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Friendly fire probed in Canadian soldier's death
Military officials are investigating whether a Canadian soldier may have been killed accidentally by a private security force escorting a civilian convoy in the Zhari district west of Kandahar city.
11/08/2008 3:33:41 PM
CBC News
Master Cpl. Joshua Roberts was shot to death during a joint operation aimed at disrupting insurgent activity in the rugged farming area.
But there is speculation that members of a security convoy opened fire on what they believed to be enemy fighters and didn't realize Canadian troops were already in the area engaging the group of about 15 insurgents.
Brig.-Gen. Denis Thompson told reporters over the weekend the military is investigating whether insurgents or members of the private security company were responsible for Roberts's death.
However, 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.
A ramp ceremony was held Sunday for Roberts, who was originally from Saskatoon but based in Shilo, Man., since 2006.
http://news.sympatico.msn.cbc.ca/Friendly+fire+probed+in+Canadian+soldiers+death/Home/ContentPosting?isfa=1&newsitemid=afghanistan-death&feedname=CBC-WORLD-V3&show=False&number=0&showbyline=True&subtitle=&detect=&abc=abc&date=True
Military officials are investigating whether a Canadian soldier may have been killed accidentally by a private security force escorting a civilian convoy in the Zhari district west of Kandahar city.
11/08/2008 3:33:41 PM
CBC News
Master Cpl. Joshua Roberts was shot to death during a joint operation aimed at disrupting insurgent activity in the rugged farming area.
But there is speculation that members of a security convoy opened fire on what they believed to be enemy fighters and didn't realize Canadian troops were already in the area engaging the group of about 15 insurgents.
Brig.-Gen. Denis Thompson told reporters over the weekend the military is investigating whether insurgents or members of the private security company were responsible for Roberts's death.
However, 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.
A ramp ceremony was held Sunday for Roberts, who was originally from Saskatoon but based in Shilo, Man., since 2006.
http://news.sympatico.msn.cbc.ca/Friendly+fire+probed+in+Canadian+soldiers+death/Home/ContentPosting?isfa=1&newsitemid=afghanistan-death&feedname=CBC-WORLD-V3&show=False&number=0&showbyline=True&subtitle=&detect=&abc=abc&date=True
