A story from the May 2006 issue of Macleans that was sent along by reader;
It should have been a moment of pride for the Canadian army. Five of its most talented snipers -- men trained to kill without remorse, then turn around and kill again -- did exactly that. They destroyed al-Qaeda firing positions, saved American lives and tallied a body count unmatched by any Canadian soldier of their generation. U.S. commanders who served alongside the snipers nominated all five for the coveted Bronze Star medal. "Thank God the Canadians were there," is how one American soldier put it.Yet days later, their heroics on the mountain would be overshadowed by suspicion, including stunning allegations that one sniper, in a subsequent mission, sliced himself a souvenir from the battlefield: the finger of a dead Taliban fighter. Military police launched a criminal investigation, but uncovered nothing but denials. As the months wore on, there emerged so many conflicting accusations and supposed explanations that no charges were ever laid. Even Rob Furlong's record-breaking shot became lost in the confusion. In fact, until now, a different sniper has been widely -- and incorrectly -- credited with pulling the trigger on that long-distance kill.
Today, more than four years later, three of the five decorated snipers who served in Afghanistan are no longer in the army, brushed aside by a military machine that seemed all too willing to watch them go. Persecuted instead of praised, they fell victim to what many still believe was a witch hunt driven by jealousy and political correctness.
[...]
Pat Ragsdale, Graham's father, wanted some answers. After the tour, he watched his son suffer through an unthinkable depression, and he wanted to know why. For months, he wrote letter after letter to government officials, from the Prime Minister to high-ranking generals. "I wasn't happy with the treatment they got in Afghanistan or the treatment they got subsequent to Afghanistan," he told one reporter.
In September 2004, Pat Ragsdale finally received a response. Gen. Ray Henault, then the chief of the defence staff, personally asked the ombudsman to launch his own investigation. Unlike the NIS version, this one would focus not on fingers and signs, but on whether the military mistreated its snipers. In other words, did these men -- lauded as heroes by the Americans but treated as criminals in Canada -- deserve better?
The ombudsman's report is supposed to be in the hands of defense minister Gordon O'Connor by now, but I can find nothing to indicate that it's been released to the public.
Update - Damian Brooks has a response about the release of the report from the Ombudsman for the Department of National Defence and Canadian Forces.
Of course they deserved WAY better, but they sure as hell weren't going to get it from Mullah Martin, Taliban Jack or their communist news buddies. Does anyone remeber way back in Desert Storm when two Cdn F-18 pilots where sanctioned for firing upon an Iraqi warship? All I can say is thank God the Yanks got Saddam and not us. If we had, Mullah Martin would have him living in downtown TO with his Tamil Tiger buddies by now, preaching "peace and love"!!!
A little off-topic, but this e-mail has been circulating through my husband's reg't. A good read:
"Hello all of my Friends
So I propose to you this question, what do you do when the Taliban have
you
surrounded, and you hear over icom that they are laughing at you because
they have you surrounded, and think today is the day they take back the
Panjawaii district from NATO forces ? You contact C Troop of Echo
Battery
from 2nd Regiment Royal Canadian Horse Artillery. If the Taliban were
scared of our gun troop durring OP Medusa then they must be shitting
there
pants after yesterday. Over 60 sixtey taliban had American and ANA
(Afghan
National Army) surrounded as they were conducting a patrol just outside
our
FOB (Foward Operating base) just under 3 km away. Over icom chatter we
could hear the taliban laughing and plotting there plans for the day to
try
and take back Panjawaii which we own. Little did they know our OP
(observation Party 23) could see it all and contacted C troop for
assistance, over 30 Point detonating and Proxcimity fuzes later from the
M777 howitzer and 30 81MM mortar rounds, along with a little help from
some
apaches we blasted the a hole in taliban line allowing our guys to
escape
almost certain capture and or death, then proceeded to chase them down
with
our rounds and push them back into their compounds, where OP23 called in
fast air from NATO planes which proceeded to drop three 500Ilbs bombs on
their compounds then straif them with 33mm rounds from the A 10s. All
the
while we kept shelling any movement and keeping them from escaping. In
the
end early estemates had over 25 Taliban dead including one leader, along
with one leader crying over icom about how we had killed all his men,
then
we zeroed in on his transmition then dropped a couple of rounds on his
compound. ( there was no more icom chatter from him again). Last but
certainly not least Canadian snipers also had there fill firing from
there
locations all over picking off survivors and driving home the point that
we
(NATO and ANA) own this area and refuse to give it up because the
infantry
and special forces did one hell of a job taking it. So ends another fun
filled day in afghanistan no casualties on our end lots on theres
estemated
now over 40 to 50 and who knows how many more dying of their wounds in a
cave somewhere, and as one american observer put as a description I see
buzzards circleing the target, good shooting guns. I hope you enjoy our
little experience here and this story.
Cheers Lucas
"You YELL we SHELL 24hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year."
"Contact C, instant TAliban relief"."
The sniper situ was a tactic of the govt....so scared to have a related Somalia "case" But these SOLDIERS done what they were ordered to do, without hesitation.
At least the USA was appreciative. Too bad our Govt and Military didn't..???
Good job guys you have MY support.
The record shot was worthy of the Order of Canada. But wait, this medal is reserved for scum bags like Alan Eagleson etc. If it was me I'd have given that worthless bobble back.
Good read, Anne! Hopefully more people think of why we have individual freedoms, responsible government and a free market economy on Nov. 11th. I give thanks to the courage and sacrifice of our men and women in the CANADIAN ARMED FORCES for keeping the wall between our country's ideals and tyranny intact!
We don't pay them enough.
Today our leftist media tend to grind axe and report at the same time. Expect more of this defeatest reporting. = TG
Chris: Don't forget that these actions were under the prior gov't, the same ones that decimated the forces budget's, the same ones that were oh so proud of our forces that when they cheered so loudly over the military announcements (in the house before they fell) that they had forgot they had already made the same announcements in their prior budget & that they had been enacted upon.
The same gov't that purchased Subs that sink, the same gov't that believed an italian made jeep was all the protection you needed as you had been regulated to just clearing snow in downtown T.O.
The same gov't that believed a SeaKing would last longer then the Maytag salesman.
The same gov't that lowered the flag on the hill(against proticol) but never lowered the flag when we lost some one on a sub or in our peace mission's, all for political posturing.
At least we have a Defense Minister Now with a military background that is going to get things done & give the rightfull deserve Not SNAFU
ok i have had my rant for the day, thanks
The gate keepers of Canadas political correct tyranny have always had a problem with the fact that our soldiers are trained to kill our enemies, not distribute rose colored specs globally and hand out body paint at peace rallies.
The more proficient a soldier is at his craft the more intense the loathing from the Politically correct overlords of publicly flogged Canadian Values. I can see it absolutely rotting on one of these propagandist weavils, that a Canadian would be renoun and celebrated for his proficiency at dispatching enemy combattants. I can see how thei dylexic idealism would hold sniping to be craven and unprincipled...not in the Dudly do-right image Ottawa has concocted for Canadians in the wider global eye.
I think the forces have done a magnificent job of adapting to the slow fiscal strangulation and still kept our forces as a viable battle field force by shifting scarce resources into a crack sniper program/unit.
These battlefield aces should be well paid trainers coaching other marksmen in the sniping program at Shilo....not coping with unemployment and social/political stigmata spiraling them into depression.
By all means let's get this investigated and root-out the political depravity in our bureaucracy which prevented these worthy Canadians from attaining the respect and security due Heroes.
Bryanr..You have good points.......However YOU otta know...or maybe you dont, but I will enlighten you..
A soldier doesnt care whos in power/politically,,its their job to do what ever they are charged with and THEY DO..
Now if the CURRENT power does something about these wrongs it would hold water..but to date they haven't..so.!
Remember a dollar is a dollar and the beer still tastes the same.
Regardless of the MAYTAG SALESMAN..
In the heat of battle, there is a clear difference between slicing off the head of a live prisoner, [Taliban ] and removing part of a finger from a corpse. [ soldier of fortune ].
I don*t condone it, but a little perspective here please. =
The finger tip in the bottom of a bottle of Vodka would be crass though. . eh? Sort of like Tequila. = TG
Chris: I agree you follow orders, no matter what.
Governments have been using the military as a political punching bag for years, We have only recently seen changes to the Veterans Act & how many years did that take(thanks to the lobbying if our Veterans Organizations).
Third world dead enders like the Taliban talk a good game, but when faced with professional soldiers who are well trained , well led (and highly motivated)
they prove themselves as the incompetents they truly are, time and time again..
As an aside,after all the hullabaloo raised by the left and our statist media about sending tanks to Afstan..where are those voices now? the tanks are in theatre, but the media has suddenly become silent..why do you suppose this is?
Kursk..I AGREE where is the media on the tanks...
I would suspect there is some cofidential restriction on reporting upon tank movements.
But general reporting should be made public...just like everthing else.
National NewsWatch: 2 Nato soilders killed today in Aphg. nationality unknown at this point..
I scooped a copy of this issue from my doctor's office ( a treasure trove of past journals if you know what I mean!) waiting for the right face to shove it in front.
also mr redux seems to have just completed a few 'bulls eyes' of his own here.
My whole comment?:
Thank God the Liberals are out of power. Remember, this is the party that felt an ad attacking the Canadian Forces as a threat to freedom conspiring with the opposition to impose a military dictatorship in Canada was... acceptable.
Never forget this, people. Never forget what that party is and who those people are.
Hey , of course the f**&^ Liberals (Chretien and Martin) were behind it! They sent those guys over there with crap equipment. Remember the hated Bomardier Iltis jeeps which used gasline engines and the Bomardier trucks whose brakes squealed so loudly in the dust that the Taliban could here them for miles that they may as well have been running a siren.
Why of course , according to Liberal doctrine , the army was to over to Afghanistan as "peace keepers" , hand out candy , give civilized talks to the Taliban and keep their guns empty.
So when they actually started shooting the enemy , my gacious the Lib's went into a tailspin! This is not how civilized Canadians are supposed to act , it is not politically correct , only the Bush army shoots bad guys , and worse the US army wanted to decorate them .... arghhh , the horror .... so to get those guys out!
Like all individuals who are outstanding, these men were stigmatized by the old Canadian Liberano$$/Dipper gov't and the talking heads (msm) of that government. Canada, historically, flops over and denies that we have any INDIVIDUAL personalities in this nation. We are and have been for years, the victums of 'group think' and 'team players' mindset. This mindset dictates that we be terrified of better than average individuals. The school system is the worst offender followed by gov't 'silly servants'and union control of 'workers' - something called 'senority'.
The anti hero mindset has ruined the lives of many better than average Canadians since the British claimed the soil of our country for England. The Brits wanted to keep the people down and the tradition has continued ....
The New Government of Canada is not part of that old tradition, our Prime Minister is all for Canadians climbing up off the lower rung, foot in the water, mentality. I hope the new mindset will gain a major 'foothold', our Prime Minister has plowed the way out of the mindset of the lowest common denominator winning the day - will Canadian people be courageous enough to stand on their feet and demand that this country move up?
Being a good shot is a major talant, like being a good hockey player. Why these men were marginalized by the msm is easy - the msm types are terrified by people who are not right out of the ranks of the lowest common denominator because the lowest common denominator types are the mother pool that spawned the msm.
anyone unsure of public sympathies regarding our military personnel feel free to visit my city where the funeral of Mark Wilson is to be buried on Monday.
the fabric stores have completely run out of yellow ribbon and people (ie 'the' people) have taken to cutting *any* yellow fabric into ribbons and covtering entire neighborhoods in support.
poll THAT mssrs cretien, trudea, martin, igster etc.
We're still waiting too Kate...
http://www.dustmybroom.com/?p=4427#comment-27008
"poll THAT mssrs cretien, trudea, martin, igster etc." LOL....good one qwerty. Take a poll of the real, common man who understands what a hypocritical bunch of idiots and a++holes socialists are??? Best chuckle I've had in a long time.
A government that had spent 12 years "denormalizing" guns, and demonizing Canadian shooters, would naturally be loathe to congratulate a Canadian for being a good shooter.
If the report ever surfaces, it may make interesting reading...At least between the lines.
A selection of CBCpravda headlines from Oct15 , back to their favourite "Khadrs".the missing Elvis' of the CBCpravda school of journalism.and of course deaths on our side.they neglect the 300to1 kill ratio over the Taliban. In pravda- land terrorists are insurgents and militants ,never more.
2 Canadian soldiers killed in Afghan ambush
Two Canadian soldiers were killed in southern Afghanistan on Saturday after militants ambushed them with rocket-propelled grenades and gunfire. more »
Security Council votes to impose sanctions on North Korea
The United Nations Security Council voted Saturday to impose sanctions on North Korea, saying its nuclear test posed a clear threat. more »
»
Khadr lawyer under U.S. military gag order after abuse allegations
flogging dead horses 101: see CBCpravda re khadr story
frankly dear reader, I am most impressed with the numbers ever mindful that these are loved ones duking it out successfully on the terrorists OWN turf.
supposedly that gives the locals the advantage but it seems the well disciplined and even better motivated canadians have the upper hand and no doubt intend to keep it until the mission is successful and it will be.
God bless Amer... er, CANADA
I visitied the local rcr museum and explained in length just what our soldiers saved the world from some 60 years ago now. basically, if herr hitler had not taken on the russians and instead consolidated his european gains, by 1950s the completely pacified and then prosperous nazi ruled europe and all the scientific and economic and industrial might there.... would have been able to draw on all the resources required to be the first to invent The Bomb.
but Canadians and Brits and Russkies and all those GIs saw to it that didnt happen.
we wont know until some 20 or 30 years from now 'in hind sight' what the Canadian participation in shielding the peace loving non-violent afghans has truly accomplished.
its all in the cards. they will win, we just dont know how long it will take.
and jack late-one can STFU any time.
I'm sorry these brave soldiers were treated so badly. As an American, I'm quite grateful they were willing and able to play such a key role in the Afghanistan campaign. Canada's Armed Forces are poorer for the loss of the three who've left.