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Topic: Canadian soldier killed in firefight in Afghanistan; investigation launched (Read 584 times)
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Jesse Reed
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By Tobi Cohen, The Canadian Press
ZHARI DISTRICT, Afghanistan - An investigation is underway to determine whether a Canadian soldier and soon-to-be father killed in combat early Saturday in southern Afghanistan died as a result of friendly fire by a passing private security convoy or a skirmish with insurgents.
Master Cpl. Josh Roberts of Saskatoon was serving as a crew commander with the 9th Platoon, Charlie Company when he was shot while in the turret of his armoured vehicle during an operation in the volatile Zhari District, west of Kandahar City.
He was flown by helicopter to the Role 3 multinational hospital at Kandahar Airfield where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
Taskforce Kandahar commander Brig.-Gen Denis Thompson said fellow soldiers administered first aid but "the nature of his injuries were such that in spite of their efforts, his life could not be saved."
A member of the Second Battalion of the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, Roberts transferred to the regular forces from the North Saskatchewan Regiment in August 2006 and was promoted to master corporal just two weeks ago.
Capt. Scott MacGregor, acting C Company commander, described Roberts as a "bang-on-guy, a soldier's soldier."
"No matter where he worked or who he worked with, he just fit in well with everybody," he said.
Calling it "one of those tragic stories," MacGregor said Roberts was engaged to be married and his fiancee is expecting a child within the next month.
Lieut. Brian Lacoursiere, a military spokesman in Saskatoon, said Roberts' mother and stepfather live in Dalmeny, Sask., just outside of Saskatoon and his fiancee lives in Prince Albert, Sask.
However, he said members of the family weren't yet ready to speak to the media but would release a statement in the coming days, and asked their privacy be respected until then.
Major Chris Lunney of Canadian Forces Base Shilo in Manitoba said Roberts had served with the Canadian Forces for more than a decade, having started in the reserves as an infantry soldier with the Calgary Highlanders.
"He was a very outgoing, likeable man and will be missed," said Lunney in a news release. "We at the Second Battalion now focus our efforts on ensuring he is laid to rest with the honour and dignity he deserves."
At the time of his death, Roberts and his battlegroup were involved in an operation with Afghan security forces and their Canadian mentors, aimed at disrupting insurgent activity along a tract of rugged farm land known to be a Taliban hotbed.
The troops set out early to take advantage of the cooler temperatures but it wasn't until about 9 a.m. that bullets began to fly.
Members of the battlegroup drove south from an outpost on the main highway, while Afghan forces and their Canadian mentors set out on foot across two wadis to form a block on either side.
Grape farmers who'd been toiling in their fields and women and children from area villages quickly fled the battlefield just before small arms gunfire, rocket propelled grenades and 82 millimetre recoilless rifle rounds littered the scorched countryside.
Canadian troops fired back from their armoured vehicles and called in artillery strikes as Canadian mentor teams on the ground hunkered down for cover, some of them waist deep in water.
Before long, troops realized they were also being fired on from the north.
It's believed a private security convoy involved in an escort was heading west along the main highway when it spotted the insurgents and opened fire, likely not realizing Canadian troops were already there engaging the group of about 15 insurgents.
While he offered few details, Thompson confirmed an investigation is underway to determine whether insurgents or members of the private security company was responsible for Roberts' death.
"There was a civilian convoy in the vicinity and the incident will be investigated," Thompson told reporters at Kandahar Airfield, the main coalition base in the southern province.
"The death of Roberts is being investigated and until we have conclusive results of the investigation, I can't give you a definitive statement."
Canadian troops couldn't do their job without the help of private security firms, Thompson said.
"Without private security firms it would be impossible to achieve what we're achieving here," he said. "We just don't have the numbers to do everything."
"As an example, they secure, some of our bases."
Maj. Bob Ritchie, taskforce commander for Zhari District, said it's not uncommon for private security contractors to engage insurgents.
In fact, he said, the area where Saturday's battle took place is just two kilometres away from where five fuel trucks were attacked about a month ago.
"Private contractors routinely operate within the battle space and they provide essential security to a lot of development and stabilization groups," he said. "I don't know whether they had a legitimate target or not.
"There's going to be an investigation into all of this activity," he said.
Despite all the confusion, the top mentor said the fledgling Afghan army "performed well" during the operation and have "demonstrated increased proficiency" and are "progressively moving towards autonomy."
Training the Afghan forces is key to Canada's 2011 exit strategy from Afghanistan.
While he provide few details about the incident, Canada's top soldier in Afghanistan offered his condolences to Roberts' family.
"We are deeply affected by this loss. Josh will be greatly missed by his military family," Thompson said.
"As task force commander, I offer my deepest condolences to the members of Josh's family, to his fiancee, and to his friends and colleagues. Know that we stand with you in your grief, and we will do all we can to help you through the difficult days ahead."
Justin Rings, who served with the soldier for years in the North Saskatchewan Regiment, said Roberts called him a week ago from Afghanistan.
"He said it was hot and dusty," Rings said. "But there was a Tim Hortons, so it was all good."
He said Roberts went to Bosnia with the regiment in 2003. The soldier's latest job in Afghanistan put him in charge of making sure the soldiers in his command had everything they needed, and were doing OK emotionally and physically, he said.
"Josh was very good at what he did," he said. "Josh had a good ear, he was a good listener".
He added that while he was sad to hear of Roberts' death, he knew his friend was doing a job he believed in.
"He love soldiering. Some people are calling it a tragedy, but he died doing what he loved, so that's not a tragedy," he said.
A statement from an unnamed "best friend" delivered by Thompson described Roberts as "a no-nonsense kind of guy who lived like people dreamed."
"He was a fun-loving and genuine individual who was totally dedicated to the Army and held his section together. He looked out for his guys in ways they probably didn't realize," the statement read.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper issued a statement calling Roberts an "excellent soldier" and "great Canadian" who will "not be forgotten."
Roberts is the 89th Canadian soldier to die during Canada's mission to Afghanistan. A Canadian diplomat was also killed in the country.
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Jesse Reed
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Mike Blais
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A ROYAL CANADIAN "NEVER PASSES A FAULT"
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Killed by mercenaries? WTF is going on?
Military probes soldier's death as colleagues say farewell
GLORIA GALLOWAY AND KATHERINE O'NEILL
From Monday's Globe and Mail
August 11, 2008 at 4:24 AM EDT
KANDAHAR, AFGHANISTAN, and EDMONTON — The head of the military task force in Afghanistan says private security companies are essential to the international fight against the Taliban, even as the body of an infantryman who may have been killed by a mercenary guard is being flown back to Canada.
Master Corporal Josh Roberts, of the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry Battle Group based in Shilo, Man., and a man described by his commander as "a soldier's soldier," was fatally wounded during a firefight in the perilous Zhari district west of Kandahar city Saturday morning.
His fiancée, Lise Malenfant of Prince Albert, Sask., is eight months pregnant with a son they had decided to name Meyer.
MCpl. Roberts was gunned down in the turret of his light armoured vehicle after his battle group engaged in an early-morning firefight with the Taliban in a farming area off a main road in the Zhari district. A civilian convoy that was escorted by the private security company passed along the road at about the same time.
It is believed that the men guarding the convoy saw the Taliban, heard the shots and, not realizing it was a battle being waged between insurgents and coalition forces, fired into the fray. The Canadian troops on the ground suddenly realized they were being shot at from both directions, according to a Canadian Press reporter who witnessed the exchange.
In the confusion that ensued, MCpl. Roberts was fatally wounded.
He was declared dead on arrival at the military hospital at the Kandahar Air Field. He is the 89th member of the Canadian Forces killed in Afghanistan; a Canadian diplomat was also killed.
A military news release confirmed the presence of the private security company in the immediate vicinity at the time the soldier was shot, but military officials would not identify the firm.
David Bercuson, director of the Centre for Military and Strategic Studies at the University of Calgary, said he was not aware that private security contractors were operating in Kandahar province.
Dr. Bercuson, who travelled to Afghanistan earlier this year, said the incident raises serious questions about the level of communication between the Canadian military and the private companies.
"Whenever you have armed forces that are operating in a given area, you always got the potential of this kind of incident happening," he said in an interview yesterday.
"The way that you stop it from happening in the first instance is to know where [the private security firms] are. I don't know what kind of relationship these companies would have with the overall command there. ... Someone must know who they are and where they are."
Dr. Bercuson said communication is crucial so "they aren't going to come into contact with them in a circumstance where you are going to be shooting each other."
He said the private citizens employed by the security companies "could be anybody. ... Some of them could be ex-Canadian military personnel, for all we know."
Brigadier-General Denis Thompson, commander of Task Force Kandahar, takes no issue with private security being provided in war zones. He said such firms have even helped "secure some of our bases" in the volatile region.
"Without private security firms it would be impossible to achieve what we are achieving here," he said.
"There are many aspects of the mission here in Afghanistan, many security aspects, that are performed by private security firms which, if they were turned over to the military, would make our task impossible. We just don't have the numbers to do everything."
For example, Ottawa has warned companies bidding for the right to reconstruct the giant Dahla Dam, one of the Canadian government's "signature" projects in Afghanistan, that they will largely be responsible for providing their own security.
Brig.-Gen. Thompson would not confirm that an employee of the security company was suspected of firing the fatal shot. He added it would be some time before the investigation into the death of MCpl. Roberts is completed.
One firm, Compass Integrated Security Solutions, has been involved in more than one incident involving the Canadian military in Afghanistan.
One person was killed and three others were injured in April when a Canadian military convoy opened fire on a Compass vehicle that failed to stop when demanded. Canadian soldiers also opened fire on a Compass vehicle last October, injuring seven Afghans.
Compass says it provides armed and unarmed site security, convoy escorts and protection, close personal protection, the protection of cash in transit, and training services in war zones and trouble spots around the world, including Iraq, the Middle East, Africa and Central Asia.
But it is not the only company involved in what is a lucrative business. Dozens are operating in Afghanistan, including U.S. Protection and Investigations, a Texas-based firm that boasts that it was one of the first companies to begin providing both armed escort services and static guards in the war-ravaged country and has been the foremost security company working with Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.
Canadian opposition MPs were aghast last fall when it was revealed that mercenaries had been hired to protect foreign dignitaries, including Prime Minister Stephen Harper, when they are in Kabul. The MPs raised the spectre of Blackwater USA, a firm whose hired gunmen killed 17 Iraqi civilians while protecting a diplomatic convoy in Baghdad in September.
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A ROYAL CANADIAN "NEVER PASSES A FAULT"
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Video shows soldiers confronting contractors over Canadian's death
Last Updated: Monday, August 11, 2008 | 7:50 PM ET
A video by a U.S. military newspaper shows Canadian, American and Afghan soldiers confronting and detaining a convoy of private security contractors whom they believe may have been responsible for the accidental shooting of a Canadian soldier.
The scene was filmed by a video crew from Stars and Stripes hours after Master Cpl. Josh Roberts was shot to death during a joint operation aimed at disrupting insurgent activity in the rugged farming area.
There has been speculation that when members of the security convoy drove by, they opened fire on what they believed were enemy fighters and didn't realize Canadian troops were already in the area engaging the group of about 15 insurgents. Military officials are probing the incident.
In the video, Canadian Major Corey Frederickson explains to the media crew that the soldiers are questioning the contractors, who are local Afghans, because they think it's possible that one of the civilians fired upon Canadians.
"Their normal contact drill is as soon as they get hit with something then it's 360, open up on everything that moves," Frederickson said, referring to the contractors. "We think that's probably what happened, and in the meantime, a coalition soldier got hit. So we're trying to stop as many of them as we can, sort out if any of them know anything and if they'll admit to it."
American Major Kevin Reilly tells the media crew that there are two groups of contractors from two companies: USPI and Compass.
"The Compass convoy is the one we suspect opened up on Canadians," Reilly says.
On the video, the Afghan contractors are heavily armed and some are wearing Afghan police uniforms, although they aren't police. Others are carrying heavy weapons, in contravention of Afghan law.
The video also shows a Canadian soldier questioning one of the contractors.
"When he shot, where was he?" the soldier asks the contractor through a translator.
The translator responds that the man says he wasn't shooting.
"He's lying because before he told me he was shooting," the soldier says.
"Everybody was shooting," the translator says.
"So were you shooting or not," the soldier asks. The contractor shakes his head.
"Unless everybody starts telling the truth, we're arresting all of you, you understand," the soldier says.
As many as 28,000 private soldiers in Afghanistan
Later on in the video, U.S. Army Staff Sgt. David Beau says they "can't get a straight answer. Everybody’s pointing the finger at everybody else."
There are as many as 28,000 private soldiers working in Afghanistan for as many as 73 different companies.
Over the weekend, Brig.-Gen. Denis Thompson defended the use of private security firms.
"Without private security firms, it would be impossible to achieve what we're achieving here," he said. "We just don't have the numbers to do everything.
"As an example, they secure some of our bases. Canadian troops couldn't do their job without the help of private security firms," Thompson said.
Alan Bell, who runs a Canadian private security company that works for both the Canadian and American governments in Afghanistan, said there are regulations in place.
"The only unfortunate thing at the moment, there is a tendency for a lot of companies to not adhere to the regulations and the Afghan government does not have the ability to be able to regulate them the way they should be regulated," he told CBC News Monday.
Bell added that many Afghan security contractors are poorly trained and few take the time to advise either Afghan or NATO soldiers of their operations.
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1RCR 1977-79 Depot (Italy PL), B Coy, Mortars, Pioneers, D Coy (CFB London)
3RCR 1979-82 M Coy, Pipes & Drums, Sigs, Mortars. (CFB Baden-Soellingen)
1RCR 1982-88 Mortars. Dukes, Cyprus-Welfare NCO 84-85, Injured, WO&Sgts Mess, (CFB London)
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A ROYAL CANADIAN "NEVER PASSES A FAULT"
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Afghan guards changed shooting story, paper reports
August 12, 2008
Tonda MacCharles
Ottawa Bureau
OTTAWA–The role of private security firms in Afghanistan is under renewed scrutiny as Canadian military investigators try to determine whether friendly fire by guards-for-hire killed a Canadian soldier.
The military would not comment yesterday, saying the matter is under independent investigation.
But Stars and Stripes, an American military newspaper, posted an article and video on its website that showed confusion as coalition forces tried to get answers after Master Cpl. Josh Roberts was killed.
The article quoted U.S. and Canadian officers, including Maj. Corey Frederickson, part of a Canadian advisory team that trains and mentors the Afghan army in Maywand district, west of Kandahar.
The officers reported a private convoy that included groups from two different security companies – Compass and USPI – passed a group of Canadian soldiers engaged in a firefight with Taliban fighters in the Spin Beer district.
The officers suggested the convoy of private security guards opened fire, apparently thinking they were under attack.
"Their normal contact drill is that as soon as they get hit with something, then it's 360, open up on anything that moves," Frederickson said. "We think that's probably what happened."
After the shooting, the private security convoy continued west until it was stopped by Afghan security forces and their Canadian and U.S. military advisers in Maywand district, about 32 kilometres away.
The newspaper reported that when questioned by the Canadian and U.S. military officers, several of the Afghan security guards freely admitted to opening fire on what they thought were Taliban fighters.
But when informed that a Canadian soldier had been wounded, their stories began to change. Many claimed to have never fired at all. Some of the security guards blamed the Afghan army for the incident.
The videotape shows Canadian and American officers threatening to arrest the group for lying. In the end, reports Stars and Stripes, there was little that the Canadian and American officers could do, except take the names of the Afghans in charge of the convoy and the names of the suspected shooters.
Liberal MP and defence critic Bryon Wilfert (Richmond Hill) said the use of mercenaries raises questions of legal liability.
"I question why are you using private security firms, first of all. Second question is how are they trained? Who trains them? How do we know about their reliability? And thirdly, if these guns for hire are there, who are they subject to?"
Liberal Senator Colin Kenny, chairperson of the Senate's national defence and security committee, agreed. "In many respects, they are operating in a legal vacuum."
But Kenny also agreed with the Canadian military commander in Kandahar, Brig.-Gen. Denis Thompson, that private contractors are crucial because the military doesn't have the budget or the troops to do what needs to be done.
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1RCR 1977-79 Depot (Italy PL), B Coy, Mortars, Pioneers, D Coy (CFB London)
3RCR 1979-82 M Coy, Pipes & Drums, Sigs, Mortars. (CFB Baden-Soellingen)
1RCR 1982-88 Mortars. Dukes, Cyprus-Welfare NCO 84-85, Injured, WO&Sgts Mess, (CFB London)
1988-92 Med-remuster to HELL/ 35 DU, CFB Baden
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Jesse Reed
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Updated Wed. Aug. 13 2008 6:51 AM ET
The Canadian Press
CFB TRENTON, Ont. -- The bodies of two Canadian soldiers killed in Afghanistan are to return home Wednesday.
The military plane carrying Master Cpl. Josh Roberts and Master Cpl. Erin Doyle will arrive at CFB Trenton, in eastern Ontario, in the early afternoon.
The plane will be met by family and dignitaries including Governor General Michaelle Jean, Minister of Defence Peter MacKay and Chief of Defence General Walter Natynczyk.
Both soldiers were members of Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry.
Roberts was with the 2nd Battalion based in Shilo, Man., while Doyle was a member of the 3rd Battalion in Edmonton.
Doyle, who was known as the "Friendly Giant," was remembered as a seasoned soldier.
The 32-year-old, who was nearing the end of his third tour of duty in Afghanistan, was killed Sunday by insurgents at a small combat outpost in the Panjwaii district of Kandahar province.
He was the 90th Canadian soldier to die since the Afghan mission began in 2002.
The burly, 200-pound redhead was the kind of soldier who "stood out in a crowd," not just because of his size, said battle group commander Lt.-Col. Dave Corbould.
The Kamloops, B.C., native leaves behind his wife Nicole and daughter Zarine.
Roberts was killed Saturday during an operation in neighbouring Zhari district.
The crew commander with 9th platoon C Company was sitting in the turret of his armoured vehicle when he was shot during a skirmish with insurgents.
The circumstances surrounding the shooting death, however, are under investigation.
While Canadian and Afghan security forces were engaging a group of some 15 insurgents, it's believed a passing convoy guarded by private security may have also opened fire, accidentally killing Roberts.
The Saskatoon native leaves behind his fiancee Lise and his unborn son Meyer, who is due in a month - around the time Roberts likely would have been finishing his six-month tour.
Corbould said he had promoted Roberts just two weeks ago.
A reservist with the North Saskatchewan Regiment for 10 years, Roberts transferred to the regular forces in August 2006.
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Jesse Reed
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Tim McCully
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Once again the CAV (Canadian Army Veterans) Motorcycle units will converge with as many members from various units, on what has become known as Repat Row. We will stand to bear witness to our brave fallen sons' return to their families and friends, We will stand to deliver the message to the families that we Veterans and Veteran supporters are there for support in any way they ask, and that we will not ever forget their sacrifices and the sacrifices of our troops. Stand Down Soldiers', you are homeward bound!
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Updated Wed. Aug. 13 2008 9:11 AM ET
CTV.ca News Staff
Inconsistent care across the country means wounded Canadian soldiers returning from overseas may not be getting the most effective care, according to a senate report.
The senate committee on national security and defence finds that care for soldiers on the ground at Kandahar Air Field and at transitional facilities such as the one in Landstuhl, Germany is exceptional. There is, however, a greater challenge with the long term care that is needed from the Canadian health care system once soldiers return home.
"We think our troops are being well-served if they have the misfortune of being wounded in terms of evacuation and immediate medical care," Liberal Senator Colin Kenny, chair of the senate committee on national security and defence, told CTV's Canada AM on Wednesday. However, he added, "we're unhappy with what happens when you come home, and that's a much larger problem."
"It has to do with the uneven nature of medicare in Canada and how some provinces seem to excel at it and other provinces don't provide the same quality of it."
Canadian Gulf War veteran Sean Bruyea told CTV's Canada AM the regional discrepancies are a longstanding problem, one that was compounded by the closure of the National Defence Medical Center, which set a national standard of care for soldiers.
"But it's fundamentally unfair to push the wounded soldiers and already over-stressed families onto an already overburdened civilian health care system," Bruyea says.
And he says it all comes down to money.
"There has to be some sort of inclusion for the long-term care costs of rehabilitation and psychological care for the soldiers when they're in uniform and when they come out of uniform."
For long-term care and rehabilitation, Kenny believes "The federal government should ensure there are regional centers, at a minimum, that would provide for the care and the rehabilitiation."
A statement from the office of Defence Minister Peter MacKay says Canadian Forces Health Services is revitalizing its rehabilitation program, "developing centres of excellence on CF bases affiliated with nearby civilian providers."
Reservists face greatest challenge
Kenny said the soldiers who face the toughest challenge are reservists, as they must often cope with rehabilitation without the support of their regiment.
He said regiments are like family and look after each other very well, but the very mobile nature of reservists poses a challenge.
"Some injuries (which are) more of a psychological or mental nature might manifest themselves six months later or eight months later, and your regimental family is too far from you to help, and that was a great concern that we had."
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Jesse Reed
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Mike Blais
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A ROYAL CANADIAN "NEVER PASSES A FAULT"
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Critics say federal plan harms wounded soldiers
Aug 13, 2008 04:30 AM
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Allan Woods
Ottawa Bureau
OTTAWA–Proposed limits on how long wounded Canadian soldiers can serve in a special unit for the injured are unfair to those who have risked their lives for their country, advocates for the disabled say.
Along with employment training and a better system to track and treat the wounded, the military plans to set up a new unit, known as the "Reserve Sub-Component," where soldiers who are declared unfit for duty and released from service can re-enrol in a program that helps them make the transition to civilian life.
Details of how soldiers' benefits and pensions would be handled in the unit and what training they would receive remain unclear. But documents obtained under the Access to Information Act show the military's combat casualty care committee has recommended limiting the time soldiers can serve in the unit to between three and five years, after which they would leave the military.
The unit was promoted by Defence Minister Peter MacKay last fall as part of the Canadian Forces' response to the sharp increase in the number of soldiers crippled by bullets, roadside bombs and post-traumatic stress due to the war in Afghanistan.
The unit allows the military to get around the principle known as "universality of service" – that everyone who wears the uniform should be physically fit and capable of entering a combat environment.
The committee claims the time limit on service is necessary to block disabled civilians from lobbying for jobs in the program, but advocacy groups and parliamentarians object, saying there should be a long-term place for disabled soldiers in the Canadian Forces.
"The limitation ... does not allow people to continue a career," Laurie Beachell, national co-ordinator of the Council of Canadians with Disabilities, said yesterday from Winnipeg.
"This could be a very good news story. If they put the limitation on it I think it just ends up being small thinking."
Beachell said Section 15.2 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms allows for special programs or activities that help improve the lot of disadvantaged individuals, including the physically disabled. This might protect the special military program from challenges from disabled civilians, he said.
Liberal Senator Colin Kenny, chair of the Senate defence committee, said there should be "special standards" for injured soldiers. Kenny is critical of the universality of service principle and objects to the term limits for disabled soldiers.
"These are special people and these are people who we should go out of our way for," he said.
As of December 2007, 280 soldiers had been wounded in action in Afghanistan since 2002, while non-battle injuries, including post-traumatic stress disorder, totalled 395, according to a report of the Senate defence and national security committee, released yesterday. Ninety soldiers have died.
Wounded Canadian soldiers who were declared medically unfit for service prior to this initiative have had no option but to seek civilian employment while relying on a benefits package and the support of Veterans Affairs Canada.
In a Nov. 26, 2007, position paper on the program, the military's combat casualty care committee advised that releasing injured soldiers from service and re-enrolling them in a program where they have no chance at promotion and can leave at any time provides the "best defence" to the military against "attacks" under the Charter and the Canadian Human Rights Act.
It also gives the Canadian Forces more control over which injured soldiers are kept in the ranks. A soldier suffering from the worst symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder would likely be barred from re-enrolling, the documents state. "The member who is deemed to be unfit for any contact with the CF (Canadian Forces) cannot logically be re-enrolled into the CF."
The documents make clear the unit is not meant to provide disabled soldiers with long-term career prospects in the military.
"Time is the (Canadian Forces') enemy. The longer a disabled member remains in the new sub-component, the greater the argument from a disabled civilian that the CF could have enrolled him, trained him and employed him," the position paper states. The time restriction also "announces that the sub-component is a transitory entity without any guaranteed prospects of a career."
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1RCR 1977-79 Depot (Italy PL), B Coy, Mortars, Pioneers, D Coy (CFB London)
3RCR 1979-82 M Coy, Pipes & Drums, Sigs, Mortars. (CFB Baden-Soellingen)
1RCR 1982-88 Mortars. Dukes, Cyprus-Welfare NCO 84-85, Injured, WO&Sgts Mess, (CFB London)
1988-92 Med-remuster to HELL/ 35 DU, CFB Baden
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It all stands to reason guys and girls .Since the Fed Gov " took"... for want of a word which might get me in the boiling water.. there is obviously a cash flow problem as the feds grapple with trying to budget what has NOT been budgeted.. i believe they fully intend to just do away with ALL care for veterans..plain and simple to me...ranrad
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RCAF,CAF, converted RCR?,1RCR 74-77 CD: SSM (Nato);CPSM,;UN-Cyp.; UN- Golan
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A ROYAL CANADIAN "NEVER PASSES A FAULT"
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Canada may be powerless to take action in death of Canadian soldier
By Murray Brewster, The Canadian Press
OTTAWA - The probe into the possible friendly fire death of a Canadian soldier by a private security force falls into a grey area of international law that could end up in Afghanistan's dysfunctional justice system, says a legal expert.
Much depends on who employed the hired guns.
The Canadian Forces National Investigative Service is investigating the death of Master Cpl. Joshua Roberts, who was mortally wounded in the turret of his light armoured vehicle during a confused battle with militants on Saturday.
The deadly shots were allegedly fired by employees of Compass Security Solutions, who initially claimed they were shooting at Taliban and had no idea coalition troops were in the area.
The Defence Department confirmed Thursday that the security contractors were not employed by a Canadian government department or agency.
"DND does not employ Compass Security or USPI, and neither does (the Foreign Affairs Department)," said defence spokeswoman Jillian Van Acker in an e-mail statement after three days of repeated queries.
"Neither company is working for a Canadian project or installation in Panjwaii."
The government wouldn't say who hired the guards, citing the ongoing military police investigation.
Stuart Hendin, an international law researcher at the University of Ottawa, said the investigation and any potential prosecution that might follow will be complicated and possibly fruitless.
If the security guards worked for a NATO country, the matter would be reasonably straightforward because the Canadian government could take up the case with whichever allies employed them, he said.
But if they worked for either the Afghan government or an international aid organization, the investigation could be easily hamstrung.
"If they (the guards) don't fall under the Canadian umbrella, they could simply refuse to talk to investigators," said Hendin.
Getting to the prosecution stage would be even more difficult because it would likely fall under Afghanistan's notoriously corrupt legal system.
Canada's military, foreign affairs and international development agency each employ private Afghan security to guard bases and aid projects in the volatile country. In many cases the guards are little more than recycled militia members or thugs, who've been given cursory military training and a uniform.
It is known that a mixed patrol, involving employees of Compass and a second Afghan security firm, USPI, were moving through an area in the Panjwaii district on Saturday where Canadian troops were slugging it out with the Taliban.
Hendin said if Canadian officials intend to diligently pursue the matter, they'll have some unpalatable and uncomfortable choices to make.
There are sections under the fourth Geneva Conventions that allow countries to prosecute civilians in other countries who wound or kill soldiers during a military operation. But to invoke those provisions the Canadian government would have toss out the claim that it's fighting an insurgency .
It would have to publicly declare Afghanistan to be in a "state of armed conflict" - a international legal definition that places an entirely new set of human rights responsibilities on Ottawa.
Hendin said Canada could leave the matter for the Afghan justice system to handle, but noted the murder of Canadian diplomat Glyn Berry in 2006 has yet to be solved, even though police Kandahar had the suspected organizer of the plot in custody at one point.
VanAcker said the practice for military police has been for them to turn over whatever evidence uncovered in the investigation to local authorities.
New Democrat defence critic Dawn Black said that, for the sake of Master Cpl. Roberts, the government needs to get to the bottom of what happened and not allow the incident to be swept under the rug.
"The Canadian government, Stephen Harper and the Conservatives have an obligation to the families and his family, the families of other men and women serving there to ensure that the answers are there," she said.
Black also called on the Defence Department to take over co-ordination of all security contractors in Afghanistan, in much the same way the U.S. State Department has done.
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1RCR 1977-79 Depot (Italy PL), B Coy, Mortars, Pioneers, D Coy (CFB London)
3RCR 1979-82 M Coy, Pipes & Drums, Sigs, Mortars. (CFB Baden-Soellingen)
1RCR 1982-88 Mortars. Dukes, Cyprus-Welfare NCO 84-85, Injured, WO&Sgts Mess, (CFB London)
1988-92 Med-remuster to HELL/ 35 DU, CFB Baden
1992 Medical release. God Bless you all!
Pro Patria
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Jesse Reed
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Relative, troops in Edmonton struggle with latest soldier deaths in Afghanistan
By John Cotter, The Canadian Press
EDMONTON - Families and troops at Edmonton Garrison are struggling to deal with the deaths of three more Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan. Word of the deaths came as troops at the sprawling base were preparing for the funeral of another soldier who was killed in the Kandahar region earlier this month.
Sgt. Shawn Eades, 33, and two others with 1 Combat Engineer Regiment were killed when a roadside bomb exploded near their vehicle Wednesday.
Lisa Eades, Shawn Eades' wife, said it was her husband's life's dream to help people by serving in the military and that he believed strongly in the Afghanistan mission.
"He died doing what he loved," Eades said Thursday. "He believed that he was making a difference and making things better for people over there."
Shawn Eades, who was originally from Hamilton, Ont., joined the military when he was 18.
She said her husband lived by strong values and relished his family, his military comrades and especially his two young daughters, Breanna, 7, and Nyia, 4.
Lisa Eades said leaving his daughters to deploy on each of his three tours to Afghanistan was especially hard for him.
"He loved his girls and it was very hard for him to go away," she said.
The identities of the other two soldiers killed Wednesday have not been released by the military.
Earlier this month Shawn Eades was involved in Operation Southern Beast in the remote Maywand district, a major poppy growing area west of Kandahar.
Engineer and coalition troops were targeting Taliban supply bases that provide support for insurgents in Helmand and Kandahar provinces.
During the operation coalition troops destroyed 60 ammonium nitrate containers wired for use as improvised explosive devices and seized opium, drug manufacturing equipment, small arms and a mortar weapon.
Military officials have said the operation helped reduce the number of roadside bombs in the district.
Meanwhile Thursday, Edmonton Garrison troops and relatives gathered at a church near the village of Legal north of Edmonton for the funeral of Cpl. Erin Doyle.
Doyle, a member of 3 Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, was killed Aug. 11 when insurgents attacked an outpost near Panjwaii. He is survived by a wife and daughter.
Lisa Eades said that as a military spouse the possibility that her husband might get hurt overseas was always in the back of her mind, but she tried to not think of her fears.
"This is very difficult," she said.
"You never think it is going to happen to you."
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Jesse Reed
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ranrad
Ron [Andy] Andrews
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Dang, too many kids are losing their daddies...we need to get contro; over there, and for that we need more TROOPS...lets get with it NATO..enough talk and BS.... ranrad
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RCAF,CAF, converted RCR?,1RCR 74-77 CD: SSM (Nato);CPSM,;UN-Cyp.; UN- Golan
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Jesse Reed
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Last Updated: Tuesday, October 14, 2008 | 1:04 CBC News
The Canadian military has dropped all charges against Master Cpl. Robbie Fraser in connection with an incident that led to the death of his friend, Master Cpl. Jeffrey Walsh.
The prosecution said it dropped charges against Master Cpl. Robbie Fraser following his help with new information in connection with a ballistics report. (CBC)
Fraser, a native of Cornwall, P.E.I., was charged with manslaughter and negligent performance of duty in the death of Walsh, a Regina native. Both were stationed in Shilo, Man., with the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry.
"Two years — it's good to have it finally over with," said Fraser.
Walsh died during a routine patrol in Afghanistan in August 2006. He was hit with a round discharged from a soldier's gun while riding in a military vehicle.
The prosecution said it was withdrawing the charges because Fraser co-operated and provided it with new information in connection with a ballistics report.
The report suggested Fraser's gun was underneath Walsh's gun when it discharged. It scraped along Fraser's gun, pulling off the safety and possibly discharging the weapon.
Fraser has always maintained that he was not holding his rifle when it went off. There was no gunshot residue on him when he was examined in Afghanistan following the incident.
Fraser, whose trial had been scheduled to start Tuesday in Manitoba, said he was relieved to hear the charges were dropped, but his emotions were bittersweet because his friend is still gone.
"Jeff made a sacrifice that day and it's not going to change what happened that day," said Fraser.
"I don't feel any differently. It's been very hard, not just on me. It's been hard on both families, so it's good to have it over for both of us."
He said he's grateful for the support he has received over the years, including from Walsh's family, and he hopes he can now move on with his life.
His father, Kevin Fraser, echoed that feeling.
"It was very unexpected," he said.
"When it sank in, as I say, it was very good news. We can move on and not have this cloud kind of hanging over him."
Losing a brother 'painful enough': Julie Mason
The charges were controversial from the start, with even Walsh's widow coming out in support of Fraser. Julie Mason told CBC News in March 2007 she was angry manslaughter charges were even being considered.
"It's painful enough when a soldier loses a brother," said Mason.
"It's even harder when you lose a friend and it's your weapon that went off."
Fraser's lawyer had previously sought to have the charges dropped, arguing that manslaughter is a wilful act, and there was no wilful act in this case.
Had the case gone to military court and Fraser been found guilty, he faced life in prison and dismissal with disgrace from the Canadian Forces.
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Jesse Reed
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ranrad
Ron [Andy] Andrews
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Well, this is good news. Investigation now complete..conclusion.. a terrible accident, and another brother was lost.. it is nice to see another life was not taken needlessly.. let these good folks get on with their lives..and may our brother rest in peace..ranrad
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RCAF,CAF, converted RCR?,1RCR 74-77 CD: SSM (Nato);CPSM,;UN-Cyp.; UN- Golan
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