HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK ---------------------------
[Under the triple domination of the U.S., NATO and the Commonwealth, Canada has been reduced to supplying North America's equivalent of Sepoys, Gurkhas and Sikhs: Deployed into deadly scenarios - to "destroy remaining Taliban and al-Qaeda pockets" and to perform military demining - without any pretence of operational input or command equality with their masters in Washington, Brussels and London.] CBC News Canadian troops could face combat role in Afghanistan Last Updated Mon Jan 7 17:41:46 2002 OTTAWA - Canada's first major commitment of ground forces in the war on terrorism will soon be headed for Afghanistan, Defence Minister Art Eggleton announced Monday. INDEPTH: Target Terrorism: Canada's Military A force of about 750, all of them based in Edmonton, will begin leaving for Afghanistan shortly, and they will be working with U.S. forces in the Kandahar area by mid-February, he said. Art EggletonIn making the announcement in Ottawa, Eggleton took the opportunity to boast a little. "The Americans asked the Canadian forces � and only the Canadian forces � to operate alongside their troops," he said. BACKGROUND: The Patricias go to war The force will include two companies of the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, who were first put on alert in November. Eggleton said the force would also include a reconnaissance squadron from the Lord Strathcona's Horse. That company will take with them 12 of the Canadian-made Coyote reconnaissance vehicles. The 'Coyote'The Americans specifically requested those vehicles be included, he said. The way the state-of-the-art Coyotes had performed in Kosovo had impressed the Pentagon, he said. Also joining the group will be a logistics group. What they'll do Destroy remaining Taliban and al-Qaeda pockets Provide security in the Kandahar area, including at the airport Explore sensitive sites such as abandoned caves and al-Qaeda training camps Military demining Support humanitarian assistance efforts Canada already has a naval force with five ships patrolling the Arabian Sea, and 40 members of the specialized JTF-2 anti-terrorism unit in Afghanistan. After its efforts to join the British-led International Security Assistance force failed, the government turned to the United States, offering to join its operations to re-establish rule of law in Afghanistan. The Canadian troops will go beyond the typical peacekeeping role, possibly getting into combat with Taliban or al-Qaeda forces, Eggleton said. "This mission is not without risks," he said. "But our troops are trained, are equipped and are ready to carry out these important tasks." Written by CBC News Online staff __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Send FREE video emails in Yahoo! Mail! http://promo.yahoo.com/videomail/ ==^================================================================ This email was sent to: [email protected] EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.a9WB2D Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
