR left.

Roto 2: August 2004 - February 2005

Members of the Lord Strathcona´s Horse (Royal Canadians), embarking on a Turkish Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter at Camp Julien, Afghanistan to practice helicopter operations, Roto 2. The LdSH(RC) is tasked to provide reconnaissance and surveillance missions for the Kabul Multi-National Brigade within the International Security Assistance Force. Incorporating both radar and a variety of electro-optic sensors, the Coyote surveillance system provides an all-weather, day and night capability. Presented by Canada's Department of National Defense.

Corporal Michael Mogus, a Mobile Support Equipment Operator the National Support Element Transport Platoon (NSE Pl), crew commands his Bison armored vehicle through the crowded streets of Kabul Afghanistan. The NSE provides logistical, administrative, and maintenance support to Task Force Kabul. Photo credit: Cpl J. Bradley, CF, Presented by Canada's Department of National Defense.

ISAF command was transferred to a French general in August, and Canada's Roto 2 was completed that same month. An armor reconnaissance squadron group based on Lord Strathcona's Horse, an infantry element from the 3 PPCLI, an infantry company from the 1 PPCLI and an engineer squadron from the 1 Combat Engineer Regiment from Edmonton formed the bulk of Roto 2.

Roto 3: February - August 2005

Trooper Dominic Tremblay, a Coyote surveillance operator, gives a hand signal while conducting a route reconnaissance (recce) during the Roto 3 deployed operations in Afghanistan. Surveillance operators maintain rear security and observation in each Coyote, while the crew commander and gunner observe to the front and sides. Coyote patrols of two vehicles normally use hand signals, passed from vehicle to vehicle by crew commanders and surveillance operators, to communicate during tactical operations. As an aside, the Americans loved having this vehicle and these crews with them in Afghanistan. Photo credit: MCpl Chris DuPree, CF, Task Force Kabul, Recce Sqn Radio Rebroadcast Section Commander. Presented by Petawawa Military Family Resource Centre

Trooper Derek Roberts, a soldier with B Squadron (B Sqn) of the Royal Canadian Dragoons, Roto 3, February 24, 2005. Presented by Petawawa Military Family Resource Centre

Roto 3 was put inplace during February 2005. The bulk of the units came from the 2 Mechanized Brigade Group (2 CMBG) based at CF Base Petawawa, Ontario, consisting mainly of the armored reconnaissance squadron of the Royal Canadian Dragoons; the 1st Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment; 2 Combat Engineer Regiment; 2 Military Police Company; 2 Field Ambulance; 2 CMBG headquarters and signal squadron and the 2nd Service Battalion.

Roto 4: August 2005 - Present

The last members of Task Force Afghanistan are deplaning from the CC-130 Hercules Aircraft minutes after it landed at the Kabul International Airport. They arrived in Afghanistan on August 16th 2005, where they will remain for up to six months as part of Op Athena Roto 4. This flight completed the rotation of personnel that had been ongoing for the last month. Photo credit: Master Corporal Ken Fenner, CF, Task Force Afghanistan Roto 4 . Presented by Petawawa Military Family Resource Centre

As far as we can tell, Canada is now in Roto 4. These forces arrived in August 2005.

Master Corporal Steven Travis guides a Coyote Reconnaissance vehicle while it navigates through the narrow and busy streets of Kabul as part of a two-vehicle Reconnaissance patrol. MCpl Travis is a crew commander in the Coyote as well as the Section’s second in command. He is serving in Afghanistan with D Squadron of the Royal Canadian Dragoons as part of Operation Athena Rotation 4. (August 28, 2005) Photo credit: Master Corporal Ken Fenner, CF, Task Force Afghanistan Roto 4. Presented by Petawawa Military Family Resource Centre

There were a couple important changes made for Roto 4. First, the Canadians are going to continue their NATO ISAF security operations in Kabul, but are also deploying a Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) to participate with US forces in Kandahar to the south. Second, the Canadian Task Force Kabul, TFK, was changed to Task force Afghanistan (TFA). Effective September 30, TFA's headquarters officially moved to Kandahar.

In February 2006, Canada plans to increase its presence in southern Afghanistan by deploying a brigade headquarters and an army task force to Kandahar as part of what will be known as a Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT), more of a reconstruction task, in theory, than combat, but only time will tell.

Canada will maintain only a small presence in Kabul, mostly instructors for the Afghan Army and liaison officers for ISAF. As a result, the Canadians plan to close Camp Julien in Kabul in early December 2005.

Locally hired civilian personnel are dismantling weather havens at Camp Julien. Photo credit: Master Corporal Ken Fenner, Task Force Afghanistan Roto 4 Photographer, presented by Petawawa Family Resource Center.

A civilian contractor pours the concrete pad where the new Task Force Afghanistan NCE/NSE (National Command and National Support Elements) building will stand at Kandahar Airfield (KAF). The new headquarters is scheduled to be ready in November 2005. Photo credit: Master Corporal Ken Fenner, Task Force Afghanistan Roto 4 Photographer, presented by Petawawa Family Resource Center.

At present, Canada has about 1,000 troops in Kabul and Kandahar. We have found it very hard to determine what units are there, and suspect there is quite a mix because of the changeover to TFA and the move to the south.

We know, for example, that many troops are assigned to Camp Closure team (CCT) which is coordinating the engineering, logistical and administrative activities required to pack and move the various portable infrastructure, equipment and material to new facilities near Kandahar and back to Canada. CCT personnel come from many units notably, the CF Joint Support Group (Kingston), 1 Engineer Support Unit (Moncton), 3 Canadian Support Group and 4 CF Movements Control Unit (Montreal) and 2 Area Construction Troop (Petawawa).

We also know that TKF has been drawing down rapidly, get ready to terminate its surveillance and reconnaissance operations under the NATO ISAF flag. For example, the D Squadron The Royal Canadian Dragoons successfully completed its mandate with the ISAF on October 18, 2005 and has headed home. To our knowledge, that leaves a field engineer squadron, a force protection company and a small support center from Petawawa.

You've seen a bit of the Canadians in action throughout this report. We saved some current ones to show our American readers what their neighbors look like over there in Afghanistan. We would like to thank our Canadian readers for their service and sacrifice.

A Canadian soldier stands beside a memorial for Canadian soldiers, who have lost their lives during their mission in Kabul, during a ceremony at the Camp Julien in Kabul, Afghanistan on October 21, 2005. The ceremony marks the transfer of Canada's defence commitment in Afghanistan from Kabul to the southern Kandahar region and Canadian soldiers were presented with medals for their contribution to NATO's assistance mission in Afghanistan. Photo credit: Musadeq Sadeq, AP

Two Canadian Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) G-Wagons, similar to the one involved in a previous explosion, drive by the area after a Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED) was detonated by a suicide bomber, near a PRT convoy. The incident took place on Hwy 4 in Qandahar City, Afghanistan. The G-Wagon sustained minor damage and there were no Canadian casualties. Photo credit: Sgt Jerry Kean DND, October 5, 2005

Master Corporal Chad Chechnita, a Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) engineer, involved in the dismantling of a bomb making factory in the Kabul Bazaar, Kandahar City, looks over the items that will be inventoried and prepared for transportation to a disposal site. Photo credit: Sgt Jerry Kean, September 6, 2005

Private Jon Drew, B Company, 3rd Battalion Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (3 PPCLI), a light infantry battalion from Edmonton, Alberta, mans a perimeter position at an Afghanistan National Police Sub Station prior to heading out on a foot patrol. Along with the Afghanistan National Police from Sub Station 9, they patrol the streets of Kandahar City. Photo credit: Sgt Jerry Kean, August 31, 2005

This is a Coyote armored reconnaissance vehicle operated by B Squadron, Royal Canadian Dragoons in Kabul. The squadron is attached to the Kabul Multinational Brigade specifically to provide surveillance and information gathering . Photo credit: Sgt Frank Hudec, Canadian Forces Combat Camera. May 11, 2005.

Members of 1 Combat Engineer Regiment (1 CER) Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) team, prepare captured enemy munitions for disposal at the Central Demolition Site in Kabul, Afghanistan Photo credit: Cpl. Robert Bottrill, Canadian Forces Combat Camera. September 20, 2004.

Members of 1 Combat Engineer Regiment (1 CER), use the Nyala vehicle to prove roads in the outskirts of Kabul, Afghanistan. The Nyala is used by Field Engineer Reconnaissance units to evaluate routes in areas where the mine threat is high. The vehicle is designed to resist a blast equivalent to two anti-tank mines detonating simultaneously. Photo credit: Cpl. Robert Bottrill, Canadian Forces Combat Camera.

Corporal Denis Daichendt, of 1 Combat Engineer Regiment (1 CER), stares into the distance while performing Air Sentry duties in a Bison Light Armored Vehicle. Photo credit: Cpl. Robert Bottrill, Canadian Forces Combat Camera. September 18, 2004.

Trooper Edward Morely from the Lord Strathcona´s Horse (Royal Canadians) (LdSH (RC), acting as an aerial sentry in the back of his Coyote while in the foothills near Kabul, Afghanistan. The LdSH (RC) provides an armored reconnaissance group for the Kabul Multi-National Brigade, with an infantry element from 3 Princess Patricia´s Canadian Light Infantry. Photo credit: Cpl John Bradley, TFK Photographer, September 18, 2004.

Canada has suffered losses in Afghanistan. The count is hard to find, but Wikipedia, a reliable source, has reported that as of October 20, 2005, seven Canadians have died there. Four of these died as the result of friendly fire in 2002.

We have learned from doing this report. There is a lot more to learn. Canada, in the case of Afghanistan, has proven to be a damn good partner to the US. The record is crystal clear on that. What might be more important, however, is that Canada seems to be changing its military outlook. Since Korea, it has traditionally been seen as a peacekeeping, "do-good-feel good" kind of an outfit. That's fine. But the world is changing.

We sense that the Canadian defense establishment recognizes this, and is becoming a little more aggressive, that it will be more and more involved in offensive combat operations as a contributing party to UN, NATO and even unilateral operations led by the US or Great Britain, or even a European or Asian country.

In the case of Afghanistan, Major General Andrew Leslie, who had commanded TFK, was quoted by CBC News in August 2005 saying the following:

"Afghanistan is a 20-year venture. There are things worth fighting for. There are things worth dying for. There are things worth killing for."

Canada's Chief of Defense Staff said the following in a July 2005 briefing:

"These (Al-Qaeda and Taliban remnants) are detestable murderers and scumbags, I'll tell you that right up front. They detest our freedoms, they detest our society, they detest our liberties. We're not the public service of Canada, we're not just another department. We are the Canadian Forces, and our job is to be able to kill people."

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Opening photo credit: Canadian soldiers listen to a speech during a ceremony at the Camp Julien in Kabul, Afghanistan on October 21, 2005. Musadeq Sadeq, AP