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I was watching the Stampede Parade on CBC and when the tanks and troops walked by, everyone stood up; some gave applause, some waved their cowboy hats at the troops, but from what I could see on the television coverage, everyone showed their support. Also, when the troops and tanks went by, it was the only time I noticed, throughout the entire parade, that those who were along the parade route stood up to show respect.
From what I understand; there will also be a Griffin or two and CF-18 at the CF Calgary Stampede displayed. However, I have been unable to confirm this particular bit of information.
Check out the photo on the below link; looks like some of the U.S. soldiers (including a General) were 'white hatted'... the Calgarian thing to do to visitors.
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Re: Top Canadian, U.S. military men meet in Calgary - Generals "compare notes" on war in Afghanistan
Newspaper: Calgary Herald
Reporter: By Stephane Massinon, Calgary Herald
Date of Article: July 3, 2009 7:01 PM
Link: http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/Canadian+military+meet+Calgary/1757984/story.html
CALGARY- Canada’s top soldier applauded the United States military’s heightened efforts in Afghanistan Friday, but cautioned that there is still a “tough fight” ahead for NATO-led forces.
On another deadly day in the war-torn country — which saw the death of an Edmonton soldier and a major U.S. surge against Taliban forces — Defence Staff Gen. Walt Natynczyk met in Calgary with Gen. David Petraeus, the head of U.S. Central Command.
Canadian troops have been fighting in Afghanistan since 2002 and U.S. forces are bolstering their presence to roughly 68,000 by year’s end.
“We applaud greatly, General Petraeus, the US forces, the reinforcement of forces in theatre. We’ve always said we don’t have enough troops on the ground in the south,” said Natynczyk, whose Canadian troops now total about 2,700 in Afghanistan.
“This is a tough fight.”
Petraeus said the two generals would “compare notes” while in Calgary, but stressed he was not in the city to urge Canada to extend its stay in Afghanistan. Canada’s military role there is set to end in 2011.
“We’re going to talk about the way ahead for the next couple years, but beyond that, clearly, is a national decision that only be taken by the national authorities and that something in which I’d intrude,” Petraeus said.
The comments came as Canada suffered its 121 military death in Afghanistan when the convoy that transports Canada’s top soldier in Afghanistan, Brig.-Gen. Jonathan Vance, the commander of Task Force Kandahar, hit a roadside bomb Friday, killing one member of the general’s tactical team and injuring five others.
Edmonton-based Cpl. Nicholas Bulger, 30, had been travelling behind the general’s vehicle when the blast occurred.
“We grieve for our fallen warrior. We stand with their family and I know I’ll meet them here in the next few days but it’s a terrible situation that we’re dealing with,” said Natynczyk.
Meanwhile, US Marines are in a “hell of a fight” as they storm into Taliban strongholds during a major assault in Afghanistan, their commanding officer said Friday.
Nearly 4,000 Marines launched the operation Thursday in parts of the southern province of Helmand, suffering their first fatality in a pivotal test of President Barack Obama’s aggressive new strategy against the Taliban.
The 1/5 Infantry Battalion met only light resistance in their push south and had already been able to meet locals at shuras (councils), Brigadier General Larry Nicholson said, speaking to a convoy with which AFP was travelling.
But “for 2/8 there is a hell of a fight going on in the southern quarter of the sector,” the top Marine said on arrival at Garmsir, a town along the Helmand River that was a key objective for Operation Khanjar.
“2/8 are going to face some challenges,” he said. The battalion was in an area called Toshtay about 25 kilometres (16 miles) south of Garmsir.
Commanders said they would persuade locals that the Afghan security forces — backed by Western troops — offered them a better long-term future than the fundamentalist Taliban militia as Afghanistan braces for elections next month.
Though facing challenges in the war, Petraeus, known as the architect of the surge in Iraq, noted there is some good news in the war efforts, particularly with developments in Pakistan.
“In the last two months, what you’ve seen is the Pakistani Taliban, by their actions, by their extremist actions, indiscriminate violence, oppressive practices, have galvanized the entire country against them and for the first time since 9/11 at least if not longer you see the public completely behind the government,” said Petraeus.
BEGIN OPTIONAL END
On Thursday Marines were inserted into Garmsir and Nawa with little resistance, and quickly overran Khanishin further south where the Taliban had set up a proxy government and justice system.
But they also recorded their first death in an air and land assault that is the Marines’ biggest operation since in Fallujah in Iraq in November 2004.
Troops had on Thursday destroyed a militant position in Garmsir, Nicholson said.
“An enemy-controlled baseline just south of Garmsir was crushed yesterday but that doesn’t mean all the enemy have gone,” he said.
“In the next few days the enemy will observe us to see what we are doing. Then they will come back with a vengeance,” he said.
Nicholson later told AFP separately: “Garmsir is three-quarters quiet but there is fighting in Toshtay. We intend to clear that up today. This doesn’t mean it is over. The enemy may be reassessing the situation.”
From what I understand; there will also be a Griffin or two and CF-18 at the CF Calgary Stampede displayed. However, I have been unable to confirm this particular bit of information.
Check out the photo on the below link; looks like some of the U.S. soldiers (including a General) were 'white hatted'... the Calgarian thing to do to visitors.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Re: Top Canadian, U.S. military men meet in Calgary - Generals "compare notes" on war in Afghanistan
Newspaper: Calgary Herald
Reporter: By Stephane Massinon, Calgary Herald
Date of Article: July 3, 2009 7:01 PM
Link: http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/Canadian+military+meet+Calgary/1757984/story.html
CALGARY- Canada’s top soldier applauded the United States military’s heightened efforts in Afghanistan Friday, but cautioned that there is still a “tough fight” ahead for NATO-led forces.
On another deadly day in the war-torn country — which saw the death of an Edmonton soldier and a major U.S. surge against Taliban forces — Defence Staff Gen. Walt Natynczyk met in Calgary with Gen. David Petraeus, the head of U.S. Central Command.
Canadian troops have been fighting in Afghanistan since 2002 and U.S. forces are bolstering their presence to roughly 68,000 by year’s end.
“We applaud greatly, General Petraeus, the US forces, the reinforcement of forces in theatre. We’ve always said we don’t have enough troops on the ground in the south,” said Natynczyk, whose Canadian troops now total about 2,700 in Afghanistan.
“This is a tough fight.”
Petraeus said the two generals would “compare notes” while in Calgary, but stressed he was not in the city to urge Canada to extend its stay in Afghanistan. Canada’s military role there is set to end in 2011.
“We’re going to talk about the way ahead for the next couple years, but beyond that, clearly, is a national decision that only be taken by the national authorities and that something in which I’d intrude,” Petraeus said.
The comments came as Canada suffered its 121 military death in Afghanistan when the convoy that transports Canada’s top soldier in Afghanistan, Brig.-Gen. Jonathan Vance, the commander of Task Force Kandahar, hit a roadside bomb Friday, killing one member of the general’s tactical team and injuring five others.
Edmonton-based Cpl. Nicholas Bulger, 30, had been travelling behind the general’s vehicle when the blast occurred.
“We grieve for our fallen warrior. We stand with their family and I know I’ll meet them here in the next few days but it’s a terrible situation that we’re dealing with,” said Natynczyk.
Meanwhile, US Marines are in a “hell of a fight” as they storm into Taliban strongholds during a major assault in Afghanistan, their commanding officer said Friday.
Nearly 4,000 Marines launched the operation Thursday in parts of the southern province of Helmand, suffering their first fatality in a pivotal test of President Barack Obama’s aggressive new strategy against the Taliban.
The 1/5 Infantry Battalion met only light resistance in their push south and had already been able to meet locals at shuras (councils), Brigadier General Larry Nicholson said, speaking to a convoy with which AFP was travelling.
But “for 2/8 there is a hell of a fight going on in the southern quarter of the sector,” the top Marine said on arrival at Garmsir, a town along the Helmand River that was a key objective for Operation Khanjar.
“2/8 are going to face some challenges,” he said. The battalion was in an area called Toshtay about 25 kilometres (16 miles) south of Garmsir.
Commanders said they would persuade locals that the Afghan security forces — backed by Western troops — offered them a better long-term future than the fundamentalist Taliban militia as Afghanistan braces for elections next month.
Though facing challenges in the war, Petraeus, known as the architect of the surge in Iraq, noted there is some good news in the war efforts, particularly with developments in Pakistan.
“In the last two months, what you’ve seen is the Pakistani Taliban, by their actions, by their extremist actions, indiscriminate violence, oppressive practices, have galvanized the entire country against them and for the first time since 9/11 at least if not longer you see the public completely behind the government,” said Petraeus.
BEGIN OPTIONAL END
On Thursday Marines were inserted into Garmsir and Nawa with little resistance, and quickly overran Khanishin further south where the Taliban had set up a proxy government and justice system.
But they also recorded their first death in an air and land assault that is the Marines’ biggest operation since in Fallujah in Iraq in November 2004.
Troops had on Thursday destroyed a militant position in Garmsir, Nicholson said.
“An enemy-controlled baseline just south of Garmsir was crushed yesterday but that doesn’t mean all the enemy have gone,” he said.
“In the next few days the enemy will observe us to see what we are doing. Then they will come back with a vengeance,” he said.
Nicholson later told AFP separately: “Garmsir is three-quarters quiet but there is fighting in Toshtay. We intend to clear that up today. This doesn’t mean it is over. The enemy may be reassessing the situation.”
