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Journal of Military and Strategic Studies
Journal of Military and Strategic Studies
CANADA'S MISSION IN AFGHANISTAN: BEYOND THE RHETORIC
Scott Taylor, Editor and Publisher of Esprit de Corps
Abstract
On August 22, the Canadian forces in Afghanistan suffered a major setback. Just outside their fortified camp in the centre of Kandahar, a suicide bomber targeted a small supply convoy returning from a Provincial Reconstruction Team base. The resultant blast killed one soldier, injured three others and left two armoured vehicles blazing fiercely. As the ammunition stored in the Canadian vehicles continued to "cook off" in the aftermath of the attack, the rapid response team from Camp Nathan Smith deployed to secure the ambush site. It was several hours later that Canadian soldiers fired on an approaching motorcycle, seriously wounding the 17-year-old driver and killing his 10-year-old passenger. The news that our soldiers had shot and killed an Afghan child – albeit under the belief that they were acting in self-defence – sent shockwaves across Canada.
Over and over again we had been told that our troops were deployed to Afghanistan to "protect the weak and the vulnerable" and now that logic had been stood on its head. Once again Canadians began asking exactly what we hope to achieve in Kandahar, and whether or not our soldiers sacrifice can be justified in the long run.