- Reaction score
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- Points
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http://www.edmontonsun.com/Comment/Commentary/2006/08/08/1724237.html
The Edmonton Sun does us proud once more.
Tue, August 8, 2006
EDITORIAL: Praise for the Pats
It should have been a happy homecoming for members of the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry battle group.
Since February, they have been engaged in the first shooting war involving Canadian troops since the Korean conflict.
Now, after six months taking it to the Taliban on their home turf in the mountains of Afghanistan, the Edmonton soldiers are being rotated out of the theatre, to be replaced by members of the Central Canada-based Royal Canadian Regiment.
But that was before the attacks last Thursday, where four soldiers perished and another 10 were injured, as the Taliban stepped up the offensive in the bloodiest 24 hours yet for Canadian troops.
Brig.-Gen. David Fraser called it a "tough day."
But it may be even tougher for the Princess Pats' families, friends and loved ones at the Edmonton Garrison.
For Canadians used to the benign military role of peacekeeping, having a fighting army may come as a shock. Especially after 23 soldiers and a member of the Canadian diplomatic corps have perished since the federal Liberals committed our troops to the Afghanistan mission in 2002, shortly after the cynical 9-11 attacks in New York and Washington by Taliban-backed al-Qaida terrorists.
Last week, Liberal Defence critic Ujjal Dosanjh apparently changed his party's tune and said it's now time to "re-evaluate" the mission, which he said "focuses" too much on combat.
Fortunately, Prime Minister Stephen Harper put the contemptible Liberals in their place when he talked about the "sacrifice" our soldiers have made bringing "stability and hope" to the Afghan people.
"They represent the best that Canada has to offer," Harper said. And he spoke of their "profound commitment to Canada."
We couldn't agree more.
Operation Mountain Trust has been a monumental test of the courage and bravery of the PPCLI. And they did us proud.
While the Pats draw members from across Canada - and the Afghan mission was further augmented with soldiers from several militia units - the regiment will always be seen as the West's army.
Since returning to Edmonton when the western command was consolidated at Namao, the PPCLI has become an integral part of the capital region. And given the number of members who have chosen to settle in the Edmonton area once their military duty is done, it's clear there's a strong bond between the regiment and Alberta.
Soldiering - despite what the federal Liberals think it should be - is a dangerous business. But it's also a noble one.
And the stress and anguish it puts on military families when their loved ones go away to a war zone is understandable. Tragedy that occurs as the deployment is about to end only adds to the heartache.
Welcome home Princess Pats. You did us proud
The Edmonton Sun does us proud once more.
Tue, August 8, 2006
EDITORIAL: Praise for the Pats
It should have been a happy homecoming for members of the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry battle group.
Since February, they have been engaged in the first shooting war involving Canadian troops since the Korean conflict.
Now, after six months taking it to the Taliban on their home turf in the mountains of Afghanistan, the Edmonton soldiers are being rotated out of the theatre, to be replaced by members of the Central Canada-based Royal Canadian Regiment.
But that was before the attacks last Thursday, where four soldiers perished and another 10 were injured, as the Taliban stepped up the offensive in the bloodiest 24 hours yet for Canadian troops.
Brig.-Gen. David Fraser called it a "tough day."
But it may be even tougher for the Princess Pats' families, friends and loved ones at the Edmonton Garrison.
For Canadians used to the benign military role of peacekeeping, having a fighting army may come as a shock. Especially after 23 soldiers and a member of the Canadian diplomatic corps have perished since the federal Liberals committed our troops to the Afghanistan mission in 2002, shortly after the cynical 9-11 attacks in New York and Washington by Taliban-backed al-Qaida terrorists.
Last week, Liberal Defence critic Ujjal Dosanjh apparently changed his party's tune and said it's now time to "re-evaluate" the mission, which he said "focuses" too much on combat.
Fortunately, Prime Minister Stephen Harper put the contemptible Liberals in their place when he talked about the "sacrifice" our soldiers have made bringing "stability and hope" to the Afghan people.
"They represent the best that Canada has to offer," Harper said. And he spoke of their "profound commitment to Canada."
We couldn't agree more.
Operation Mountain Trust has been a monumental test of the courage and bravery of the PPCLI. And they did us proud.
While the Pats draw members from across Canada - and the Afghan mission was further augmented with soldiers from several militia units - the regiment will always be seen as the West's army.
Since returning to Edmonton when the western command was consolidated at Namao, the PPCLI has become an integral part of the capital region. And given the number of members who have chosen to settle in the Edmonton area once their military duty is done, it's clear there's a strong bond between the regiment and Alberta.
Soldiering - despite what the federal Liberals think it should be - is a dangerous business. But it's also a noble one.
And the stress and anguish it puts on military families when their loved ones go away to a war zone is understandable. Tragedy that occurs as the deployment is about to end only adds to the heartache.
Welcome home Princess Pats. You did us proud